This is one of those "movies" that are guaranteed to empty a cinema in ten minutes flat, but on the other hand prove far more than tolerably entertaining when viewed on TV or DVD. From a cinema standpoint, Carl Reiner's direction is remarkably poor, relying too much on overwrought close-ups. The scenes with Shelley Winters are especially tiresome. Until I saw her in "Enter Laughing", I was always a great fan of Shelley Winters. I thought she gave a great performance in "A Place in the Sun", but she certainly lets her fans down badly in "Enter Laughing". On the other hand, when such talented comedians as Jose Ferrer and Richard Deacon are on stage, things in "Enter Laughing" are hilarity plus. Oddly, although the movie was ideal for the smallest of small home screens, it was never made available on either VHS or DVD. Now of course it's too late. Sony have well and truly missed the bus on this one!
Review of Enter Laughing
