Good Neighbor Sam (1964)
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67% of users liked it
(119 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
- Directed By
- David Swift
- Written By
- James Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Jul 22, 1964 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The problem with the marital satire is that it goes on for too long, maybe like some marriages.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jack Lemmon
as Sam Bissel
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Romy Schneider
as Janet Lagerlof
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Edward G. Robinson
as Simon Nurdlinger
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Dorothy Provine
as Minerva Bissel
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Edward Andrews
as Burke
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Michael Connors
as Howard Ebbets
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Neil Hamilton
as Larry Boling
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Louis Nye
as Reinhold Shiffner
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Robert Q. Lewis
as Earl
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Joyce Jameson
as Elsie Hooker
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Anne Seymour
as Irene Krump
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Charles Lane
as Jack Bailey
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Linda Watkins
as Edna
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Peter Hobbs
as Phil Reisner
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Riza Royce
as Miss Halverson
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William Forrest
as Millard Mellner
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Barbara Bouchet
as Receptionist
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Jan Brooks
as Gloria
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William Bryant
as Hausner
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Peter Camlin
as French waiter
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Tristram Coffin
as Sonny Blatchford
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Vickie Cos
as Jenna
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Bess Flowers
as Mrs. Burke
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Kym Karath
as Bissel child
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Dave Ketchum
as Hertz commercial man
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Bernie Kopell
as Taragon
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Gil Lamb
as Drunk
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Quinn O'Hara
as Marsha
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Patrick Waltz
as Wyeth
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Harry Ray
as Milkman
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Joe Palma
as Postman
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Hal Taggart
as McVale
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David Swift
as TV director [uncredited]
- Mike Connors
