Man's Favorite Sport?
1964 US
Dir: Howard Hawks
Str: Rock Hudson, Paula Prentiss
Man's Favorite Sport? is by far the best movie among all those
romantic comedy movies that was made in late 1950s and early
1960s.
I value Man's Favorite Sport? highly. Some movie fans might wonder
why I do so, because the movie belongs to so-called romantic comedy movies made in late 1950s and early 1960s that
are liable to be considered to be dated and lukewarm from the eyes of present days. Though this feeling toward
old but not classic movies is not totally groundless, nevertheless it should be mentioned one important point is
forgotten. That is; our perceptions are molded by our contemporary culture, therefore all things belonging to the
old days can't be just fitted to the perceptual patterns of modern day's audience. In this regard, it must carefully
be thought out why, say, the literature of the past is so important for all of us. I consider one of the reasons
for it is because it provides us with the view point by which our contemporary culture can be evaluated objectively,
and for that purpose, the view point of present days certainly won't work, for, as I said before, it is molded
by our contemporary culture itself that is the very target of this evaluation process. Therefore, if you felt some
works of old days to be dated, you should ask yourself at least once about why you felt so and whether or not it
is because your system has been brainwashed with today's standards. Besides, I consider Man's Favorite Sport?
is the best movie among all those romantic comedy movies I have so far watched, that are not so few. Especially
Paula Prentiss's versatile performance is marvelous, though she is not exactly such kind of actress as referred
to as a woman having mesmerizing beauty and irresistible fascination in her exterior. Anyway, I will explain this
later. Although I must admit these movies can't be called masterpieces, they certainly will work as refreshment
especially after watching recent exaggerated violent movies or ponderous serious drama movies, and surely you will
be able to smell the fragrance of peaceful days of the age when there was no obsessive rush for doing anything.
Of course, you are phony, Mr. Rock Hudson!
In this movie, Rock Hudson plays a person known to the customers of a fishing
equipment shop as an expert of fishing. But actually he has never practiced any activity concerning fishing before,
and he even seems to be utterly incompetent for doing anything outdoors. He cannot build a tent, he cannot swim,
and he cannot even grab a fish. In spite of this fact, one day he is put into the situation he must participate
in a fishing tournament by the idea of Paula Prentiss, where he is expected to show a decent result as a professional,
if that doesn't necessarily mean he should be the winner. Compensating his inability with regard to outdoor activities,
he has one ability superior to everyone; that is, the ability to gather information with the aid of his suave personality,
and talk as if he had every knowledge for what actually he dosen't know so well. In short, he is phony as called
by Paula Prentiss in a scene. Anyway, he decides to retain his false pretense with the aid of two women, Paula
Prentiss and Maria Perschy. At last, the day of the fishing tournament comes, and he has almost succeeded in concealing
his inability with the aid of sheer accidents and a bear. But, after he has won, he, himself, confesses to the
public the fact he has never practiced any fishing before. As I consider the movie is slightly staggering in the
last part (for example, I can hardly understand why, at the last moment, Paula Prentiss all of a sudden asks him
to get rid of his false exterior which, by then, she has always been encouraging him to do so), I cannot fully
understand why he does so. But, anyway, after this, he succeeds in landing Paula Prentiss instead of the trophy
of the fishing tournament, or rather, for that matter, I ought to say Paula Prentiss succeeds in landing Rock Hudson.
It's fun to watch Rock Hudson always being chased around by Paula
Prentiss who is full of masculine temperament.
The pleasure of this movie certainly comes from the chemistry between Rock
Hudson who lacks masculine abilities and Paula Prentiss who is full of them and called a domineering woman by Rock
Hudson. Therefore, aforementioned ambiguity about main characters' real intentions and the deficiencies like the
inclination for occasionally veering into unnecessary slapstick scenes such as a bear riding motorcycle aren't
so important and are forgivable. Rock Hudson usually plays a male chauvinistic person in the movies with Doris
Day. But, this time around, he seems to be completely overwhelmed by the presence of Paula Prentiss. I even consider
this movie's title should have been "Woman's Favorite Sport? (is boys)". Because Paula Prentiss is the
person who is always chasing after Rock Hudson, not the other way around. And also I can say as this movie's scheme
is very simple and straightforward, you will be able to simply enjoy the bantering exchanges among players who
have curious dispositions.
What a marvelous actress Paula Prentiss is!
At this point, I want to talk about this stunning actress Paula Prentiss as
I promised in the first paragraph. What I am going to say partly owes to the Internet site Paula
Prentiss Home Page that is devoted to her works and includes detailed biography and filmography of hers. Therefore,
if you want to know of her further than what I say here, please see this site. To tell the truth, so far I haven't
watched so many of her movies. Among 1960s, just this one and the movie Honeymoon Machine that is also one
of the earlier movies of Steve McQueen. But her talent is apparent in these two movies. Her coruscating characteristic
is not the one we are usually expecting in this age's standard. In Man's Favorite Sport?, she seems to overwhelm
and overshadow Rock Hudson not only in performance, but also in presence. This isn't the case with Doris Day with
whom Rock Hudson appears in several romantic comedy movies. Even when Doris Day seems to be playing an active career
woman in such movies like Pillow Talk or Lover Come Back, still she is just a function of Rock Hudson.
It's obvious in these movies Rock Hudson has power over Doris Day, even if ostensibly he seems to be the one who
has adapted himself to her milieu by marrying her in the movie Lover Come Back. Because there is an untold
premise here that women should be passive, and men should care for women, and Doris Day is acting accordingly.
After all, the motives of the activities of Doris Day always seem to arise from the results of the actitivities
of Rock Hudson in these movies. On the other hand, in the movie Man's Favorite Sport?, Paula Prentiss is
the person who is always one step ahead of Rock Hudson. Rock Hudson's activities are always the response to Paula
Prentiss's activities. Of course, such ideas like women leading men might not have been new at all even in the
time this movie was made. Nevertheless, as Paula Prentiss's characteristic seems to be best fitted to the role,
there is no doubt in that Man's favorite Sport? gives us rather fresh feeling and sheer enjoyment. But,
to my disappointment, she seems to have failed to expand this precious personality after 1970s, for, as far as
I know, there is no notable movie she has succeeded in showing it to the extent of her earlier movies. I don't
know whether it was because of the problem on her part or rather the problem of Hollywood. But, anyway, as I even
consider, if she had succeeded in showing it in her subsequent career to the fullest, she might have been one of
the greatest stars of all time, the fact she isn't so famous these days is a very sad fact both for her and we
the audience.
I guarantee you will certainly be able to get refreshing feeling from
this excellent movie.
Anyway, Man's Favorite Sport? is definitely fun to watch. I, by myself,
am watching it at least once a month. I have never been bored of this movie, no matter how many times I have seen
it. As I said in the first paragraph, in this age everything need to be done hastily and accurately, I guarantee
this movie certainly gives you refreshing feeling. So if you become tired of watching recent extremely violent
and perverted movies, Man's Favorite Sport? will surely be able to be a remedy for it enabling you to muster
the energy to face another recent violent movie. Besides, you can meet a marvelous actress Paula Prentiss there.
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