S.O.B.

This is the only movie I can recall seeing that is, essentially, about itself. It tells the story of a tortured Hollywood filmmaker whose latest film is turning into a mess, so he decides to convince his star - his wife, and America's Sweetheart - to do a nude scene. Of course, director Blake Edwards used his wife - America's Sweetheart Julie Andrews - to play the part. And the scene in which she reluctantly does the deed is one of her great acting moments, and a memorably classic comedic moment.Decades before this film was made, a "tortured" Blake Edwards fled the corrupt and corrosive Hollywood scene with Andrews and settled in Switzerland. This movie is his statement of why, and his revenge, using a whole stable of '80's A-list actors to eviscerate the industry. In addition to Andrews, Richard Mulligan (of "Soap" fame) plays the desperate, suicidal husband and filmmaker, and star William Holden is his friend and director. The rogues' gallery of film executives includes Robert Vaughan and Larry Hagman, while Loretta Switt is a shrewish gossip columnist. Most notable, however, are Mulligan and Holden's two cohorts - a very neurotic Robert Webber and, in the performance of his lifetime as a sleazy studio doctor, Robert Preston.Although the film often veers in to the slapstick, the story here is framed around a very dark theme. A once popular, now has-been actor dies alone on a beach, and as everybody parties and schemes around him, only the man's dog seems to care. And as this thread is integrated into the main plot as it climaxes, and after you've laughed yourself into delirium, you may find tears in your eyes.You won't find this movie on any lists of great comedies, on any streaming services, or on television. But why would you, given that all of those things are largely controlled by the people the movie savagely lampoons? But it is one of the very best comedies ever filmed and deserves to be seen.

This is one of those gems you find when not looking. The critics and audience didn't get this kind of humor. But, it was right up my alley. An absolute farce about making movies in Hollywood and oh, it's so clever & over the top and the acting was fantastic. How can you lose with such great performances by Richard Mulligan (he used to blow me away in the TV Series SOAP), William Holden (the best acting gem of Hollywood), Julie Andrews (what a change of roles for her), Larry Hagman, Robert Vaughn, Robert Preston & so many more. You need to love the Hollywood movie making and it's craziness to get one made to really get the humor. GREAT! DVD arrived on time and was in perfect shape (new). Great packaging!

Years ago, in a Playboy magazine interview, Blake Edwards was asked, of all the movies he made, what was his favorite. His response was S.O.B (Same Old Bulls..t) He also went on to explain that the reason this movie is so unknown is because Hollywood wouldn't promote it. It's a dark comedy that slams the whole shallow, cheating, double crossing, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately movie industry. With an all star cast (at least for it's time), this movie, like it or hate it, should be better known.It has some very funny visual comedy but the real standout is its subtle dialogue. Robert Preston as the Hollywood Doctor & Loretta Swit as the Gossip Columnist are real standouts. (Swit looks & plays the part of a Rona Barrett clone so well, I'm sure the lawyers had a fit) Richard Mulligan stars as Felix Farmer, a producer who's having a breakdown after his last movie was a big bomb & Julie Andrews (Edwards real life wife) plays his wife & G-Rated Star. (yes, Edwards even pokes fun at himself) After their latest movie fails, Felix, in an irrational moment decides to reshoot it as an R-Rated movie but the studio won't put up any more money. So Felix buys the rights & stakes everything on doing it himself. I won't give away any more except to say, as far as I know, this is Julie Andrews only nude scene. (although it only lasts about 5 sec) But be warned. I admit this is one of my favorite movies of all time & I'm bias. I've shared it with a lot of people & the reaction is never neutral. They either love it or hate it.