MovieChat Forums > Plaza Suite (1971) Discussion > Favorite Part of the 3?

Favorite Part of the 3?

posted 18 years ago by PeterBlues
8 replies | jump to latest

This is a play by Neil Simon, who's behind one of my favorite movies "odd couple" (i also enjoyed "Sunshine Boys" and others), and directed by Arthur Hiller who directed one of the funniest films i remember "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" (and others), and it's starring one of the most talanted and funniest actors ever - Walter Matthau. So i would expect this to be a very enjoyable watch. But honestly, i can't get hooked on any of these 3 parts. If i have to chose one, i guess the 3rd part.
i didn't think any of Matthau's characters were likeable. 1st story he cheats on his wife. 2nd story i found unintresting, where he plays a hollywood producer. I guess i settle for the 3rd part.

i'm sorry if i hurt you, by the things i done and said,
i was just a young man back then, and i didn't use my head,
just an ignorant guy who didn't know any better,
a careless player who didn't notice if it was sunny or rainy weather,
i've been such a fool, and i'm sorry for everyone i mistreated,
i wish i could make it alright, i got remorse that keeps my brain heated,
if there was only a way, to get forgiveness from each and everyone,
but i'll have to live with the remorse, untill the day they put me in the ground.
its only right for me to suffer this way,
for all the wrong i've done in my days,

[–] lady-claire 17 years ago

I like the 3rd part the best.Walter Matthau & Lee Grant are GREAT comedians,it's just hilarious.I really have a good laugh seeing it,also the "surprising"end is great("Cool it")!:-)

[–] wainot 17 years ago

I finally saw this film in its entirety, and I don't believe this film is either Simon's or Matthau's best, yet still very watchable.

From best to worst, I would rate the segments;

#3 -- w/ Lee Grant -- Mimsy in the bathroom, "cool it", etc.
#1 -- w/ Maureen Stapleton: "annivesary" scene ...pretty dramatic stuff, if only some of the humor worked
#2 - w/ Barbara Harris ...Hollywood Producer...Harris was very good, but kind of an annoying, cheesy scene, even if that were the point.

[–] IForgotMyMantra 16 years ago

I thought the Barbara Harris section was the best. The Maureen Stapleton scenes very good also -- definite sense of them really being married. As much as I like Lee Grant, I thought the final scene was overlong and just standard television sitcom fare.

[–] hrhppg 16 years ago

What was the surprise end? The last I saw was a shot of the hotel after teh newlyweds took off on the scooter.

[–] IForgotMyMantra 16 years ago

I think the fact that they left on the scooter was what the person meant as a surprise.

[–] moviefreak92 15 years ago

The funniest--Act 3. The most emotionally charged--Act 1.

Act 2 is just OK.

"Yes, sir!"
"Don't call me 'sir.'"
"Yes, ma'am!"
~NCIS

[–] zuzupetal_99 14 years ago

Act 1 - my heart just broke for that woman!

If George C. Scott had reprised his Broadway role, I'd have never sat thru this film, even though I do like some of Neil Simon's movies this so far is my least-fave. I LOVE Matthau, and he makes the movie watchable, but I didn't think the movie was very great. I liked the premise that such different stories all take place from the same hotel room - that's kinda cool to think of how many different stories take place w/ different people from the same room, but unfortunately the stories just weren't that interesting to me. Odd Couple & Sunshine Boys are wonderfully funny, but this fell flat for me.

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] s007davis 10 years ago

The 3rd is easily the funniest and most entertaining of the 3 stories.