Noises Off... (1992)

A travelling theater group find so much action going on behind-the-scenes, they almost ruin the performances.

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers:

Michael Frayn (play), Marty Kaplan (screenplay)

Stars:

Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Denholm Elliott

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carol Burnett	...	Dotty Otley / Mrs. Clackett
Michael Caine	...	Lloyd Fellowes
Denholm Elliott	...	Selsdon Mowbray / The Burglar
Julie Hagerty	...	Poppy Taylor
Marilu Henner	...	Belinda Blair / Flavia Brent
Mark Linn-Baker	...	Tim Allgood
Christopher Reeve	...	Frederick Dallas / Philip Brent
John Ritter	...	Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Brooke Ashton / Vicki
Kate Rich	...	Des Moines Stagehand
Zoe R. Cassavetes	...	Miami Stagehand
Kim Sebastian	...	Cleveland Stagehand
Louise Stratten	...	Broadway Stagehand (as L.B. Straten)
J. Christopher Sullivan	...	Miami Backstage Guard
Kimberly Neville	...	Miami Usher

Storyline

Lloyd Fellowes is the director of a theatre company. He's desperately trying to get his production together, despite the best efforts of the cast, the crew, and Lady Luck. We follow the production from final rehersals, through opening night, and onto the tour: as with any group of actors forced to work closely together for any great length of time, romances and arguments are bound to break out. Quite often, what's happening on stage is nothing compared to what's happening backstage....

---

Plot Keywords:

backstage | theatre | actor | argument | play within film | 

---

Taglines:

The comedy where everyone gets caught in the act!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bruits de coulisses

Filming Locations:

Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$2,280,148 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two of the characters names are changed from the original stage play: Lloyd Dallas (the director) and Frederick Fellows (the actor). In the movie version they are Lloyd Fellows (the director) and Frederick Dallas (the actor).

---

Goofs

During the Des Moines performance, after Gary comes down the stairs saying, "Sex criminals everywhere! Vicki? Vick?" he kicks the tin that Belinda had dropped earlier. The one he kicks is very clearly dented by his kick, but the original tin lies upstage near the door to the kitchen.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Usher: Curtains going up! Curtains going... up! Curtains going up!
Lloyd: [voiceover] A big Broadway opening. Everybody who's anybody in New York is inside this theater tonight. Everybody but one man. This man - ME!

---

Connections

Referenced in Wings: Noses Off (1992)

---

Soundtracks

"Lullaby of Broadway"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin

User Reviews

One of the, if not THE, funniest movies I have ever seen.

The timing, the plot, the acting, the variety of people, all of this make up a movie which literally had me crying with laughter for the entire second half of the film. I wanted to watch it again immediately, and likely would have if it hadn't been 2:30 am. The idea of the film is that these actors - playing actors - pull together, fight, and put up with each other to keep a play going. This is John Ritter as his amusing self, without going overboard. This is Christopher Reeve: tall, good looking, humble, funny. Carol Burnett being just ... HER. This is Julie Haggerty meek, mild, and under control. Mostly. This is Michael Caine, sly and cranky. Typecasting? NOOOO!!*grin* The whole cast is perfect for their respective roles. Tiny TINY bit of language, but otherwise something for a variety of ages. Find it, make popcorn, sit and watch - but don't eat the popcorn around the second half, you might choke.

Maer