On January 18, 1975, the classic comedy film "The Sunshine Boys" was released, directed by Herbert Ross and starring Walter Matthau and George Burns. The movie was based on the 1972 play of the same name by Neil Simon, who also wrote the screenplay.
"The Sunshine Boys" tells the story of two aging vaudeville performers, Al Lewis (George Burns) and Willy Clark (Walter Matthau), who had a successful comedy act for 43 years before a bitter breakup. After 11 years of not speaking to each other, they are convinced by Willy's nephew, a talent agent named Ben (Richard Benjamin), to reunite for a CBS special on the history of comedy.
The film humorously explores the complex relationship between the two elderly comedians as they confront their past differences and attempt to work together one last time. George Burns, who was 79 years old at the time, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance, making him the oldest Oscar winner in a competitive category at the time.
"The Sunshine Boys" was a critical and commercial success, praised for its witty dialogue, strong performances, and nostalgic portrayal of the vaudeville era. The film also featured notable supporting roles by Lee Meredith, F. Murray Abraham, and Howard Hesseman.
The success of the film led to a short-lived CBS television series in 1977, also titled "The Sunshine Boys," with Burns reprising his role alongside Lionel Stander as Willy Clark.
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