House Calls (1978)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Howard Zieff

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (story)
Alan Mandel (writer)

Release Date:

7 August 1978 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

More than a touch of comedy. Just what the doctor ordered.

Plot:

Charley is a surgeon who's recently lost his wife; he embarks on a tragicomic romantic quest with one woman after another until he meets up with Ann...

Plot Keywords:

Enema | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Walter Matthau	...	Dr. Charley Nichols
Glenda Jackson	...	Ann Atkinson
Art Carney	...	Dr. Amos Willoughby
Richard Benjamin	...	Dr. Norman Solomon
Candice Azzara	...	Ellen Grady
Dick O'Neill	...	Irwin Owett
Thayer David	...	Phil Pogostin
Anthony Holland	...	TV moderator
Reva Rose	...	Mrs. de Voto
Sandra Kerns	...	Lani Mason
Brad Dexter	...	Quinn
Jane Connell	...	Mrs. Conway
Lloyd Gough	...	Harry Grady
Gordon Jump	...	Dr. O'Brien
William J. Fiore	...	Dr. Sloan

Runtime:

USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:7 | USA:PG

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The song that Walter Matthau is attempting to sing in the shower is Cherubino's song from Act II of Mozart's "Nozze di Figaro"

Quotes:

Ann Atkinson: You broke my heart!
Dr. Charley Nichols: Don't worry, I'm a doctor, I can fix it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hercules Against the Moon Men (#5.10)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

On the sunny side of the street

A Pretty Good Romantic Comedy for the 70's...

HOUSE CALLS was an amusing 1978 comedy about a widowed doctor (Walter Matthau) who now wants to play the field but can't help but be drawn to a patient of his (Glenda Jackson) who refuses to be just another notch on his bedpost. Matthau likes the woman but does not really want to make the commitment that she insists upon so he agrees to date her exclusively for two weeks and then make a decision as to whether or not he wants to commit; however, other complications make it difficult for Matthau to make a decision when the two weeks are up, even though he is clearly in love with the woman. Matthau and Jackson have surprisingly effective chemistry as a screen couple and are given strong support from Richard Benjamin, Candice Azzara, Dick O'Neill, and especially Art Carney as the inept and senile Chief of Staff at the hospital where Matthau is employed. Matthau even has a brief scene with his real-life son, Charlie, who appears as Jackson's son. This engaging comedy still holds up pretty well after all these years. If you've never seen it, it's worth the rental.