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Category:    Home > Reviews > Comedy > Drama > Stage Play > The Odd Couple (1968/Paramount Centennial Collection DVD)

The Odd Couple (1968/Paramount Centennial Collection DVD)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C+     Extras: B+     Film: B+

 

 

We’ve already talked about the television show, which was birthed shortly after the classic 1968 film starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, we’ve reviewed several of the seasons, we talk more about the film in the first season review, which you can read about here.  Now we get Paramount to release their “Centennial Collection” edition of the film, which brings extras to the mix along with a restored DVD edition.  There is no doubt that the films chemistry has long since inspired many other shows and movies aside from just the follow-up television show, which of course has become a classic in it’s own right.  This film now reminds us of the magic that was started in 1968 and the pairing of Matthau and Lemmon even spawned more interesting results as they returned to their ways many years later in Grumpy Old Men, which also received a sequel.

 

The Odd Couple is a film to cherish for generations to come and introduce to new viewers, this particular set offers the best yet for longtime fans as well as those who have never seen it before with a restored picture and audio track along with supplements that fans have been waiting for. 

 

The film is presented on the first disc in its original 1.85 X 1 anamorphic transfer, which again has been retouched to bring back color fidelity and detail that has been lacking in previous editions and poor broadcasts.  The film still could use some more work, but for DVD this is perhaps as good as it’s going to get until we get a Blu-ray release.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (along with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono mix) is decent and offers about as good of clarity and quality that DVD will do for a film of this age and considering the dialogue-driven nature of the film.  Extras are all featured on disc two with exception to the commentary track on the first disc presented by Charlie Matthau and Chris Lemmon, which is a nice touch to hear their take on the film and watching their father’s interaction with each other.  Disc two boasts a few new supplements, which are mostly retrospective on the two leads, memories from the set, an inside look, the origins of the screenplay by Neil Simon, and various production highlights including the trailer, galleries, and other fan favorites.

 

 

-   Nate Goss


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