Man's Favorite Sport?

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Man's Favorite Sport?

Released Jan 31, 1964

2h 0m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Salesman Roger (Rock Hudson) is revered for his ability to sell fishing supplies; he's even authored a book on the art of angling. So, when a fishing tournament comes up, his boss asks him to enter. Too bad he doesn't actually know the first thing about the sport, having never done it himself. Helping him with a crash course in rods and reels is the competition's publicist, Abby (Paula Prentiss), and her friend "Easy" (Maria Perschy) -- much to the consternation of Roger's fiancée.

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Variety

Matters are helped along somewhat by an attractive and spirited cast, but not enough to keep the film consistently amusing.

May 13, 2008

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Time Out

In many ways the quintessential Hollywood auteur movie.

Jun 24, 2006

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A.H. Weiler

New York Times

Man's Favorite Sport?, the film's theme song has it, is girls. It certainly is not originality or comedy.

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2005

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

we have to sit through silly cartoonish moments involving fishing and fake bears, blended with lame attempts at romantic comedy.

Rated: C-

Apr 14, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Howard Hawks directed some classic screwball comedies in his day, but this late-career attempt to recapture that magic comes up short. Still, it offers plenty of fun.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 9, 2022

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TV Guide

Hawks delivers his usual heavy-handed direction, but the film's premise is too flimsy to spread over two hours. The script is marred by tired comic routines and slow pacing.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 13, 2008

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Rare T

The actors are very well casted, which with Howard Hawks’ scenic shots and serene vibe, turns Man’s Favorite Sport into a treat. Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss have chemistry together and are both comical, with his character being the vain and sloppy but good-hearted man, while hers being the reckless but delightful coquette. And this goes on to apply to the rest of the cast. Each character carries a unique personality played meticulously by its respective actor, while the plot expands to reference psychiatry and older cinema in a profound manner and not shallowly just for show.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

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harwee h

Serviceable but mediocre by all account. Hudson is all the movie star that he is is magnetic on screen but the story is bland.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/13/24

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Ext771 E

Awful movie with zero chemistry between Hudson and Prentiss. Hudson has no sense of comedy, and amateurish Prentiss is completely unappealing as both a character and based on her appearance. Woof. Director Hawks was clearly trying to recreate the vibe of "Bringing Up Baby" with Grant and Hepburn, but failed here miserably. Unfunny throughout. Makes you wonder how a movie this bad ever got financed and produced.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/24

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Steve D

Sometimes amusing but there just isn't enough to it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/23/23

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Audience Member

No llega a los niveles de sus anteriores screenballs, pero Hawks impreme su sello personal en las escenas finales en el rio.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

What a great movie. Very Funny Classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Howard Hawks

Director

Rock Hudson

Roger Willoughby

Paula Prentiss

Abigail Page

Maria Perschy

Isolde "Easy" Mueller

John McGiver

William Cadwalader

Roscoe Karns

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Synopsis

Salesman Roger (Rock Hudson) is revered for his ability to sell fishing supplies; he's even authored a book on the art of angling. So, when a fishing tournament comes up, his boss asks him to enter. Too bad he doesn't actually know the first thing about the sport, having never done it himself. Helping him with a crash course in rods and reels is the competition's publicist, Abby (Paula Prentiss), and her friend "Easy" (Maria Perschy) -- much to the consternation of Roger's fiancée.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Pat Frank, John Fenton Murray, Steve McNeil
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Gibraltar Productions, Universal Pictures, Laurel Productions
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 1964, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 10, 2017
Runtime: 2h 0m

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