The One And Only

My husband has wanted this dvd for years. Finally found it on Amazon. Was able to surprise him!Funny movie and dvd was in good shape.

Henry Winkler and Kim Darby are adorable as a young couple in love. In his wrestling world, Winkler is accompanied by a cast of freaks and geeks--a circus-like menagerie. If you're in the mood for love and silly comedy shenanigans, this is the movie for you. I recommend this film highly.

This a film that definitely deserves revisiting. I saw it as a kid and was put off by the apparently obnoxious character, Andy Schmidt, played by Henry Winkler. Apparently a lot of people were as well because it received a lukewarm critical and commercial response. You could almost say it put a fork in Henry Winkler's nascent film career. Give Winkler credit though for trying to put distance between his "Happy Days" character and his big-screen persona. His previous cinematic effort was in "Heroes" where he played a troubled Vietnam vet. Give Winkler kudos here for tackling a potentially unlikable role and by the film's end not only do you gain empathy for him you find yourself rooting for him to succeed. The film is also blessed with an impeccable supporting cast. Everybody here should be praised but special mention should be given to Gene Saks as a harried wrestling promoter and Herve Villechaize as a randy midget wrestler. The script is by the late Steve Gordon who later achieved acclaim by profiling another potentially unlikable character in "Arthur". Carl Reiner helms the film with an assured comic hand and perfectly captures the Fifties milieu which is a far cry from Arnold's Restaurant. "The One and Only" deserves classic stature if enough people are willing to invest the time in it.

I vaguely remembered this movie from my childhood. I ordered this copy because I was reminded of it after watching a local wrestling match.As an adult, I was impressed. The cinematography is that of a movie from the 70's, and my wife complained about the sound not being up to par, but aside from the graininess of the picture, the story carried me away.The writing in brilliant,. and while Henry Winkler's performance is a bit over the top in several parts, but that's intentional I assume. The storyline starts out a bit slow in the beginning, but I appreciated the well-crafted and perfectly delivered lines.The PG rating was given before the MPAA changed their rating system, so I wouldn't be showing it to my small kids, but it's a gret love story, and if you're any fan of Henry Winkler you'll love it.

This is a great movie about a dreamer who finds his way. Henry Winkler is adorably manic. It's funny, and heartfelt. I showed it to my 8 year old. He loves it, too. Herve Villachez is outstanding. The cast, the directing, the writing still holds up 42 years later. One of my favorite movies of all-time continues to delight! A good watch during the pandemic!

Like many people in the UK, the TV series "Happy Days" was our main introduction to the talent that is Henry Winkler, though I had seen him before in the low budget cult movie "The Lords of Flatbush", though not a major role for him. With Carl Reiner in tandem as director (before he hit it big time with Steve Martin's early films) I was hopeful for a very funny movie in "The One & Only".Sadly while it has some memorable moments and sketches, the film is very variable and very up and down in the laughs department. The key comedy concept of an actor making it to fame by turning to "acting" as a professional wrestler is slow to be reached and sadly the wrestling part of the film is most funny when the manager of the wrestlers is on screen rather than the in ring antics of the wrestlers.A brave attempt at best I came away pretty disappointed.

I have loved this movie for ages. It is a silly but humorous comedy which has at its core a solid love story with associated tolerance until.... A struggle between who he wants to be (how he sees himself) and what he has to be. A story of sacrifice of a dream in order to meet the current necessities.Having grown up as a fan of professional wrestling, I found this comedic parody refreshing and funny. Well acted by all of the principles with exceptional performances by Hervé Villechaize and Kim Darby who brings out the best in Winklers character.Not a movie to be dissected only enjoyed.......And have in your collection to watch when the world gets too serious.

This movies is one of the best kept secrets in Henry Winkler's career. It's a love story, comedy, some action. It is just one of his best starring roles. It came out in 1978 when Happy Days was at it's peak.

An all round excellent filmI saw this film when it came out, and remembered that i thought it very good.Having now seen it again, my first thoughts were on the money.Except for having dated a bit, which is sometimes inevitable,it is a very funny,unusual,lighthearted film,that does not disappoint in any way.It also shows that Henry Winkler is indeed a very talented actor.

Good old fashioned Feel Good movie. Henry Winkler playing a totally different character from the Fonz and well worth watching if you're a fan

When I had learned that it was the legendary "Gorgeous George" (George Raymond Wagner, 1915-1963) and his wife Betty who inspired those behind this movie, I was very eager to acquire and view this sweet little film on DVD. Well, the model that Gorgeous George set for the title role of Andy Schmidt (played by Henry Winkler) in "The One and Only" (which is what Andy likes to call himself, in the ring or in any other entertainment venue) is far removed in details from the real Gorgeous George. Andy is an eccentric fake as a wrestler, physically unfit for genuine wrestling; Gorgeous George, on the other hand, while not particularly imposing as a ring athlete, was, indeed, a skillful wrestler as well as a very amusing showman.My familiarity with Gorgeous George`s way of professional fighting comes from the years of seeing him in the ring when my family (parents, siblings, and, on other occasions, my paternal step-grandfather, too) used to watch Gorgeous George on TV during the late 1940s onward. The film only approximates that milieu, but it is very amusing on its own terms.Gorgeous George`s first wife Betty was a publically visible (and very pretty) part of his public persona, but Mary Crawford, Betty`s parallel in the film (played by Kim Darby) is shy, retiring, and of rather homely looks, rather than the publically visible companion to a celebrity wrestler as Gorgeous George`s lovely wife (née Betty Hanson) had been to some extent. Darby`s performance in the film, however, is almost as comical as Winkler`s, so, cinematically, it does not matter that much, does it? Andy`s trainer, the hilarious and philandering midget, Milton Miller (himself, in the film, a comedy wrestler, played by the diminuitive actor and painter, Hervé Villachaize) "steals the show" grandly, surely the funniest actor in this talented cast! The scene in which Milton flirts seductively and with grotesque inappropriety with Mary`s genteel mother, who finds the dwarf`s attentions utterly revolting, while both of Mary`s parents are visiting the young couple, is the single most side-splitting scene in what is withal a very hilarious film.There certainly is room for a genuine bio-film on Gorgeous George, the memory of whose career deserves to be honoured in that way, but for those who have any liking for wrestling (and I have to admit that my own interest only centred narrowly on Gorgeous George, a man of real class, however amusing, the others leaving me indifferent, especially the ring buffoons who came after him) and who have a strong hankering for film comedy (which I like a lot more widely!), this movie will likely be in their video machines rather often! It would have been desirable to include some "extra features" for this product (Legend Films LR-00210, as available in the U. S. of A. and Canada) that would make the background to "The One and Only" clearer to viewers too young to recall George Wagner, but, naturally, it is the motion picture itself that determines most buyer`s decision to purchase or to pass by on. It is the absense of special features on the DVD that results in the review`s rating of four rather than in five stars, but I still say, buy it and savour it!

An old film I remembered from years past which I had not seen for a long time, loved the film great price prompted services.

I guess times and humour changes! We watched this film years (AND YEARS) ago and thought it wast hilarious! Not so funny any more..... a little "corny"? Good example to compare changes in the film industries take on humour.