Jack Lemmon’s 5 Best Films Now Playing on Satellite TV

Jack Lemmon was known late in life for the Grumpy Old Men films he made with Walter Matthau, a reunion of the Odd Couple cast from decades earlier.  Though Lemmon's collaborations with director Billy Wilder also produced some of the finest American comedies, Lemmon had more under his belt than superior comic timing.  Over the years, he delivered many outstanding dramatic performances.  Here are his five greatest films, featured on satellite TV.

5. The Odd Couple. The Neil Simon play came to the screen with Matthau reprising the role of Oscar and Lemmon taking on the Art Carney role of Felix.  The beginning of their legendary pairing is an unqualified success and spawned a television show starring the late Tony Randall.  Followed by a sequel thirty years later, you're better off sticking with the original on satellite TV comedy networks.

4. Days of Wine and Roses. Featuring Jack in a heavy role, this Blake Edwards film follows two alcoholics as they struggle to keep their lives and marriage afloat.  Despite the bleak nature of the film, Lemmon is inspirational in his portrayal of a drunk and confirmed his viability as a dramatic performer.  Nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, Jack was passed over for Sidney Poitier.

3. The Apartment. This Wilder film has many hilarious moments, most of which involve the incredulity of office drone C.C. Baxter (Lemmon) as he tries to move up in his company by allowing executives to carry on affairs in his apartment.  Is it worth a key to the 'executive washroom'?  Jack decides no, finally, as the girl of his dreams (Shirley MacLaine) eventually proves to be worth more than a promotion.

2. Glengarry Glen Ross. The screen adaptation of the David Mamet play suffers slightly from its static locations, but benefits immeasurably from its stunning cast, which includes Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris and Al Pacino.  Lemmon delivers one of his finest performances as Shelley Levene, a salesman driven to desperation by the burdens of the job and his family.  A gripping film on all levels, Lemmon somehow manages to outshine the all-star cast and picked up the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in the process.  This film is featured regularly on satellite TV on the Independent Film Channel.

1. Some Like it Hot. 'Nobody's perfect,' as the famous last line goes, but this comedy is as close as a film can get.  See Tony Curtis and Jack in drag, as they try to avoid the mob and woo Marilyn Monroe at the same time.  The millionaire's fascination with the cross-dressing Jack is priceless and Monroe reminds everyone why she was the world's most desired woman.  No one directed her (or Jack) like Billy Wilder, whose film is considered the best American comedy ever made and a favorite in high definition on Turner Classic Movies.

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