Alan Arkin on 'The In-Laws' and working with actor Peter Falk | The Dick Cavett Show

Alan Arkin's movie 'The In-Laws' is the funniest of all time! (According to Alan Arkin)

Date aired - Alan Arkin 29th June 1979

Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.

His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.

Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.

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[tomsampson]

The In-Laws is one of the funniest movies ever. The chemistry between Falk and Arkin is magic.

[JCDiamond]

He is being very modest here. He was one of the best comedic actors that have existed. Perfect timing and delivery. I was just at Musso and Franks recently and was thinking of him from The Kominsky Method and how good he was. My sympathies to his family. We just lost a true artist to the ages.

[davidwalter]

A brilliant actor who never seemed to be acting. He was naturally whatever person he played. Rest in Peace, Alan Arkin.

[bighuge]

One of the funniest movies I've experienced. The kind of chemistry between Arkin and Falk can never be repeated. It also had genuinely funny dialog and scenes. Compare that with the riffed dialog of Bridesmaid, This IS The End, This Is 40, etc. and you'll notice how a skilled comedy writer fashions humor way better than the mostly unfunny riffing in today's comedies.

[ferociousgumby]

Love Alan Arkin, love The In-Laws, love Peter Falk and miss him.

[c.a.savage]

I am amazed, not only that Alan Arkin knows WHO Louis Jouvet was, but also admired him as an actor. I would have loved to know what he thought of Jean Gabin, France's own Spencer Tracy.
What a superb interview. Alan Arkin, a fine actor and a mensch.

[GodzillaAndSonicFanatic]

What’s weird is how this was aired in June 29th, 1979. An exact date where he would die
RIP. Alan Arkin. You were amazing everywhere, including Minions: The Rise of Gru

[bartcolen]

And hats off to Andrew Bergman, too. The script for "The In-Laws" was brilliant.

[scottspy]

Alan Arkin is hilarious and so was 'The In-Laws.'

[theolamp]

Alan is such a great comedic actor yet you can look at Wait Until Dark and see the incredible range he has.

[miphka]

One of of my all time favorite movies, R.I.P. Alan Arkin

[KurtI]

SO much more substantial than current talk-shows!

[nitrateglow]

This man was a damn treasure. The In-Laws always cracks me up. His reactions and line deliveries in it are fucking gold. RIP

[jbweaver]

one of the best comedic actors of all time

[davidcrane]

My dad loved this movie, and introduced me to it. It’s a fantastic and really funny movie with great writing and perfect casting.

[ibleebinU]

I was 10 when I saw Alan in Wait Until Dark as Roat. His character always stuck with me. RIP Alan.

[jaygee]

Terrific actor and very interesting interview.

[rehab]

Smart Man! Many Laughs...Falk is a Genius....

[baldilocks]

Dick Cavett was probably the best interviewer ever.

[davewanamaker]

Arkin and Falk are pretty cool guys. Great comedians on film.