When most of us think of The Odd Couple, either the film or the television show probably comes to mind. The story of the neat freak and the slob who are forced to live together is a well-known one in popular culture. But before they graced our screens, The Odd Couple was a play. A smash hit, in fact, that ran for nearly 1000 performances on Broadway from 1965 to 1967, and whose success was what prompted Hollywood to adapt the story. All thanks to Mike Nichols, who directed the original production. Well, to be fair, we also owe a debt of gratitude to Walter Matthau and Art Carney, the two actors who originated the roles of Oscar and Felix. In addition to its popular success, The Odd Couple was well-received at the Tonys, where Mike Nichols took home his second Best Direction of a Play award.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
