Streaming Movie Classic Review Barefoot In the Park

“Barefoot in the Park an odd couple romance that most people can relate to at some level.

“Barefoot in the Park” was Neil Simon’s longest-running 1963 Broadway play. It was brought to the big screen in 1967. Retaining Robert Redford as Paul Bratter and Mildred Natwick as Ethel Banks from its 1,530 performances on Broadway, Neil Simon added Jane Fonda and Charles Boyer as Corie Bratter and Victor Velasco for the film adaptation.

Jane Fonda took this role to shed the image she was building in Hollywood as “the girl next door” and to show that she had more range. Redford and Fonda became friends during filming. It’s a friendship that still continues today. And with their on-screen chemistry, it’s easy to see why. Even with obvious character differences Redford and Fonda look and act like a couple that clearly belong together.

Premise

Paul and Corie Bratter are starting their honeymoon after what was a whirlwind romance. We quickly see that Paul is the conventional type of guy who never likes to lose control. Corie, however, never likes to miss an opportunity to have an adventure or follow a whim.

After a 6-day honeymoon, the couple moves into a 5th floor (6th if you count the stoop) apartment in Greenwich Village. A terrible paint job, ridiculously small bedroom, no tub, backwards plumbing, and a hole in the skylight are just the start to the oddities that we find in the building. It seems that of all the tenets, Paul and Corie seem to be the most normal of the group. Exciting for Corie but unnerving to Paul.

We then meet Victor Velasco (Charles Boyer), Paul and Corie’s upstairs neighbor that is nothing more than the building’s attic. Victor is as free a spirit as is Corie and the two almost instantly hit it off.

Corie decides to play matchmaker and introduce Victor to her mother, Mildred Natwick (Ethel Banks). Ironically Mildred is more like Paul then than her. The differences between Paul and Corie become more obvious as Corie tries to connect Victor and Mildred.

Starring;

Robert Redford as Paul Bratter

Jane Fonda as Corie Bratter

Charles Boyer as Victor Velasco

Mildred Natwick as Ethel Banks

Director;

Gene Saks

Writer;

Neil Simon

Marcia’s 2 cents worth;

5 out of 5 stars “A good opposites attract movie”.

Q Me “If I was to watch this film again would you watch it with me”?