Jack Lemmon

Jack Lemmon is one of the funniest comedic actors I’ve come across. I first saw him in his older films like Grumpy Old Men with another great comedic actor, Walter Matthau. They are a great pair of actors who work well with each other. Once I became familiar with Lemmon’s later work I started watching his classic films during the beginning of his career. Lemmon had many popular films at this time including Some Like it Hot, The Apartment, Days of Wine and Roses, and Save the Tiger. 

I would have to say that Some Like it Hot from 1959 and The Odd Couple from 1968 are my favorite movies of Lemmon’s early career. I know Some Like it Hot is synonymous with Lemmon’s name, but it’s for good reason. Lemmon’s portrayals of Jerry/Daphne are brilliantly funny. 

 

 

Today, I would like to talk about The Odd Couple and Some Like it Hot and Lemmon’s acting ability in these two movies. In preparation of writing about Jack Lemmon, I watched Inside the Actors Studio. If you haven’t heard or seen the show, James Lipton the host, sits down with actors to talk about their body of work. Lemmon talks about The Odd Couple and Walter Matthau’s ability to act with you and not at you. This is evident in their onscreen collaborations together. It is clear to an audience that these two actors enjoy working together. In every sense of the word, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau’s characters are complete opposites, but when they come together, they create magical movie experiences. 

Some favorite scene’s of mine that stand out as excellent is where Lemmon’s character Felix, rents a hotel room. He’s desperately trying to open the window in his room, but can’t. The window won’t budge and you can see that Felix is giving it everything he has to open it, so much so that he pulls the muscles in his back.

 Now, I go back to Inside the Actor’s Studio where Alec Baldwin shares a story about his wife at the time Kim Basinger and her favorite actor, Jack Lemmon. Baldwin says Lemmon is her favorite actor because he is so reactionary. I completely agree with that statement. Watch any film of Lemmon’s and you’ll see a realistic reactionary character. That I believe is Lemmon’s gift to acting.

 

Another favorite scene of mine is between Felix and Oscar. Oscar can’t stand anymore of Felix’s incessant cleaning and goes crazy. Felix says to Oscar, “Walk on the papers, I just washed the floor in there,” that does it for Oscar, he loses it and starts to chase Felix. That scene is hilarious because up to that point Oscar was mild about Felix's control issues, but no longer. Oscar reaches the tipping point and lets Felix have it.

 

 

 

 Please make every effort to see this film; it is a great treat to watch two great actors in a wonderful film. 

 

The next film I’d love to rave about is Some Like it Hot. By far, I believe this is Lemmon’s most famous film. Lemmon and Tony Curtis dress in drag to out run the mob. Together they must live the lives of women while trying to conceal their identities.

By the end of the movie, Lemmon’s character Jerry/Daphne realizes that she is better off as a woman than a man. Daphne is engaged to be married to a wealthy man and she’s over the moon about it, until Joe has to remind Daphne that he’s really Jerry. Jerry realizes his situation and says, “Boy oh boy am I a boy.”

The end scene is where Jerry finally tells Osgood he’s a man, Osgood replies, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” That last scene is the most recognized and the film as a whole is a classic film that has endured the test of time.

 Lemmon evokes so much emotion from his roles, and particularly in this movie. You can't help but sit back and watch the genius of Lemmon. Please, take my advice and watch this Inside the Actor’s Studio episode and find out just how well an actor Jack Lemmon really is.

Inside The Actor's Studio Entire Jack Lemmon Episode: