History Film / TheSunshineBoys

Willy Clark (Matthau) and Al Lewis (Burns) were once a famous {{vaudeville}} comedy DoubleAct, "Lewis and Clark, the Sunshine Boys". Eleven years after the two parted ways on unfriendly terms, Willy's nephew Ben (Creator/RichardBenjamin) is a talent agent who's been trying to find his uncle work. One day, Creator/{{ABC}} inquires about having the Sunshine Boys appear in an upcoming TV special on the history of comedy. Now, it's up to Ben to persuade the long-estranged duo to patch up their differences and get back together.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Lewis and Clark are loosely based on such real life vaudeville-era comedy duos as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_and_Dale Smith and Dale]] (whose "Dr. Kronkeit" routine is the obvious inspiration for the "Doctor Sketch") and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallagher_and_Shean Gallagher and Shean]] (who were well-known for their tempestuous offstage relationship).

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Lewis and Clark are loosely based on such real-life vaudeville comedy duos as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_and_Dale Smith and Dale]] (whose "Dr. Kronkeit" routine is the obvious inspiration for the "Doctor Sketch") and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallagher_and_Shean Gallagher and Shean]] (who were well-known for their tempestuous offstage relationship).

Remade as a 1996 MadeForTVMovie that aired on the ''Series/HallmarkHallOfFame'', starring Creator/WoodyAllen as Al, Creator/PeterFalk as Willy, and Creator/SarahJessicaParker as Willy's niece/agent Nancy.

Remade as a 1996 MadeForTVMovie starring Creator/WoodyAllen as Al, Creator/PeterFalk as Willy, and Creator/SarahJessicaParker as Willy's niece/agent Nancy.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Lewis and Clark are loosely based on such real-life vaudeville comedy duos as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_and_Dale Smith and Dale]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallagher_and_Shean Gallagher and Shean]].

* SadClown: The heated arguments between Clark and Lewis maybe humorous, but also sad and hardest to watch at the same time as you think about it: these two elder actors were a successful comedy act and initially the best of friends, but then parted on negative terms and both became the grouchy shadows of their former selves, especially Willy, who was the most cantankerous and stubborn, yet refuses to give up acting when it is already evident his career is all but dead due to his being difficult to work with, his delusions of non-existent acting success, and his own unlikable arrogance. It's quite heart-wrenching to realize that after all these years, the rancor remains.

* WeUsedToBeFriends: Willy and Al, prior to their rancorous falling-out.

* ShoutOut: It's mentioned that Lewis and Clark appeared together on ''Series/TheEdSullivanShow'' prior to their breakup.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Film/ForTheBoys'' and ''Film/MrSaturdayNight''.

->''"As an actor, no one could touch him. As a human being, no one WANTED to touch him!"''

* HospitalHottie: One of the supporting characters in the Sunshine Boys' trademark "Doctor Sketch" is a buxom blonde nurse in a [[NaughtyNurseOutfit tight-fitting uniform with a low-cut neckline and short hemline]], and the routine features many jokes about the doctor (and, eventually, the patient played by Al) getting not-so-subtle looks down one end of her uniform and up the other.

Willy Clark (Matthau) and Al Lewis (Burns) were once a famous Vaudeville comedy DoubleAct, "Lewis and Clark, the Sunshine Boys". Eleven years after the two parted ways on unfriendly terms, Willy's nephew Ben (Creator/RichardBenjamin) is a talent agent who's been trying to find his uncle work. One day, Creator/{{ABC}} inquires about having the Sunshine Boys appear in an upcoming TV special on the history of comedy. Now, it's up to Ben to persuade the long-estranged duo to patch up their differences and get back together.