Customer Reviews

Walk Don't Run [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is Grant's last movie and he goes out in style. He may be in his sixties, but that doesn't stop the viewer from hoping that Cary will get the girl. His suavity and sophistication put young Jim Hutton to shame. Hutton should have stepped back and let the master work. Nevertheless, the film is a joy to watch and it's delightful to see Grant poking sly fun at some of his previous roles.

In 1966, Cary Grant retired from his distinguished 34-year acting career after starring in the lighthearted romantic comedy "Walk, Don't Run". Set in Tokyo, Japan during the 1964 Olympics, Sir William Rutland (Cary Grant, 1904-1986), a very wealthy British industrialist, arrived in Tokyo two days ahead of schedule and the lavish Okura Hotel (where he is supposed to stay) has no rooms available. In fact, the Olympics have placed a giant "no vacancy" sign across the entire city of Tokyo. Frustrated, William goes to the British Embassy to seek out assistance in locating a room. There, he is seen by the snobbish & indifferent Julius P. Haversack (John Standing) whose attitude changes towards Sir William upon discovering who Sir William is. Sir William wanders out of Mr. Haversack's office and finds a bulletin board with a advertisement to share an apartment. Desperate to have a place to sleep, Sir William grabs the advertisement and travels to its address. Upon arriving, the woman who rents the apartment, Christine Easton (Samantha Eggar), doesn't want to share her apartment with a man, but is unable to convince Sir William to leave and reluctantly allows him to stay. The following day, while Sir William is conducting business with a Japanese company, he comes across an American busily taking pictures and making notes about the building's architecture. The American, Steve Davis (Jim Hutton, 1934-1979), is part of the American Olympic team, but is reluctant to discuss which event he is in. Also, insufficient room in the Olympics' housing has left Steve homeless, so he immediately latches upon Sir William to stay with him. Of course, Miss Easton is not particularly happy to discover that Sir William has sublet his part of the apartment, but again very reluctantly lets Steve stay as well. Of course, this creates even more havoc for everyone to try and use the apartment's single bathroom. Over the course of the film, it is revealed that Miss Easton is engaged to the unpleasant Mr. Haversack at the British Embassy, but Sir William would like to see the single Steve woo Miss Easton instead.

Other memorable characters in the film include Miss Easton's friend Aiko Kurawa (Miiko Taka), Steve's Russian friend & fellow Olympian Yuri Andreyovitch (Ted Hartley), the dimwitted KGB agent Dmitri (Ben Astar, 1909-1988), Aiko's parents (Teru Shimada, 1905-1988, and Lois Kiuchi) and the young boy & girl that often sit on the stairs inside the apartment building (Craig Matsunaga & Patty Siu). Fans of "Star Trek" will no doubt recognize George Takei playing the police captain. George Takei is known more for his repeated role as Lt. Hikaru Sulu in the original "Star Trek" series from 1966 to 1969 and the first six "Star Trek" films between 1979 and 1991. Memorable scenes in the film include Sir William at the Okura Hotel, Sir William meeting Mr. Haversack, Sir William arriving at Miss Easton's apartment, their first morning together, Steve meeting Miss Easton, the night at the Japanese restaurant (where Sir William proceeds to eat ham & eggs), the boat trip, Aiko's family, the police station, the race and the closing scenes. Overall, I rate "Walk, Don't Run" with 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys a fun & lighthearted romantic comedy.

If you thought Cary Grant was just - "just"? - a great leading man,then watch this movie,and some of his others,to see that he was also one of the genuinely great high comedy actors.Charles Coburn won an Oscar for his role in The More The Merrier,Grant won nothing for his role in this re-make,but he was faultless:watch him use every trick in the old vaudevillian's book to improve,and steal,each scene,listen out for the playful little in-jokes (such as humming the music from An Affair To Remember and Charade),and just marvel at the timing,the wit,the subtlety and the grace.This was his last movie,but with his talent he could have gone on for years more.Simply irreplaceable.

If you like Cary Grant in his comedic roles as much as I do, you'll love this movie. It's his last film. He's not the romantic lead because he's much too old at this point to play that part. But don't let that disappoint you. The whole movie is him teaching a much younger man (Jim Hutton) how to woo the leading lady. It's as if he's passing along the tricks of his trade to a new generation of actors. It's simply a crackup. Plus, he fills it with all sorts of in-jokes. Watch for him humming theme songs to "An Affair to Remember" and "Charade."

The movie is not widely heard of, but I think that it is one of the great, sweet movies out there. It has alot of fun with wordplay, and songplay, along with several sight gags that are very fun to watch. This movie is worth buying, especially since it is very hard to find in any video stores.

I have enjoyed a taped copy of this movie since originally seeing it at a drive-in in the 1960's. It is one which we see over and over. It has charm and decency, things which we are short on today. And when people review Mr. Grant's movies, this is sadly left out.

This is a hilarious great movie. The first scene with the Japanese hotel sets the entire mood for the movie (it's even funnier when you speak Japanese, you are Japanese, and you understand what they are saying!) After my family rented it, I watched it 5 or 6 times before returning it. I've memorized the movie. ;) Just like to also point out that when Chris and Bill discuss their schedule, if you listen, it's all messed up. It's also messed up when they do their routine in the morning.

Anyways, it's a great movie

I love this film, my husband loves this film and I can't recommend it enough. It may be light, romantic comedy but it's light romantic comedy at its best. Grant was everything in this film that I would like from my husband 20 or 30 years down the road. Never before did Grant express so much love for a woman who wasn't even in the picture!

Walk, Don't Run was a delightful surprise. It was Cary Grant's last movie, in which he proves that he's not only gorgeous and charming, but also a king of comedy. Whether searching for a pair of elusive pants, playing with an ubiquitous couple of Japanese children, or "dropping by" one of the Olympic races, there's no one funnier than him. A very good movie and an unforgettable star.

I recently saw a list of Quincy Jones filmscores and came across Walk, Dont't Run. This was a very funny film that I remember watching at the pictures two or three times when it came out, something I very rarely did.
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