Noises Off... (1992)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers (WGA):

Michael Frayn (play)
Marty Kaplan (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 March 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The comedy where everyone gets caught in the act!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Theater | Actor | Backstage | Stage Acting | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Noises Off! (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Germany:6 | Australia:M | Spain:T | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Sir John Gielgud was asked to play Mowbray.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Lloyd leaves the stage asking what the show will be without him, Poppy is standing in the middle of the stage. The next shot is her leaning against the proscenium.

Quotes:

[looking for Selsdon]
Frederick: I'm sure he wouldn't. Not during a tech rehearsal.
Dotty: Half a chance, he would!
Brooke: Would what?
Dotty, Gary, Lloyd: [Gesturing drink in hand] Glck! Glck! Glck!

Soundtrack:

Another Op'nin', Another Show

Farce, Fast, Witty, and -- Sardines

"Noises Off" brings door-slamming hilariousness to the screen as an adaptation of the stage play. With the cast to die for: Michael Caine, Carole Burnett, Nicolette Sheridan, Julie Haggarty, Christopher Reeve, Denholm Elliott, and John Ritter, the storyline of a cast preparing for out of town run of a comedy quickly descends to back-stage antics, jealousy, lost contact lenses, and sardines at every turn. Peter Bogdonovich steers this witty production of a play, in a play, in a play with multiple staging's as dress rehearsal, opening night, and the worst night in Cleveland is turned into a Broadway triumph.

The initial opening dress rehearsal sets up the story of the play's characters, their original entrances and exits, key lines, and props if all went well. From then on, the production deteriorates with backstage gossip, romances, and fiasco mistakes quickly become running jokes of missed timing, malfunctioning props, and erratic ego's out of control. Each character's quirks are their achilles heel and from start to finish, the play's momentum keeps the cast on their toes as they step on and over each other to curtain.

If you've ever done theatre at any level, this film is for you. It is simply the most hysterical comedy of timing and entrances. If you've wondered about theatre productions, this film is for you. And, if you just love the theater, this film is definitely for you. It is filled with trueisms that have happened, will happen, and could happen in all the disastrous and varied forms.

I caught this film originally on HBO and laughed so hard I had to buy the video. It is a wonderful film for great performances by the late actors, Reeve, Ritter, and Elliott, and their brilliance is all the more bittersweet by the excellence of their timing, physical humor, and read of the lines. For the sex is Desperate Housewife, Nicolette Sheridan in her underwear from moment one to last scene, on her knees, and blind as a bat without contacts. Michael Caine should have been acknowledged for this performance as he is so perfect as the harried director that it makes his work in drama all the better.

Each time I catch this film, it gets funnier and makes me laugh to tears. See it just to cry over what great talent has been lost too young, and just be amazed and amuzed at what great ensemble casting is all about behind and in front of the curtain.