Noises Off... (1992)

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:

Actor | Backstage | Argument | Theater | Actress

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:

Denholm Elliott's last film.

Goofs:

Continuity: 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:

Frederick: Alright, I see all that.
Lloyd: Oh no.
Frederick: I just don't know why I take them.
Lloyd: Freddy love, why does anyone do anything? Why does that other idiot go out of the front door holding two plates of sardines? I mean, I-I'm not getting at you, love.
Gary: Course not, Lloyd. I mean, why do I? I mean, Jesus, when you come to think about it, why *do* I?
Lloyd: Who knows?
Gary: Who knows. You see, Freddy?
Lloyd: The wellsprings of human action are deep and cloudy. Maybe something happened to you when you were a very, very, very small child that made you frightened to let go of groceries.
Belinda: Or it could be genetic.
Gary: Yes, or it could be... you know.
[...]

Soundtrack:

With a Little Help from My Friends

Great movie!

This movie is a great film, period. Great concept, great cast, great plot. The inherent problem is the fact that most of this humor, though very fresh, is lost on most people. Unless you have acted on stage in some facet, this movie is mere slapstick. I saw this movie when I was younger, before I started acting, and I liked it, but it just seemed kind of shallow. Now that I have some stage under my belt, this movie's humor is mindblowing, because the insanity is just that outrageous. I'm not saying people can't like this movie if they aren't actors, but it helps. What helps this movie as well is the intellect of the humor. Below all the slapstick site gags and bad happenings, the depth of the character development is vast and beautiful, making you really think that these people, in the end, hate each other.