Neighbors (1981)

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writers:

Thomas Berger (novel)
Larry Gelbart (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Lock the doors... here come the Neighbors

Plot:

A quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.

Plot Keywords:

House | Coffee | Punk Girl | Father Daughter Relationship | Power Line

Cast

John Belushi	...	Earl Keese
Kathryn Walker	...	Enid Keese
Cathy Moriarty	...	Ramona
Dan Aykroyd	...	Vic
Igors Gavon	...	Chic
Dru-Ann Chuckran	...	Chic's Wife
Tim Kazurinsky	...	Pa Greavy
Tino Insana	...	Perry Greavy
P.L. Brown	...	Police Officer #1
Henry Judd Baker	...	Police Officer #2
Lauren-Marie Taylor	...	Elaine Keese
Sherman G. Lloyd	...	Fireman #1 (DOC) (as Sherman Lloyd)
Bert Kittel	...	Fireman #2
J.B. Friend	...	Additional Fireman
Bernie Friedman	...	Additional Fireman

Also Known As:

Neighbours (Australia)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The film was profitable because the studio decided to release the film in the largest number of theaters possible during the end of the year holiday season before the reviews and word of mouth spread to damage the film.

Quotes:

Vic: Well, I can think of a problem that's a good deal more important and you, as a parent, are ignoring it completely.
Earl Keese: What?
Vic: What is Elaine doing about sex? Is she getting probed?
Earl Keese: [throws coffee at Vic]
Vic: That was very foolish, Earl. And it could get ya' snuffed!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Eight Legged Freaks (2002)

Soundtrack:

Holiday In Cambodia

One of the greatest comedies ever made

I have no hesitation in recommending this to any viewer with a warped, dysfunctional, black sense of humor. It is absolutely brilliant.

A cruel, mean-spirited world view is loose in this classic, a relentless assault on one man's senses that marked John Belushi's final screen appearance... and what a way to exit! Ackroyd, Belushi's new neighbor, begins to harass and take advantage of Belushi's goodwill just hours after he has moved in. Cathy Moriarty, as Ackroyd's tempestuous wife, is a revelation as she toys with Belushi's raw emotions.

Director John Avildsen chose to shoot this comedy like a sitcom and his choice proves to be the correct one.

It's brilliance on a stick for specialized tastes.