In one of the funniest screwball comedies of the pre-World War II studio era, William Powell has a celebrated experience with a fish while he pretended to be a fishing expert. It was the highlight of Libeled Lady and I'm sure Howard Hawks thought that we could get a whole comedy out of that situation.

In Man's Favorite Sport he succeeds admirably. If the film had been done 20 years earlier, Cary Grant would definitely have been in the lead. The part of Roger Willoughby, who wrote a book on fishing based on hearsay from the various customers he's dealt with at Abercrombie&Fitch, would have been ideal for Cary Grant as it has just the kind of physical comedy that Grant was so adept at.

However Rock Hudson steps into the role admirably and for once he's the pursued and not the pursuer. Pursuing Hudson every step of the way is the kookie Paula Prentiss who seemed to study at the Carol Burnett school of zaniness for this part.

On a bit of advice from public relations expert Prentiss, Hudson's boss at Abercrombie&Fitch, John McGiver, has him enter a fishing tournament. When Hudson confesses he's never fished and hates the slimy things, Prentiss decides to help fake it through.

There are a lot of really great laughs in this film, but the best scene is Hudson trying out this inflatable suit for those who are fishing and fall in the water. He does and the results are hilarious.

Don't miss this film if it is ever broadcast.

Fishing expert Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is a salesman at Abercrombie & Fitch Co, an outdoors sports specialty retailer. Isolde 'Easy' Mueller (Maria Perschy) runs her family's fishing tournament and Abigail Page (Paula Prentiss) is her PR person. They convince Roger's boss to send him to compete in the tournament. He confesses to them that he has never fished in his life. He doesn't even like fish.

Legendary director Howard Hawks directed the great Bringing Up Baby and I can see the comparison. The leads have very similar characteristics. In the beginning, she's negging him and it's a very effective meet-cute for a rom-com. The back and forth is delightful. Of course, the comparison does not help. It could never be good enough to exceed the classic and any attempt would feel inadequate. One should accept this on its own although Prentiss is a very good copy. This is funny as its own movie.

This is a slight little comedy starring Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss. He is a fishing writer who is widely respected but has never actually fished! Paula arranges for him to be entered in a fishing tournament and he is beside himself trying to figure out how to fish. However, despite being totally in the dark, he keeps managing to accidentally catch big fish and thereby keep his secret. However, during this time, sparks fly between Prentiss and Hudson. According to the formula for these type films, you KNOW this means they will fall in love at the end, which they do. So, there are no big surprises but this movie shows that Hudson could do good comedy without Doris Day, as Paula Prentiss fills in nicely in this role.