Laughter on the 23rd Floor (TV 2001)

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writers:

Neil Simon (play), Neil Simon (teleplay)

Stars:

Nathan Lane, Mark Linn-Baker, Saul Rubinek

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Credited cast:
Nathan Lane	...	Max Prince
Mark Linn-Baker	...	Val Skotsky
Saul Rubinek	...	Ira Stone
Dan Castellaneta	...	Milt Fields
Richard Portnow	...	Harry Prince
Kristi Angus	...	Darlene Drew
Ardon Bess	...	Cecil
Colin Fox	...	Cal Weebs
Sherry Miller	...	Faye
Frank Proctor	...	Walter Winchell
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mackenzie Astin	...	Lucus Brickman
Marcia Bennett	...	Cal's Secretary
Robert Bidaman	...	Brad
Ian D. Clark	...	Doctor
Philip Craig	...	Dennis

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | restaurant | mccarthy hearings | reference to john wayne | 1950s | 

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Taglines:

TV's top comic has everything. Except his sanity.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Most Original Comedy

Filming Locations:

Tivoli Theatre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (archive footage) Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is based on Neil Simon's work as a writer for Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows. Lucas Brickman, the young writer in the movie, is based on Simon, and Max Prince, the volatile comedian, is based on Sid Caesar and Jackie Gleason. Also, Max Prince's writers in the movie are based on Neil Simon's fellow writers on Caesar's show, including Mel Brooks (Kenny Franks), Carl Reiner (Milt Fields), Mel Tolkin (Val Slotsky), Michael Stewart (Brian Doyle), Selma Diamond (Carol Wyman), and Woody Allen (Ira Stone).

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Goofs

There are a few brief inserts of "The Lawrence Welk Show", and Welk's voice is heard saying "thank you, Myron" after a voice-over introduction. The announcer's voice was not that of Myron Floren, a band member who often provided transitions between musical numbers, but that of the regular announcer who opened each show.

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Quotes

[With a thick Russian accent]
Val: Go feck yourself.
Milt: There's no such word as feck. A person cannot go feck themselves. You cannot be an American citizen until you learn to say "Go fuck yourself."
Val: Kiss my Naturalization papers.

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Connections

References A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

User Reviews

Gets funnier and more poignant with repeated viewings

A ring-tailed wonder of a non-stop spritzer with a dynamite cast headed by the incredible Nathan Lane. One of Neil Simon's all-time best, worth seeing over and over. It ranks with the classic comedies of Billy Wilder and Preston Sturges.