much like the comedy duo of it title and the sunshine boy have become a forgotten classic 30 odd year later . it hardly mention alongside other great film comedy of the 1970s . this make no sense give the singular specialness of this film and perhaps the best neil simon ever write . walter matthau play willy clark and once half of a legendary vaudeville comedy know a lewis and clark and now a bitter 73 year old solo act who can not get a job in a potato chip commercial . his nephew and agent ben ( richard benjamin ) be sure he can get work if willy will only agree to reunite with his estranged partner al lewis ( george burn ) for an abc tv celebration of show business nostalgia . nostalgia be what sunshine boy have go for it in spade and right from the start when a series of 1920s film clip showcasing various entertainer from long ago flicker before u to the accompaniment of cole porter be a clown . then there the film present day set in manhattan and where flared trouser and wide polyester tie abound . the period collide in willy glorious mess of a manhattan apartment and where frame photo and cartoon of long dead celebrity stare out from the wall at lurid tabloid headline and empty zabar grocery bag . if you be alive in the 1970s like me and you might even feel like you be in that apartment . willy clearly have be live there too long . he sleep in front of the television when the kettle in the other room boil . willy wake up and pick up the phone . hello and who be this . a pause . never mind and it the tea . old men live alone can be sad material in almost anyone else hand and but simon deft wit and unerring feeling for character turn this adaptation of his 1972 stage hit into comedy gold . the amazing thing about the sunshine boy be how much it rub your nose in willy almost existential condition without turn you off at all . 89 year old and just like that and he die of nothing willy say of one old songwriting friend and before decide the man probably die from write a song that rhyme lady with baby . burn win an oscar for his understated performance a the gentle but steely lewis and but it matthau who bring this one home and his make up and proud but rag bear really sell you on the idea he be already 73 when he make this . willy be obnoxious in the extreme and fully deserve ben description crazy freakin old man and but you root for him throughout and enjoy his small victory even when they come at the cost of others patience . his line kill you and too and especially when he try to kill lewis and for whom the tv reunion turn out to be a bad idea . youre out of touch . willy tell lewis at one point . i be still in demand . i be still hot . if this room be on fire you wouldn not be hot and lewis reply . director herbert ross shoot everything in a very casual and understated way and with low lighting and mid range shot even in emotional moment so a to leave room for the comedy and the film overall zen message of grace through quiet acceptance . you never get the feeling you be watch a movie and one of the sunshine boys many charm and and ross direction and like the acting of the three principal and go a long way toward achieve that end . comedy be hard and especially when the subject be people watch life pass them by and but the sunshine boy make it all seem a pleasure and because and for u watch and it be .