ENTER LAUGHING
US, 1967, 110 minutes, Colour.
Reni Santoni, Jose Ferrer, Shelley Winters, Elaine May, Jack Gilford, Janet Margolin, Michael J. Pollard.
Directed by Carl Reiner.
Enter Laughing is an enjoyable comedy about a stagestruck young man in the late '30s. The plot is based on the experiences of Carl Reiner, the author of the original novel, co-author of the screenplay and director of the film. Reiner had a successful career on radio and television, appeared in many films as a comic actor and directed a number of comedies including Where's Poppa?, Oh God, The One and Only, The Jerk. Reni Santoni is quite effective in the central role - however, he did not have a successful career in films. Shelley Winters does one of her strident Jewish mothers and Jose Ferrer gives an impression of an alcoholic off-Broadway director. Comedienne Elaine May is good as his actress daughter. The film has a good cast, re-creates the atmosphere of the late '30s, pokes gentle fun at the world of the theatre as well as of the Jewish community in New York. It is particularly of American appeal but is sufficiently light-hearted with a serious undertone for non-American audiences.
1. An enjoyable human comedy drama? The humanity of the film, comic touches and insight, the world of the theatre, the '30s, the Jewish community in New York? A satisfying blend of these elements?
2. The work of Cark Reiner: his work on radio and television, writings, screenplay, Reiner as actor and director? His American Jewish humour?
3. The world of the theatre: stagestruck ambitions, the drive to be in the theatre, to act, to be in front of an audience? Dreams and ambitions? Money dominating choice of profession and career? New York in the '30s? The world of films and the stars like Ronald Colman? Theatres and plays? Off-Broadway? directors? Cast, stage workers, auditions, performances, audiences? Stage fright and nerves? The title and its tone - as illustrated in the film?
4. The film as David's story: Reni Santoni's presence, style and performance? How well did he carry the film? Credible young man, his age, family life, personality, ambitions? Shy and awkward, but with drive? His home life - his father and his lazing around the home, dominated by his wife? His mother and her care, love, overbearing concern, strident manner? Her blackmailing him about being a pharmacist? His focus on girls and worrying about being a sex maniac? His work with Mr. Foreman? Awkwardness - especially in making up stories and becoming inconsistent? His friendship with Wanda, their outings, falling in love, clashes? His chatting with Harry Hamburger's secretary and their friendship? His friendship with Marvin? Going to the theatre, the encounter with Marlowe, Angela's liking him for the play, friendship with Pike? The audition and his poor performance? Angela wanting him? The dressing room sequence and her seeming to lead him on and then drop him? Wanda and her lending him the money for the tuxedo, their having the glass of milk together, coming to the rehearsal, jealousy, his chasing her, the scene in the lobby, the cemetery? The clash and her being like his mother? The tuxedo and the humour of his buying it? His being browbeaten by his mother, going to work, deciding to go in the play? The borrowing of the tuxedo from Harry? The support of his secretary? The difficulty in getting on the stage? His stage fright? The happy ending? The humour of the voice-over and the comments from '30s films e.g. Lost Horizon, Gunga Din? His admiration for Ronald Colman and his changing his name to Don Colman? A gently satiric look at the ambitions of an adolescent wanting to be an actor?
5. The portrait of his parents: Morris and his quiet around the house, brow-beaten by his wife, expected to speak up, concern about operations, borrowing money, his going to the theatre to see his son? Emma and her talk, care - the satire on the Jewish mother? Her blackmail and forcing David to be a pharmacist - "Do what you want". Her going to the theatre and being proud of her son?
6. Wanda as an attractive heroine, friendship with David, lending the $10, the glass of milk, the jealousy at the rehearsal, the worrying about the kissing? Their reconciling in the lobby? The tender touches at the cemetery and the memory of the dead couple? Their influencing David to take Wanda home? Her becoming like his mother? Her bringing the tuxedo to the theatre? Her anxiety about his performance? Reconciliation?
7. Marvin and his friendship, eyeing the girls, especially Angela, his admiration for David?
8. Marlowe and the satire on the eccentric alcoholic director? The poor drawing-room play that he was putting on? Angela and her wanting David in the play? Her on again-off again treatment of him? The final performance? The comedy touches in the Marlowes - father and daughter?
9. Pike and his work around the theatre, helping David?
10. Harry and his loudmouthed attitudes, his attractive secretary and her friendship with David? Going to lunch with him? Calling him a naughty boy? forcing Harry to lend the tuxedo and proposing to him? David's trying on the tuxedo and the sexual ambiguity with Marlowe's remark!
11. The flavour of the '30s, Ronald Colman and his films? The quotes from Tale of Two Cities and Lost Horizon?
12. Mr. Foreman and the Jewish boss, the concern about David, the buying of the shawl, the phone call to his parents? The humour of the scenes with Mr. Foreman? With buying the tuxedo - and the shirt and hat? The man in the train sitting on David's hat - and his rehearsing his lines? The audience of the play?
13. The humane touches in the humour? An enjoyable piece of Americana?
