The Main Event

Director: Howard Zieff Howard Zieff

Overview

Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal attempt to recapture the screwball spark of What's Up, Doc? in the labored farce The Main Event. Streisand plays Hillary Kramer, a bankrupt perfume executive who discovers that one of her tax write-offs from more prosperous times was the ownership of prizefighter Kid Natural (Ryan O' Neal). Kid Natural is now a driving instructor who wants nothing to do with boxing, but Hillary is determined to resurrect the Kid's less-than-spectacular boxing career. She installs herself as the Kid's manager and tries to get him in shape to go the distance. Along the way, the two fall in love.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/07/2017
UPC:	0888574474881
Original Release:	1979
Rating:	PG
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	22,483

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Barbra Streisand	Hillary Kramer
Ryan O'Neal	Eddie "Kid Naturel" Scanlon
Paul Sand	David
Whitman Mayo	Percy
Patti D'Arbanville	Donna
Chu Chu Malave	Luis
Richard Lawson	Hector Mantilla
James Gregory	Gough
Richard Altman	Tour Guide
Seth Banks	Newsman
Lindsay Bloom	Girl in Bed
Earl Boen	Nose-Kline
Roger Bowen	Owner Sinthia Cosmetics
Badja Djola	Heavyweight in Gym
Rory Calhoun	Fighter in Kid's Camp
Sue Casey	Brenda
Kristine DeBell	Lucy
Alvin Childress	Man in Gym
Al Denava	Gomez
Rene Dijon	Actor
Shay Duffin	Fight Announcer
Murphy Dunne	Mario
Art Evans	Fighter
Ron Henriques	Fighter
Anthony Renya	Actor
Maurice Sneed	Fighter
Lee Harman	Actor
Vic Heutschy	Actor
Ernie Hudson	Killer
Dave Ketchum	Photographer
Jimmy Lennon	Announcer
Len Lesser	Trainer at Kid's Camp
Eddie Lopez	Actor
Gilda Marx	Actor
Denver Mattson	Actor
Bill Murry	Actor
Brent Musburger	Actor
Robert Nadder	Nose - Dean
Harvey Parry	Referee in Long Beach
John Reilly	Alan Crane
Tim Rossovich	Cannibal
Jack Somack	Murry
Richard S. Steele	Actor
Karen Wookey	Actor
Darrell Zwerling	Sheldon
Joe Amsler	Stunt Double Kid
Bill Murray	Mantilla's Cornerman
Michael Melvoin	Composer

Technical Credits

Gail Parent

Andrew Smith

Howard Zieff	Director
Gail Parent	Screenwriter
Andrew Smith	Screenwriter
Denver Mattson	Stunts
Renee Missel	Executive Producer
Jon Peters	Producer
Howard Rosenman	Executive Producer,Producer,Executive Producer
Barbra Streisand	Producer
Jeff Werner	Producer
Karen Rea	Casting
Dianne Crittenden	Casting

Editorial Reviews

As screen teams go, Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal are not up there with Hepburn and Tracy or Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, but they made a surprisingly winning couple in What's Up Doc? The follow-up, The Main Event, doesn't match the original, but it's enjoyable, and the stars are still watchable. The main problem, of course, is the script. The plot is weak and predictable, and the humor is forced. For example, Streisand says, "I said celebrate, not fornicate!" O'Neal replies, "I love a woman who talks dirty." The stars are also saddled with characters that are a little hard to take. Fortunately, they still have that all-important chemistry, and that -- plus their timing and their way with even second-rate lines -- makes up for a great deal. In addition, there are some excellent players in the supporting cast, including the always-welcome Paul Sand and the dependable James Gregory, although one wishes better use had been made of their talents. Patti D'Arbanville at least gets a very memorable coughing scene. Though not a musical, Streisand does sing the popular but vapid title song (and sounds quite good doing so). Not a film for the ages, Main Event gets enough punch from its cast to go the distance.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler