Enter Laughing Summary
Director: Carl Reiner
Genres: Comedy
Rating:
Carl_Reiner's semi-autobiographical novel Enter Laughing makes a largely successful transition to the screen. Reni_Santoni plays the Reiner character, here named David Kolowitz. A machinist's apprentice in Depression-era New York, David dreams of becoming the new Ronald_Colman. Defying the wishes of his parents (Shelley_Winters, David_Opatoshu), David lands a nonpaying job in a seedy theatrical production directed by broken-down ham Marlowe (Jose_Ferrer). That the young aspiring actor knows nothing about his "craft" is evident the moment he speaks his first stage direction--"Enter Laughing"--as if it were a line of dialogue. Helped along by Marlowe's sex-starved daughter Angela (Elaine_May), David manages to survive the rehearsal period, but his first public performance threatens to become a disaster when he can't find the entrance to the set. Still and all, David makes it through the play, cheered along by his now-supportive parents. Blessed with a marvelous supporting cast--including Jack_Gilford, Don_Rickles, Janet_Margolin and veteran black comedian Mantan_Moreland--Enter Laughing is a riot, especially for those viewers who have ever participated in amateur theatricals themselves. Only Reni_Santoni fails to ring true as David Kolowitz (a role played on stage by Alan_Arkin), though he has a few choice scenes, especially his impromptu performance on a subway. Watch for Rob_Reiner in his film debut as a clumsy, self-conscious actor. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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