Enter Laughing (1967)

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

Carl Reiner (adaptation)
Joseph Stein (play)

Release Date:

25 February 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Here's the hilarious answer to WHY BOYS LEAVE HOME!

Plot:

A young would-be actor seeks his first break.

Plot Keywords:

Acting | Pharmacist | Stage Fright | Amateur Theater | Cemetery

Cast

José Ferrer	...	Harrison B. Marlowe (as Jose Ferrer)
Shelley Winters	...	Mrs. Emma Kolowitz
Elaine May	...	Angela Marlowe
Jack Gilford	...	Mr. Foreman
Janet Margolin	...	Wanda
David Opatoshu	...	Mr. Morris Kolowitz
Michael J. Pollard	...	Marvin
Don Rickles	...	Harry Hamburger
Richard Deacon	...	Pike
Nancy Kovack	...	Linda aka Miss B
Reni Santoni	...	David Kolowitz
Herbie Faye	...	Mr. Schoenbaum
Rob Reiner	...	Clark Baxter
Danny Stein	...	Spencer Reynolds
Milton Frome	...	Policeman

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Acre Enterprises

Trivia:

The Broadway production of "Enter Laughing" written by Joseph Stein, based on the novel by Carl Reiner, opened at the Henry Miller's Theater in New York on March 13, 1963 and ran for 419 performances. Michael J. Pollard recreated his stage role in the movie version.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The story is taking place in 1938, but all the women's hairstyles, particularly those of Elaine May and Nancy Kovack are strictly 1967.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Mr. Foreman: It's up to you to do the Hah-cha-cha!

Movie Connections:

References A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

A superb Comedy

This film is a classic thanks to a superb and wonderful cast, headed by newcomer then, Reni Santoni. Unless you've had an interest in becoming an actor, you probably won't enjoy the film as much. However, if you ever wanted to be a famous actor or a famous "somebody," this is your movie. The story is set back in the late 1930's about a young man just out of high school who decides he wants to be an actor. His parents, of course, are dead set against the idea. They want him to go to "pharmacy school" to become a druggist. David (Reni Santoni) is determined to become an actor even if it kills him. He starts going to acting school at a local run-down theatre owned by Jose Ferrer. There he begins acting lessons with instructor Ferrer and his daughter Elaine May, in some of the film's funniest moments, as they prepare David for his debut on stage. This is a great film with a great cast that includes Shelley Winters, another then newcomer Don Rickles, David Opatoshu, Michael J. Pollard, Janet Margolin, Rob Reiner, and the very pretty Nancy Kovack. The finale of the film had me rolling on the floor with tears in my eyes from laughing so much. The previous reviewer criticized the casting of Reni Santoni, but this was perfect casting in every way. I love the film and highly recommend it.