FAQ

When the wife of television newswriter Felix Unger (Jack Lemmon) kicks him out and files for divorce, leaving him despondent and suicidal, Felix's friend, divorced sportswriter Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau), invites him to share his apartment. The only problem is that Oscar is an incurable slob and Felix is a neurotic neatnik, leading to massive personality clashes.

The Odd Couple is based on a 1965 Broadway play by American playwright Neil Simon. Simon also adapted the play for the movie. The success of the movie led to a TV series, The Odd Couple (1970) and a sequel, The Odd Couple II (1998).

Unable to live with the guilt trip Felix slapped on him after he threw Felix out, Oscar and his poker buddies search New York for Felix, driving up and down the streets in Murray's (Herb Edelman) patrol car. After searching for hours to no avail, the group returns to Oscar's apartment for a game of poker. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. Oscar opens it, expecting to see Felix, but finds Gwendolyn (Carole Shelley) instead. She coldly tells Oscar that Felix is going to be staying with her and her sister Cecily (Monica Evans) for a few days and that she is here to pick up Felix's things. Felix enters the apartment and cheerfully grabs some of his clothes from the bedroom. On his way out, Felix absolves Oscar of the guilt trip, thanking him for kicking him out. Before leaving, Felix promises to attend the poker game next Friday, and the group goes back to their game. In the final scene, Oscar admonishes the group for leaving cigarette butts on the floor.