'''Noises Off...''' is a 1992 comedy about a motley and disorganized theatre company and their misadventures. It is based on the play by Michael Frayn. It utilises the play-within-a-play (or in this case play-within-a-film) format, with the play being a pastiche of the farce genre, but the movie being a farce itself. We see the play several times, and comedy emerges from the subtle variations in the performance each time as off-stage chaos affects on-stage performance.

Cast

*Carol Burnett Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clackett
*Michael Caine Lloyd Fellowes
*Denholm Elliott Selsdon Mowbray/The Burglar
*Julie Hagerty Poppy Taylor
*Marilu Henner Belinda Blair/Flavia Brent
*Mark Linn-Baker Tim Allgood
*Christopher Reeve Frederick Dallas/Philip Brent
*John Ritter Garry Lejeune/Roger Tramplemain
*Nicollette Sheridan Brooke Ashton/Vicki
*Kate Rice Des Moines Stagehand
*Zoe R. Cassavetes Miami Stagehand
*Kim Sebastian Cleveland Stagehand
*L.B. Straten Broadway Stagehand
*J. Christopher Sullivan Miami Backstage Guard
*Kimberly Neville Miami Usher

Trivia

* The last names of Lloyd Dallas and Frederick Fellowes from the play version were switched in the movie version.
* The bridge scenes, with Caine's voiceover narration, including the opening scene where he leaves the theatre and the ending scene where he returns, were written for the film and do not appear in the play. In the play, the last line is the frantic call for "Curtain"!
* This is Denholm Elliott's last film before his death in 1992

External link