Review of Enter Laughing

I remember the first time had to recite a line in a school play. I played the Mad Hatter. From what I recollect from that experience was watching my Dear Mother sewing a costume for me and for the finishing touch a large Top Hat made out of oak tag. The exemplary acting great Spencer Tracy once quoted as saying "Know your lines and don't bump into the furniture."I'm surprised TCM doesn't show this Carl Reiner classic more often. A cavalcade of character actors and comedy legends combine to make this movie a memorable one for all who prefer old school humor in it's most innocent form. This story begins in the Bronx around the late 1930's with an impressionable young gawky teen David played by Reni Santoni. David lives with his parents in a cramped apartment. His Mom played by Shelly Winters wants him to settle down and hopefully when he Graduates from Dewitt Clinton High go to Pharmacy school. David also works for an grumbling old world boss Mr. Foreman (Jack Gilford) who constantly reminds him he's getting paid to work! David has a girlfriend named Wanda (Janet Margolin) where time and space becomes a problem for the two of them to enjoy their romance. They actually have a date in a nearby cemetery for privacy. You see David's surroundings are for the most part very grim. Growing up in the inner city, the grimy job, the constant guilt by his Mom and the pressures of growing into manhood, David finds escape in Hollywood. The Movies, Lost Horizon and the suave,elegant mustached, Ronald Coleman with the British accent. David molds himself after the iconic movie star as the show business bug hits him. David finds an add for actors in a local production and tries his hand at acting. David goes down to the dilapidated theater run by stagehand and man of many hats Mr. Pike (Richard Deacon). David is introduced to veteran actor and director extraordinaire Harrison B. Marlowe or should we say Harrison Be Drunk? Harrison our bedeviled director is basically full of himself and has very little patience for green actors in particular, Mainly David. Initially David thinks he'll be paid for his first acting job but instead David has to pay Marlowe for his expertise and direction learning under one of the finest actors. David all chocked up and anxious, flubs his opening line by reciting the line description (Enter Laughing) and the line that follows. Hence the title of the Movie. A subjective Harrison wants him out but his seductive Daughter Angela (Elaine May) has an interest in him and tells her Father to keep him. The rehearsals are at best trying times for the intoxicated director and David as the two don't seem to jive together putting it mildly. Basically David drives Marlowe beyond his limited patience. Meanwhile David need an advance on his pay from his cold boss. David spends the rest of this picture juggling rehearsals, job ,girlfriend and asking his boss for a prayer shall in exchange for a tuxedo with help from (Don Rickles). All this needed for the upcoming opening night in David's debut as an actor. Notable supporting players in this movie are sidekick and friend Marvin (Michael Pollard). the sexy Girl Friday Miss B. in the neighboring office, Nancy Kovacks. What Carl Reiner film would be complete without a family member in the film? All in The Family's Rob Reiner playing supporting actor in the Marlowe production as Clark Baxter. This was Rob's first movie role and son of Director Carl Reiner. Great fun watching this story unfold as we all wait for opening night! Wonderfully written story by Carl Reiner as he tells his personal struggles, experiences growing up in hopes of making it in show business. As for my debut at the Hebrew Academy Play. I came on stage with all those faces staring at me in horror. I flubbed my line. My line was simply, "It's time for tea!" I froze and said "It's time for cheese!" I was taunted by my classmates for weeks but it didn't matter because my Mother said I was wonderful in the play. Love you Mom!