Bruits de coulisses

"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 that 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.

I would have never, ever watched this movie. I passed it by many times without every giving it a second of a chance. I mean, I was 10 and this movie really held no interest for me. Then, one day, while scanning through the channels I came upon this movie when Nicollette Sheridan is running around in her underwear... well, that got my attention. That one thing held my interest long enough for me to get pulled into the story of the movie and by the time the movie was over... I loved it.

Even at my age this movie had me rolling with laughter. But now 11 years later, I caught the movie again and it was even funnier. The characters were great and were acted well by the all star cast. Christopher Reeve getting a nose bleed at the slightest sign of violence, John Ritters jealousy, Michael Caine's frustrations at trying to deal with the antics of his cast were all hilarious. Watching as the cast is arguing and fighting while trying to act out the scenes and keep Selsdon (Denholm Elliot) from alcohol was hilarity defined. I REALLY loved Marilu Henner as Belinda in this movie. I really fell in love with her character as I watched her run around trying to keep the peace. She always seemed to know what was going on and was always perky and her smile rarely waivered. Overall, the whole cast was great and it is one of my most unexpected favorite movies.

21 March 2009. The movie version of the play can't even come close replicating the complex and risky physical comedy that live theater, if done well, explodes into a dazzling sheer hilarious and spectacular presentation in real time. A lot depends on exact timing and the audience knows it. The first and third acts in both the film and live theater productions are fairly similar and the tone of the comedy is approximate. Unfortunately, the movie version's second act, behind the scenes where the movie version breaks down and the liquor bottle comic antics are completely lost. It's hard to keep up with what's going on and the duplicity of the relationships in the movie version. Overall, the movie holds its own in the first act, loses a lot in the second, and is adequately, if not sharp and snappy in its delivery in the second. The movie has a number of great moments mostly due to the playwright's script. The movie is funny, but it just can't hold a plate to a Broadway production of the play. **Since the movie's release, it is with sadness that Christopher Reeves and John Ritter have since past away which in a way deflates the movie, until their performances and the rest of the cast is able to their credit transport us into the past and their live behavior on the screen.** 6/10.

More than 20 years later, Noises Off ages well as the memory of the brilliant stage performance fades in comparison. While not spectacular as a movie production, the movie seems to be more funny and more entertaining than originally seen, especially the second act. So while Noises Off might not come across as great, it has become a nice testament of comedy for the late Christopher Reeve, late John Ritter, and the late Denholm Elliot which Noises Off was to be his final movie. Definitely worth renting for the experience. Reviewed 4/3/2021. 7/10.

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

You may have to see it a few times to catch it all, as it is very fast paced, but there's not very many movies that have made me laugh so much. An amazing cast with amazing acting. Often overlooked is the ability to maintain character without busting up laughing at what your co-star is doing...especially during long takes, which this movie has many of. The late, great John Ritter's performance is the glue that holds it all together, and Michael Caine's depiction of the pained and tormented director is brilliant. It is also a great show of diversity for the late Christopher Reeve, who is much more Clark Kent than Superman in this show. Nicolette Sheridan in her undies is certainly not hard to look at either!

Highly recommended...but don't just see it once, as I wrote before. It was a bit confusing on my first one. It is also fairly family-friendly, with only a couple obscenities exclaimed by Michael Caine in hilariously funny moments of frustration.