The superb performances by Oscar winners Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft definitely make the 1975 film version of THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE worth watching. Based on one of Simon's lesser works, this film stars Jack Lemmon as a man whose company downsizes and he gets fired and just gives up on trying to find another job and just sits around the house wallowing in self-pity while his devoted wife decides to go back to work, which he also resents because she is no longer totally focused on him. Further complications ensue when their apartment gets ransacked and everything they own of any value gets stolen. There are some funny situations and dialogue, but even mediocre Neil Simon is better than the majority of junk on the screen today. Lemmon and Bancroft are magical together and there is a nice supporting turn by Gene Saks as Lemmon's brother. There are worse ways to spend two hours.
Review of The Prisoner of Second Avenue
