One problem I've always had with this play/film
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Odd Couple
skohl632001 — 15 years ago(August 01, 2010 07:40 PM)
Felix and Oscar are supposed to be long time, close friends (I think at one point Oscar refers to him as his "oldest and dearest friend) and yet Oscar seems taken completely by surprise by all of Felix's habits, idiosyncrasies, allergies, etc. Also, for such close friends, they each seem to have no clue about the other's marital issues, etc.
For that matter, it's basically impossible for me to imagine a fastidious guy like Felix playing poker in an incredibly messy apartment with the rest of their buddies (remember we never actually see Felix play a hand). Felix, as he's written, really doesn't fit into this group at all.
It probably would have worked better and made more sense if they were just passing acquaintances. -
mikwalen — 15 years ago(August 10, 2010 08:34 AM)
I recently played Felix, and I can understand why you would ask those questions. So did I, in fact.
I believe the revelation about Felix's marriage trouble did come as a surprise to some at the poker game (Vinnie). However, Oscar has a line like "You know how he would sit there and tell us how they'd fight".
I guess that knowing about Felix's weird habits might be one thing, but actually living with them is different.
"Everytime I want to have a little fun-SHE turns out!" (Baron Bomburst) -
skohl632001 — 15 years ago(August 11, 2010 09:38 PM)
Thanks for your input. Maybe another part of the problem is the film vs. the play. The scene I really have problems with in the film version is Oscar's surprise and embarrassment over Felix's coughing and honking in the air conditioned restaurant-apparently Oscar had never been out to eat with his "oldest and dearest friend" before! I haven't seen the play in years but I'd imagine that that scene was probably written specifically for the film.
But, as you say, a lot of the other incongruities can be (kind of) explained by the "knowing someone" vs. actually "living" with them. -
mikwalen — 15 years ago(August 12, 2010 11:40 AM)
Hi skohl632001!
The scene with the honking and sneezing is in the show - it occurs after the poker players leave, and Oscar is talking to Felix. I think that moving it to the diner is A RIOT!!! It works MUCH better when we see the expressions on the faces of the other people!!
One of the poker guys has a line in the play (I don't know if it made it into the film) about how Frances tried to break up with Felix while he was still in the armyand he started cleaning guns in his mouth. So they did know he had some "quirks". They really came into view when he was under Oscar's nose 24/7.
And it wasn't an easy part to play! I had to let go and be comfortable with acting looney-tooney, making strange noises, and crying!
"Everytime I want to have a little fun-SHE turns out!" (Baron Bomburst) -
bradford-1 — 15 years ago(November 09, 2010 08:24 AM)
I don't find it strange that Oscar wouldn't know certain things about Felix no matter how many years they had been acquainted. There are several people that I've socialized with and I've never been in their homes, nor have they been in mine. Many years ago, I moved in with one of my oldest friends for about five days. We'd known each other for about 15 years, but living together, I found that he was a first-class slob and he saw that I washed and dried the dishes and carried out the garbage every night. I even alphabetized his record collection. And we almost killed each other! We're still friends after nearly 45 years, but we'd NEVER live together again.
"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did." -
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bassgoilius — 12 years ago(April 17, 2013 04:34 PM)
I agree, I think Oscar and his poker buddies would have had a better idea as to the type of person Felix was. It does seem that they, especially Oscar, are a bit too surprised at his actions. I think the others in this thread have made plausible suggestions, but I was a little struck by this as well.