Man's Favorite Sport?
1964 US
Dir: Howard Hawks
Str: Rock Hudson, Paula Prentiss, Maria
Perschy, John McGiver
Man's Favorite Sport? is by far the best movie among all those
romantic comedy movies that was made in the 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 the late 1950s and early 1960s
that are liable to be considered to be dated and lukewarm from the eyes of present days (as I don't as yet have
enough knowledge to discuss romantic comedy movies made prior to this period, I'm, by saying so, not including
such famous romantic comedy movies such as "It Happened One Night"(1934)). 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 made during this period that I have so far watched, which
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 before practiced any activity concerning fishing,
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 to the fact he has never practiced any fishing in his life. 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 of their own.
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 the 1960s, just this one and the movie "Honeymoon Machine"(1961)
that is also one of the earlier movies of Steve McQueen (Note:This article was originally written several years
ago. At the point of year 2002, I've watched almost all of her movies but a few). But her talent is apparent in
these two movies. Her coruscating personality 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"(1959)
or "Lover Come Back"(1962), still she is just a function of Rock Hudson. It's obvious in these movies
that 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 be triggered from the results of the actitivities of Rock Hudson
in these movies. On the other hand, in "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 personality 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 the 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 when 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 with
the effect surely enabling you to muster the energy to face another recent violent movie. Besides, you can meet
a marvelous actress Paula Prentiss there.