Peter Bogdanovich directs this farce based on the Tony Award-winning play that follows a group of actors, played by Carol Burnett, Christopher Reeve, John Ritter, Marilu Henner, Nicolette Sheridan and Denholm Elliott, whose backstage squabbles threaten to ruin the sex comedy they’re polishing on the road before heading to Broadway. The play’s burnt-out, Valium-popping director (Michael Caine) leads the cast through rehearsals and shows that are increasingly filled with missed cues, forgotten lines, jammed prop doors and silent offstage pranks among the actors whose petty jealousies and fights can’t be contained behind the scenes.
Noises Off is based on Michael Frayn’s play. The film’s actors, most of whom are American, affect British accents when they appear in the play-within-the-movie.
production details
USA / Buena Vista / 101 minutes / 1992-03-20
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Producer: Frank Marshall
Original Story: Michael Frayn
Director of Photography: Tim Suhrstedt
Editor: Lisa Day
Script: Marty Kaplan
Production Design: Norman Newberry
cast
Denholm Elliott as Selsdon Mowbray / The Burglar
Nicollette Sheridan as Brooke Ashton / Vicki
Mark Linn-Baker as Tim Allgood
Carol Burnett as Dotty Otley / Mrs. Clackett
Marilu Henner as Belinda Blair / Flavia Brent
Christopher Reeve as Frederick Dallas / Philip Brent
Julie Hagerty as Poppy Taylor
Michael Caine as Lloyd Fellowes
John Ritter as Garry Lejeune / Roger Tramplemain
Kate Rich as Des Moines Stagehand
Zoe R. Cassavetes as Miami Stagehand
Kim Sebastian as Cleveland Stagehand
Louise Stratten as Broadway Stagehand (as L.B. Straten)
J. Christopher Sullivan as Miami Backstage Guard
Kimberly Neville as Miami Usher