The Sunshine Boys     

By Marshall Fine

Neil Simon's Broadway hit about an effort to reunite a pair of aged vaudevillians for a TV special is both funny and poignant, thanks to the inspired casting of Walter Matthau (perhaps the consummate Simon actor) and George Burns (who kicked off something of a career comeback with this Oscar-winning role). They play a former comedy team who split up years ago over disagreements about how the act should be performed and, more importantly, over their conflicting views about the importance of show business versus that of life. Matthau is hilarious, sometimes touchingly so, while Burns remains a master of comic economy. Richard Benjamin is also good as Matthau's nephew who brings them back together. This was remade for television with Peter Falk and Woody Allen.

Academy Awards

The Sunshine Boys received an Academy Award for Actor (George Burns). The Sunshine Boys also received Academy Awards nominations for Actor (Walter Matthau), Writing (Best Screenplay adapted from other material; Neil Simon) and Art Direction/Set Decoration (Albert Brenner - Art Direction, Marvin March - Set Decoration).

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