BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (1967) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Gene Saks

Written by - Neil Simon

Starring - Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer, Mildred Natwick

"The 1967 film version of Barefoot in the Park also marked the screenwriting debut of celebrated American playwright Neil Simon, who had based the script for his acclaimed Broadway production on his own beginnings in New York City. 

The story revolves around the life of two young and attractive newlyweds with almost polar opposite personalities - one is a conservative young attorney, another is a vivacious and free spirited young woman. As if these differences were not enough, their relationship is put under great strain by their precarious financial situation, and they move into a funky fifth floor one room New York Apartment with no heating or elevator - which is also where most of the action takes place. 

Gene Saks' film is obviously sensible to its urban setting, but slightly too glamorous to fully examine the theme of newlywed struggles in great genuine depth.  Neil Simon's dialogue, full of memorable and witty one liners, delivered at rapid fire tempo, remains the real treat in the film, but one can't help but feel a lot of its bite and zesty nature being softened considerably for the broader cinematic audience. 

Barefoot in the Park is entertaining and indeed even charming, not least of all because of the lead performance by the young and beautiful Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, the latter showing particularly great connection with her character, and infusing a vibe more sensible to the late sixties American counter culture, which is also the time in which this film was produced."

Romantic Comedy, USA