The Impostors (1998)

In an attempt to resurrect the slapstick comedy of Laurel and Hardy or The Marx Brothers, Arthur (Stanley Tucci) and Maurice (Oliver Platt) team-up as two out-of-work actors who ... See full summary »

Director:

Stanley Tucci

Writer:

Stanley Tucci

Stars:

Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci, Walker Jones

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Oliver Platt	...	Maurice
Stanley Tucci	...	Arthur
Walker Jones	...	Maitre D'
Jessica Walling	...	Attractive Woman
David Lipman	...	Baker in Kramer's Pastries
E. Katherine Kerr	...	Gertrude in "Hamlet"
George Guidall	...	Claudius in "Hamlet"
William Hill	...	Bernardo in "Hamlet"
Alfred Molina	...	Sir Jeremy Burtom
Michael Emerson	...	Burtom's Assistant
Jack O'Connell	...	Stage Manager
Matt Malloy	...	Mike / Laertes in "Hamlet"
Ted Blumberg	...	Francisco in "Hamlet"
Lili Taylor	...	Lily 'Lil'
Tony Shalhoub	...	Voltri, First Mate

Storyline

In an attempt to resurrect the slapstick comedy of Laurel and Hardy or The Marx Brothers, Arthur (Stanley Tucci) and Maurice (Oliver Platt) team-up as two out-of-work actors who accidentally stowaway on a ship to hide from a drunken, belligerent lead actor who has sworn to kill them for belittling his talents. Of course, the lead actor end up on the ship as well. Also, madman Voltri, First Mate (Tony Shalhoub) plots the destruction of the ship, and Happy Franks (Steve Buscemi) is a depressed, suicidal lounge singer.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | actor | singer | written and directed by cast member | bomb | 

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Taglines:

Why be yourself when you can be somebody else?

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt first met at Yale University where they developed the characters of the two unemployed actors that they played in this movie.

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Goofs

When Happy Franks sits at the bar and sees the sleeping pills, the bottle has the address printed on it, including the ZIP code. ZIP codes were not used until 1963.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Maurice: [as they discuss an act which they did] I'm sorry.
Arthur: You stole my death.

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Crazy Credits

As the closing credits roll, the entire cast performs a line dance, starting on the ocean liner set and working their way out of the soundstage.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Sam Rockwell/Halsey (2018)

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Soundtracks

Tango Music
from "Luis Bravo's Forever Tango"
Composed by Lisandro Adrover
Performed by The Forever Tango Orchestra
Produced by Brian Cullman

User Reviews

A very funny film that reflects the golden age of Hollywood

A very amusing film. It has elements of the Marx bros, Laurel and Hardy, Grand Hotel and Some Like It Hot. Really an homage to the screwball comedy films of the 30's that were chock full of great character actors. The plot is skimpy at best but half the fun is guessing the previous credits for the great cast. Look for an un-credited performance by Woody Allen as a distracted Broadway director.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ship of Fools

Filming Locations:

Murdoch Hall - 114 Clifton Place, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$308,767, 4 October 1998

Gross USA:

$2,198,044

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,198,044

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Cold Piece, Fox Searchlight Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1