Man's Favorite Sport?

Howard Hawks did of course create the classic _Bringing Up Baby_ and some comparison between _Favorite_ as a 26-year update of the former is inevitable. Hawks did plenty of screwball comedies, but above all, Hawks was a director who made GUY films; _Red River_ may be the ultimate man's man film of all time. And to some extent, this film is about Willoughby's (Hudson's) fraudulent expertise in "manly" activities such as camping, outdoor activities and--most critical to the plot--fishing.

Life is good for Hudson as the expert fisherman who is big man at Abercrombie and Fitch, until brash Abby Page (Prentiss) destroys his serene existence with a publicity stunt of having Hudson enter an annual fishing contest.

After resisting the idea, Hudson is soon forced to confess he's never fished in his life--that his reputation is a hoax. Rather than sensibly abandon the scheme, Prentiss decides she can teach Hudson how to fish in 3 days. This inevitably leads to all sorts of misadventures as Hudson is so inept he can't even swim! Some of the more amusing sequences are Hudson's inflatable waders exploding underwater, having a bear steal his trail-bike, or literally running across the surface of the lake to escape another bear. Some of the gags work better than others; the gags range from leisurely to elaborate, but all in good fun.

The fast-talking overlapping dialog is pure Hawks and (the uncredited) Brackett, and is wonderful.

Hudson has been criticized for not being Cary Grant (how could anyone be?) but he actually develops his own persona, different from both Grant and his own Hudson-Day characterizations. In this film, he is partially browbeaten by Prentiss and her sidekick Perschy, but ultimately, he voluntarily suffers through his ordeals as a matter of penance.

Paula on the other hand is a complete success: perky, beautiful, brash, and unpredictable--she gives a spectacularly energetic performance. This is the sole film is where Prentiss has the script and the screen time to refine her comic persona. While Perschy and Holt exist to create a triangle and fuel the high-jinx, they also define the limits of the Prentiss character; she is neither exotic like Perschy nor sultry like Holt. In comparison, she is pleasantly and very prettily tomboyish, often wearing outdoor sporting wear, and thoroughly competent at all things in which Hudson had professed expertise.

When compared with _Baby_, _Favorite_ perhaps begins with a potentially even richer premise, and is less fanciful, disposing of rich Connecticut dowagers and University endowments. But it never quite builds to the same frenetic pace and lacks the absurdity of the situations Grant finds himself in: remember "Mr. Bone?" Hawks does lift sequences right out of _Baby_ when Hudson shadows Perschy because the back of her dress is open, the "Love impulse in men manifests itself in conflict" from Dr. Lehman is used by Easy, the fish in the pants comes out of _Monkey Business_.

Yet the films are quite different. Grant's character is entirely asocial while Hudson's is the leader of the Hawksian male group. Furthermore, Hepburn is quickly determined to snare Grant, while Prentiss is to the end ambivalent or in self-denial.

I've seen it commented (including by the Voice film critic Molly Haskell) that the film is more satisfying when seen for the second time, and I wholeheartedly agree with this. This review replaces one which was not quite so laudatory. Three times is even better. Familiarity, in the case of this film, breeds endearment.

The sad part is that Paula Prentiss is so lovely and talented to watch in this film, and clearly the critics had huge expectations of her career, yet the next year she would do only three small parts in ensemble casts before withdrawing from films entirely for the next five years. These years, from when she was 26 through 31, were those where she certainly would have become a huge star.

In one of the funniest screwball comedies of the pre-World War II studio era, William Powell has a celebrated experience with a fish while he pretended to be a fishing expert. It was the highlight of Libeled Lady and I'm sure Howard Hawks thought that we could get a whole comedy out of that situation.

In Man's Favorite Sport he succeeds admirably. If the film had been done 20 years earlier, Cary Grant would definitely have been in the lead. The part of Roger Willoughby, who wrote a book on fishing based on hearsay from the various customers he's dealt with at Abercrombie&Fitch, would have been ideal for Cary Grant as it has just the kind of physical comedy that Grant was so adept at.

However Rock Hudson steps into the role admirably and for once he's the pursued and not the pursuer. Pursuing Hudson every step of the way is the kookie Paula Prentiss who seemed to study at the Carol Burnett school of zaniness for this part.

On a bit of advice from public relations expert Prentiss, Hudson's boss at Abercrombie&Fitch, John McGiver, has him enter a fishing tournament. When Hudson confesses he's never fished and hates the slimy things, Prentiss decides to help fake it through.

There are a lot of really great laughs in this film, but the best scene is Hudson trying out this inflatable suit for those who are fishing and fall in the water. He does and the results are hilarious.

Don't miss this film if it is ever broadcast.

I have to admit I had a serious crush on Paula Prentiss during her days as a big star. Gloriously beautiful, sexy, with that great Texas accent Ms. Prentiss was a great sexy comedienne and this is likely her greatest role in Howard Hawks Man's Favorite Sport. Initially to be filmed at Paramount with Prentiss and Cary Grant, Paramount per legend refused to cast Paula Prentiss, so Howard Hawks took the project to Universal and cast Rock Hudson and Ms. Prentiss. Man's Favorite Sport? has top notch Universal production values and both stars play off well against each other. Paula Prentiss in an interview years later said she was speechless when introduced to Mr. Hudson as she claimed he was even better looking in person than he was on screen, and that Hudson's personal appearance was so great it was almost beyond comprehension.

Mr Hudson does well in this film. This is a fine wacky comedy directed by a Master Director Howard Hawks and features Ms. Prentiss' finest performance. Paula Prentiss got and deserved equal star billing over the title with box office champ Rock Hudson. I for one am glad that Howard Hawks stood his ground and insisted on Mr. Prentiss who was loaned to Hawks and Universal Prentiss' from home studio MGM

Viva Paula Prentiss

Howard Hawks legendary Director fell like most Men for gorgeous Paula Prentiss. Prentiss was an MGM star having made 4 comedies with her co star Jim Hutton. Hawks had a deal with Paramount for this film but that studio did not want Prentiss in the picture so Howard Hawks took the project to Universal and assigned its greatest star Rock Hudson as co star. MGM loaned Prentiss to Universal for this movie. Paula Prentiss was given above the title billing next to Hudson on this film and raised Prentiss to worldwide star.

Rock Hudson who was #1 at Universal and a top male star in Hollywood gives a great performance as a expert on fishing who in actuality knows nothing about fishing. Hudson in his great career was co star to Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Jane Wyman, Jennifer Jones, and most famously Doris Day.

Paula Prentiss when discussing this movie said when she met Hudson she was stunned as she said Hudson was the most handsome man she ever saw. His looks were a distraction per Paula. Paula Prentiss gives a great performance in this film and someone wrote a book "Alternative Oscars" and listed Prentiss as the star who gave the best female performance. Prentiss was not nominated but I feel in reality this gorgeous talented Texas should have been nominated for Supporting Actress for Where The Boys Are and Best Actress for Man's Favorite Sport?

A delightful and agreeable Screwball comedy that has lost none of its vintage and punch . The author of a best-selling fishing guide called Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is loved by his customers in the sporting goods department at Abercrombie and Fitch run by his boss , the store owner William Cadwalader (John McGiver) . Roger is actually extremely inexperienced in outdoor-sports , but then he finds himself entered in an anglers' contest which causes confusion . Then botcher Rock becomes the unwitting object of the fun affections from two beautiful women (Paula Prentiss , Maria Perschy) . As Prentiss attempts to get for herself to Rock who also happens to be engaged to another girlfriend (Charlene Holt) . And both of whom become involved into all sorts of trouble . What is Man's Favorite Sport?... Just ask any Girl! ...Girls are good at it too! .It takes a girl to supply the answer.

An enjoyable comedy of the best vintage with the two great comedian actors , Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss , on glittering and splendorous form . One ridiculous and absurd situation after another adds up to high speed fun . From a story titled "The Girl Who Almost Got Away" by Pat Frank and storyline by John Fenton Murray , Steve McNeil and Howard Hawks himself . Concerning a simple and light plot about a fishing contest which causes mayhem when our bungling starring is entered into a competition, including laughters , confusion , funny set pieces , amusement , entertainment and big fun . And following similar style to the deemed to be quintaessential classic comedy : ¨Breaking up baby¨ (1938) by Howard Hawks himself . Featuring a great main and support cast , all of them are in nice and enjoyable form . Dialogue and situations are breezy and clever , employing filmmaker Hawks's famous overlapping dialogue to maximum advantage .Rock Hudson givis a likable actng as an outdoors columnist considered to be a leading expert on sports fishing , but really ,he's never been fishing in his life and then mayhem ensues , this movie provided Rock with one of his best characters. While screwball Paula Prentiss add Maria Preschy spend most of their time gumming up the workd for poor Hudson. Keep an eye out for some familiar roles and some inventive biits , here standing out the support actors as Norman Alden , John McGiver , Forrest Lewis , Regis Toomey and Charlene Holt .

It displays an adequate cinematography in brilliant techinicolor by Russell Harlan . Likewise, marvelous score by Henry Mancini with catching and attractive leitmotif . The motion picture was competently directed by Howard Hawks who manages the perfect balance of mayhem and control , adding sparkling dialogue and amusing incidents . Hawks was one of the best Hollywood directors . He made various masterpieces and directed all kinds of genres , Comedy, Western, drama , Noir Film , wartime , thriller , such as : "Air Force, Sergeant York , Outlaw , Rio Bravo , Río Lobo, El Dorado, Hatari, His Friday Girl, Man's Favotite sport ? , Gentlemen prefer Blondes , Monkey Business , Fire Ball , Gone and Get it , Criminal Code, Big Sleep, To Have and Have not" and many others . This is definitively a must-see and it is guaranteed to have you falling out your seat in helpless laughter . This was Hawks' final comedy and runs a long two hours.