Enter Laughing (film)
Encyclopedia
Enter Laughing is a 1967 comedy film, directed by Carl Reiner
, based on his autobiographical novel and the stage play
of the same name.
The film stars Jose Ferrer
, Shelly Winters and Elaine May
. It tells the story of a young man (Reni Santoni
) from the Bronx trying to break into the theater.
Despite the misgivings of his girlfriend Wanda (Janet Margolin
), his parents (Winters and David Opatoshu
) and his employer (Jack Gilford
), David follows the suggestion of a friend (Michael J. Pollard
) and becomes involved with an off-Broadway theater company run by Harrison B. Marlowe (Ferrer). He admires Ronald Colman
so he uses the stage name "Donald Colman."
It is a margin operation that requires him to pay $5 a week for "tuition." Marlowe's daughter (May) takes a romantic interest in David, who perseveres despite a lack of acting talent and the hostility of Marlowe.
Overcoming all the difficulties, he makes his acting debut and his parents and girlfriend accept his new interest.
Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner is an American actor, film director, producer, writer and comedian. He has won nine Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award during this career...
, based on his autobiographical novel and the stage play
Enter Laughing
Enter Laughing is a play by Joseph Stein.Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Carl Reiner, it centers on the journey of young aspiring actor David Kolowitz as he tries to extricate himself from overly protective parents and two too many girlfriends, while struggling to meet the challenge of...
of the same name.
The film stars Jose Ferrer
José Ferrer
José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón , best known as José Ferrer, was a Puerto Rican actor, as well as a theater and film director...
, Shelly Winters and Elaine May
Elaine May
Elaine May is an American film director, screenwriter and actress. She achieved her greatest fame in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines in partnership with Mike Nichols...
. It tells the story of a young man (Reni Santoni
Reni Santoni
Reni Santoni is an American film, television and voice actor.Santoni was born in New York City of French and Spanish descent.He began his career in off-Broadway theatre...
) from the Bronx trying to break into the theater.
Plot summary
David Kolowitz (Santoni) works as a delivery boy for a machine shop in New York City in 1938, and is fascinated with the movies.Despite the misgivings of his girlfriend Wanda (Janet Margolin
Janet Margolin
Janet Margolin was an American theater, television and film actress.- Early life :Margolin was born in New York City, the daughter of Benjamin Margolin, an accountant who was born in Russia and was founder and president of the Nephrosis Foundation, now the Kidney Foundation of New York...
), his parents (Winters and David Opatoshu
David Opatoshu
David Opatoshu was an American film, stage and television actor. He was born as David Opatovsky in New York City, where he was reared and educated. His father was the Yiddish writer, Joseph Opatoshu.-Television:...
) and his employer (Jack Gilford
Jack Gilford
Jack Gilford was an American actor on Broadway, films and television.-Early life:Gilford was born Jacob Aaron Gellman on the lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, and grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn...
), David follows the suggestion of a friend (Michael J. Pollard
Michael J. Pollard
- Early life :Born Michael John Pollack, Jr. in Passaic, New Jersey, he is the son of Sonia and Michael John Pollack. He attended the Montclair Academy and the Actors Studio.- Career :...
) and becomes involved with an off-Broadway theater company run by Harrison B. Marlowe (Ferrer). He admires Ronald Colman
Ronald Colman
Ronald Charles Colman was an English actor.-Early years:He was born in Richmond, Surrey, England, the second son and fourth child of Charles Colman and his wife Marjory Read Fraser. His siblings included Eric, Edith, and Marjorie. He was educated at boarding school in Littlehampton, where he...
so he uses the stage name "Donald Colman."
It is a margin operation that requires him to pay $5 a week for "tuition." Marlowe's daughter (May) takes a romantic interest in David, who perseveres despite a lack of acting talent and the hostility of Marlowe.
Overcoming all the difficulties, he makes his acting debut and his parents and girlfriend accept his new interest.
Cast
- Shelley WintersShelley WintersShelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
as Emma Kolowitz - Jose FerrerJosé FerrerJosé Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón , best known as José Ferrer, was a Puerto Rican actor, as well as a theater and film director...
as Harrison B. Marlowe - Elaine MayElaine MayElaine May is an American film director, screenwriter and actress. She achieved her greatest fame in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines in partnership with Mike Nichols...
as Angela - Reni SantoniReni SantoniReni Santoni is an American film, television and voice actor.Santoni was born in New York City of French and Spanish descent.He began his career in off-Broadway theatre...
as David - Don RicklesDon RicklesDonald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
as Harry Hamburger - Janet MargolinJanet MargolinJanet Margolin was an American theater, television and film actress.- Early life :Margolin was born in New York City, the daughter of Benjamin Margolin, an accountant who was born in Russia and was founder and president of the Nephrosis Foundation, now the Kidney Foundation of New York...
as Wanda - Jack GilfordJack GilfordJack Gilford was an American actor on Broadway, films and television.-Early life:Gilford was born Jacob Aaron Gellman on the lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, and grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn...
as Mr. Foreman - Nancy KovackNancy Kovack__forcetoc__Nancy Kovack is a former American actress.-Biography:She attended the University of Michigan at age 15 and graduated by 19. At the age of 20 she had won eight beauty titles....
as Miss B - Richard DeaconRichard Deacon (actor)Richard Deacon , born in Philadelphia, was an American television and motion picture actor.-Career:The bald and usually bespectacled character actor often portrayed pompous or imperious figures. He made appearances on The Jack Benny Show as a salesman and a barber, and on NBC's Happy as a hotel...
as Pike - Rob ReinerRob ReinerRobert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
as Clark Baxter