Trivia / The Odd Couple (1968)

• What Could Have Been:
  • Billy Wilder was originally supposed to write and direct the film.
  • Art Carney (who played Felix on Broadway) wasn't seen as very marketable by Paramount, so Frank Sinatra and Dick Van Dyke, among others, were considered for the movie role before the producers settled on Jack Lemmon.
  • Jackie Gleason and Mickey Rooney were among those considered for Oscar before Walter Matthau was called to reprise his role.
  • Matthau asked director Gene Saks if he could play Felix, as he wanted an acting challenge after having perfected the role of Oscar on stage. Saks flatly refused.
  • The Shea Stadium scene was originally supposed to have Roberto Clemente as the one hitting into the triple play, thereby being an even more improbable occurrence for Oscar to miss out on. When the future Hall of Famer refused (viewing the scenario as an insult to his hitting and baserunning abilities), his Pirates teammate Bill Mazeroski was used instead.

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