Good Neighbor Sam (1964)

72% of users liked it
(104 ratings)

Disgusted by the smarminess of his 1963 vehicle Under the Yum Yum Tree, Jack Lemmon vowed that his next effort would be a wholesome family picture. Good Neighbor Sam is suitable for all ages, to be sure, but that doesn't stop producer-writer-director David Swift from injecting plenty of… More Disgusted by the smarminess of his 1963 vehicle Under the Yum Yum Tree, Jack Lemmon vowed that his next effort would be a wholesome family picture. Good Neighbor Sam is suitable for all ages, to be sure, but that doesn't stop producer-writer-director David Swift from injecting plenty of double-entendre dialogue and harmlessly risque situations. Lemmon plays ad executive Sam Bissell, happily married to all-American blonde Minerva (Dorothy Provine). Anxious to land the Nurdlinger's milk account, Sam is carefully scrutinized by the prudish Simon Nurdlinger (Edward G. Robinson), a staunch advocate of old-fashioned family values. Meanwhile, Minerva welcomes her old school friend, sexy Janet Langerlof (Romy Schneider) into her home. Janet is in line to inherit a fortune, but only if she's married. Unfortunately, Janet is currently separated from her insanely jealous spouse Howard Ebbets (Michael Connors), so big-hearted Minerva volunteers Sam to pose as Janet's husband. The ensuing comic complications come to a head when Nurdlinger elects Sam and Janet as the nation's ideal "married" couple, and posts their pictures on billboards all over town! Some of the smaller pleasures in this film are provided by Louis Nye as a high-tech private eye, Joyce Jameson as a squeaky-voiced call girl, Robert Q. Lewis as Sam's lascivious neighbor, and an uncredited Gil Lamb as a genial wino. An amusing running gag involved the Hertz "man in the driver's seat" commercials of the 1960s has sometimes been cut from TV prints of Good Neighbor Sam. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 10 min.
Directed By: David Swift
Written By: James Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 22, 1964 Wide
On DVD: Jun 9, 2009

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The problem with the marital satire is that it goes on for too long, maybe like some marriages.

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Cast

            Jack Lemmon as Sam Bissel

            Romy Schneider as Janet Lagerlof

            Edward G. Robinson as Simon Nurdlinger

            Dorothy Provine as Minerva Bissel

            Edward Andrews as Burke

            Michael Connors as Howard Ebbets

            Neil Hamilton as Larry Boling

            Louis Nye as Reinhold Shiffner

            Robert Q. Lewis as Earl

            Joyce Jameson as Elsie Hooker

            Anne Seymour as Irene Krump

            Charles Lane as Jack Bailey

            Linda Watkins as Edna

            Peter Hobbs as Phil Reisner

            Riza Royce as Miss Halverson

            William Forrest as Millard Mellner

            Barbara Bouchet as Receptionist

            Jan Brooks as Gloria

            William Bryant as Hausner

            Peter Camlin as French waiter

            Tristram Coffin as Sonny Blatchford

            Vickie Cos as Jenna

            Bess Flowers as Mrs. Burke

            Kym Karath as Bissel child

            Dave Ketchum as Hertz commercial man

            Bernie Kopell as Taragon

            Gil Lamb as Drunk

            Quinn O'Hara as Marsha

            Patrick Waltz as Wyeth

            Harry Ray as Milkman

            Joe Palma as Postman

            Hal Taggart as McVale

            David Swift as TV director [uncredited]

            Mike Connors
            
See full cast

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