Noises Off

1992

Noises Off

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

61%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 23

84%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,438
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Movie Info

Michael Frayn's frantic West End and Broadway farce makes a literal transformation to the screen in Peter Bogdanoch's faithful adaptation, which is transplanted from the London suburbs to Des Moines, Iowa to accommodate the (mostly) American cast. Michael Caine stars as director Lloyd Fellowes, assigned to bring the successful British sex farce "Nothing On" to the boards in America. In an intricate technical rehearsal, Lloyd puts his cast through their paces -- Garry Lejuene (John Ritter), an obliging feature actor; Dotty Otley (Carol Burnett), a fading theatrical star; Frederick Dallas (Christopher Reeve), a handsome leading man who demands to know the motivation behind every scene; Brooke Ashton (Nicollette Sheridan), the sexy leading lady; Belinda Blair (Marilu Henner), the seen-it-all second female lead; and Seldson Mawbray (Denholm Elliot), the inebriated character actor. The technical rehearsal goes off without a hitch, but as the play travels the country in pre-Broadway performances, the eccentricities of the cast come to the fore and the performances in Des Moines and Cleveland are complete disasters.

Cast

Carol Burnett
as Dotty
Michael Caine
as Lloyd
Denholm Elliott
as Mowbray
Julie Hagerty
as Poppy
Marilu Henner
as Belinda
Mark Linn-Baker
as Tim
Christopher Reeve
as Dallas
John Ritter
as Garry
Nicollette Sheridan
as Brooke
Kate Rich
as Des Moines Stagehand
Zoe Cassavetes
as Miami Stagehand
Bronson Dudler
as Bum at Curb
Kim Sebastian
as Cleveland Stagehand
L.B. Straten
as Broadway Stagehand
J. Christopher Sullivan
as Miami Backstage Guard
Kimberly Neville
as Miami Usher
Cleveland O'Neal
as Miami Electrician
Roger Michelson
as Company Lighting Technician
Joe Hanna
as Company Soundman
Rosie DeSanctis
as Backstage Visitor
Jack McCall
as Broadway Usher
Keith Crowningshield
as Broadway Usher
Andrew Mapp
as Broadway Usher
Dianna Agostini
as Broadway Theatergoer
Bronson Dudley
as Bum at Curb
Drummond Erskine
as Backstage Doorman
Robert Armstrong
as Additional Stagehand
Dick Corman
as Additional Stagehand
Wendy Dawn Wilson
as Additional Stagehand
Matthew Robert Gottlieb
as Additional Stagehand
Dana Marley
as Additional Stagehand
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Critic Reviews for Noises Off

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (9)

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Audience Reviews for Noises Off

  • May 06, 2011
    Muito engraçado, diversão do inicio ao fim.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 15, 2010
    Well, you can't accuse the cast for not putting the effort into this one. The whole thing is so fast paced it leaves you exhausted. Unfortunately that means that a lot of film is just exhausting as opposed to hilarious. Perhaps something got lost in translation from stage to screen but this doesn't quite work. Saying that it is still very entertaining and the 2nd act harks back to the silent movie days and has some great physical comedy. Out of the ensemble cast it is John Ritter and Christopher Reeve who shine the most, with Ritter doing a great Austin Powers accent years before Mike Myers got there!
    David S Super Reviewer
  • Jul 28, 2010
    Ludicrously hilarious; a slapstick comedy that at first doesn't seem that funny, then progressively layers itself until you can't stop laughing. The dialogue is awkward and some of the situations are absurd; this was a play before it became a movie, so if you treat it like a play, then it automatically becomes funnier. A strong lead from Michael Caine and good supporting stage actors and actresses (most notably John Ritter). The lowest form of humor in the evolutionary chain but still funny. 75/100
    Simeon D Super Reviewer
  • Mar 25, 2008
    'Noises off' echoes the phenomenological concern: "theatre is a live event, so anything can go wrong!" And it does! There are extreme moments of comedic brilliance in this film, particularly the "silent" battle backstage. The actors and actresses give us a frenetic performance while props and costumes fly all over the place. The only problem is how "staged" the whole effort seems- even Michael Caine's voice over. Peter Bogdanovich, who has done his best directorial work in the 70's does not fully live up to the expectations of the amazing material he has in his hands in the form of Michael Frayn's play.
    Anastasia B Super Reviewer
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