The War Between Men and Women ** (1972, Jack Lemmon, Barbara Harris, Jason Robards Jr) – Classic Movie Review 6236

Co-writer/ director Melville Shavelson’s 1972 movie is an interesting but uncomfortable mix of comedy, drama, romance, sentiment and seriousness, loosely based on James Thurber’s writings and drawings.

Jack Lemmon plays Peter Wilson, a cartoonist going blind, who marries book seller Terry Kozlenko (Barbara Harris), whose life is beset by being troubled by three kids and an ex-husband, Stephen (Jason Robards Jr), from her first marriage.

This awkward piece is held together by the attractive playing, especially of the super talented and appealing Lemmon and Harris.

The director and his co-writer Danny Arnold (who is also the film’s producer) worked on the Thurber TV series My World and Welcome to It.

Also in the cast are Herb Edelman, Lisa Gerritsen, Lisa Eilbacher, Severn Darden, Joyce Brothers, Moosie Drier, Rick Gates, Bill Hickman, Lea Marmer, Ruth McDevitt, Lucille Meredith, Margaret Muse, John Zaremba and Burt Richards.

It is shot by Charles F Wheeler, produced by Danny Arnold, scored by Marvin Hamlisch and designed by Stan Jolley.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6236

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