Good Neighbor Sam [Blu-ray]

Director: David Swift David Swift

Overview

Jack Lemmon is Sam Bissel, a happily married ad man who finds himself in an awkward position. Mr. Nurdinger, Sam's new and wealthy client, prizes a wholesome lifestyle above anything else. He puts his faith in wholesome Sam to handle the campaign for his product. Sam has a dilemma, however, when he is offered $1 million to pretend he is the husband of his attractive and vivacious neighbor, Janet Lagerlof (Romy Schneider, in her first U.S. film role). Janet's grandfather has recently passed away and bequeathes her $15 million--provided she is living with her husband. As luck would have it, Janet's husband just recently walked out on her, so she begs Sam to play along. Janet must work quickly as her cousins have hired a private detective to catch her living apart from her husband. Sam's wife, Minerva (Dorothy Provine), obliges the two, but it is the ad agency and Mr. Nurdinger that Sam must contend with. Things begin to get really crazy, however, when huge billboards begin sprouting up--using the faces of Janet and Sam as the perfectly married couple endorsing Nurdinger Dairy products. Based on a book by Invasion of the Body Snatchers author, Jack Finney.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/08/2020
UPC:	0043396572355
Original Release:	1964
Source:	SONY
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	2:10:00
Sales rank:	28,856

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jack Lemmon	Sam Bissell
Romy Schneider	Janet Lagerlof
Michael Connors	Howard Ebbets
Edward G. Robinson	Simon Nurdlinger
Dorothy Provine	Minerva Bissel
Anne Seymour	Irene Krump
Charles Lane	Jack Bailey
Louis Nye	Reinhold Shiffner
Edward Andrews	Burke
Robert Q. Lewis	Earl
Joyce Jameson	Prostitute
Peter Hobbs	Phil Reisner
Neil Hamilton	Larry Boling
Riza Royce	Miss Halverson
William Forrest	Millard Mellner
Linda Watkins	Edna
Bernie Kopell	Taragon
Patrick Waltz	Wyeth
William Bryant	Hausner
Vickie Cos	Jenna
Kym Karath	Ardis
Quinn O'Hara	Marsha
Hal Taggart	McVale
Jan Brooks	Gloria
Peter Camlin	French Waiter
Tom Anthony	Assistant Director
Bess Flowers	Mrs. Burke
Dave Ketchum	Hertz Commercial Man
Gil Lamb	Drunk
Harry Ray	Milkman
Joe Palma	Postman
David Swift	TV Director
Zanouba	Belly Dancer
Barbara Bouchet	Receptionist
Tris Coffin	Sonny Blatchford
Frank De Vol	Composer

Technical Credits

David Swift

James Fritzell

Everett Greenbaum

David Swift	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
James Fritzell	Screenwriter
Everett Greenbaum	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Silly and dated, Good Neighbor Sam is nonetheless very enjoyable, the kind of lightweight fluff that's so innocuous that many people will be willing to overlook its many flaws. There's the length, for example -- 130 minutes is simply too long for something so inconsequential; if it never really wears out its welcome, it still forces the viewer to become very aware of the mechanics underpinning the screenplay. The chief reason for its length is another of its faults, namely that it is excessively overplotted. There are enough plots, subplots, and developments to fill two or three movies, and this eventually deadens the fun (and at times the pacing). And while there are any number of good lines and some hysterical sequences, there are also a fair share of groaners and a few moments that simply fall flat. These flaws would all be fatal were it not for the excellent cast, especially the ace-in-the-hole leading man, Jack Lemmon, who, for a while, specialized in this brand of comedy and could often make dross shine like gold. He's matched by a delightful Edward G. Robinson, who seems to be having a tremendous time with this change-of-pace role, and there's terrific support from Louis Nye and Robert Q. Lewis, among others. Add in some sets that simply scream "1964" and an irresistible Frank De Vol score, and there's plenty here to provide a pleasant bit of escapist entertainment.