I love this movie. This is one of the rare examples of a broad comedy for the 70s made in tribute to the old screwballs of the 50s-60s that actually succeeds! I have developed a great deal of admiration for Peter Bogdanovich after watching his work, and I deeply admire him as one of the few directors to successful bridge the gap between the old classic Hollywood studio era, and the modern contemporary style.
Surprisingly, Barbra Steisand and Ryan O'Neal actually create a very effective comic partnership in this story, in the typical "mistaken identity leads to wild comic shenanigans" plot line. I particularly love the climactic chase through the mardi gras parade, and the comic climactic court battle featuring a heavily-endowed Walter Matthau. And this film is also notable as the feature debut of that master comedienne Madeline Kahn.
This certainly deserves a round of applause for taking a old Hollywood staple, and still making it work; unlike so many other attempts at "reinventing" a classic Hollywood motif which turn out to totally miss the style and panache. The only other director from this era who came even close to capturing the classic feel was Jim Henson.
Surprisingly, Barbra Steisand and Ryan O'Neal actually create a very effective comic partnership in this story, in the typical "mistaken identity leads to wild comic shenanigans" plot line. I particularly love the climactic chase through the mardi gras parade, and the comic climactic court battle featuring a heavily-endowed Walter Matthau. And this film is also notable as the feature debut of that master comedienne Madeline Kahn.
This certainly deserves a round of applause for taking a old Hollywood staple, and still making it work; unlike so many other attempts at "reinventing" a classic Hollywood motif which turn out to totally miss the style and panache. The only other director from this era who came even close to capturing the classic feel was Jim Henson.