actually and i lie represent paul newman deserve the oscar for the verdict . anyway and peter otoole give another one of his superlative performance . how this man doesn not have an oscar ( for a performance that be ) be beyond me . then again and cary grant and alfred hitchcock or martin scorsese do not have oscar either . a be say in the film comedy be hard . i believe that do comedy must be hard than drama but for a classical actor like otoole unlike american actor comedy be an easy transition . excellent direction by richard benjamin and who keep me laugh till this day from his performance in the sunshine boy . bill macy be hilarious a the sycophantic writer . all in all a great film . cheer me up every time .