Footlight Frenzy (1984 TV Movie) User Reviews

One laugh after another.

[Marnvote1 · 9/10 · 11 February 2007]

I happened to see this show in 1984, I was laughing so hard my sides and stomach ached. Tears were running down my cheeks.

The next time it was on TV I was prepared with a tape to record it. My children knew that under no circumstances should they touch that tape.

Being active in theater I could not only see but empathize with the cast and the problems that arose. I was sure the cast had gotten together one night and remembered embarrassing and heart stopping moments in shows they did. I think they put them all together and Footlight Frenzy was born.

Imagine my dismay and heart break to find that one of my children's friend wanted to tape something and carelessly taped over it. I have been trying since 1984 to find another copy. This is the first I have seen one. I do hope this will be available for sale. I would buy two, one extra just to be on the safe side.

Can't go wrong with this tape if you are looking for laughs a minute and amazing staging. Remembering some scenes still make me smile. What a pick me up.

Fun from beginning to end!!

[coloradokid719 · 10/10 · 21 January 2006]

I remember seeing this as a "Broadway on Showtime" feature, if I'm not mistaken. I taped it, too, but over the years I've misplaced the tape. I hope that it will be released on DVD someday soon! I haven't seen it for many years now but I still remember bits of it to this day. Diz White was my favorite actress in the show, but the cast was an incredible ensemble. I used to work in theatre and always wanted to work on this production, perhaps one day that might still happen. Anyone who has done live theatre will enjoy this thoroughly, and as an actor who actually did skip dialogue, and watched our director have to rethink the play "on the fly" during a performance, it brought back bittersweet memories. The writing, casting, acting, staging, and directing was absolutely brilliant. I hope I get to see this particular production again in my lifetime!

Very Funny Physical Comedy

[dzechiel · 10/10 · 14 March 2004]

I first saw this when it was broadcast back in 1984. At that time I was fortunate because I happened to put a tape in the VCR and had a perfect copy to view over and over.

This is about a play put on by the faculty and staff of a school to raise money to "Save Our School!" The script is written by the drama instructor, the school janitor is the stage manager and the teachers are the actors. On the night of the big performance, two of the cast call to say they won't be coming. The janitor is drafted to play the part of "Johnny Chicago" and the bulter's part is replace by a telephone. One of the actresses want's to know how to play her big love scene when she is supposed to have an affair with the butler.

Needless to say, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. From bad props, to over the top acting, to personality clashes and jealousy to dropped dialog (by leaping ahead in the script, most of act two is left out of the play, and therefor act three has to be rewritten on the fly).

I have watched this show at least 15 times and I'm ready to watch it again. It's one of the best comedies for those who like physical humor. I just wish they would issue it on DVD!

Funniest comedy I've ever seen!

[mikeamick · 10/10 · 6 September 2004]

I've been looking for a copy of this movie, off and on, for the last 10 years. I first saw it by accident years ago on Showtime, and fell of the sofa laughing. Definitely worth seeing! It's similar to a film titled "Noises Off", about a play where the viewer is watching a play from the opposite side of where the audience ( for the play ) is sitting. Suffice it to say that anything that can go wrong does go wrong, and since I'm running out of things to say but apparently I need to fill out 10 lines of comments to get this posted, I'll just ramble on here until I get to 10 lines. Well, 9 lines down, one more to go. I don't really want to get into the details, I think it spoils this or any other movie.

Still hilarious

[TonyDood · 10/10 · 8 October 2007]

Like most people I saw this on Showtime back "in the day." My little brother and I laughed so hard we had convulsions, and basically memorized the whole thing. In the intervening years I've seen the other productions by this comedy troupe, most notably "Bullshot Crummond"-- the live version and the movie version--and "El Grande De Coca Cola" which I saw live, but "Footlight" will always be my favorite. I've also seen "Footlight Frenzy" live with a local theater troupe and was amazed how close it was to the original--the script directions must be incredibly detailed.

Years have passed--like any other fan I tried tracking it down to no avail; not only did it not seem to have ever been released on video, no one had any record of it at all. In this day and age that's awfully weird. Surely SOMEONE had at least videotaped it back in the 80's.

Recently I acquired a perfect, legit copy and it's amazing. Time hasn't diminished the humor one bit. Like "Airplane," some of the jokes misfire or are simply so stupid you get more of a groan than a laugh...but that's the point. It's just a non-stop barrage of gags and the performers are literally flawless, there's not one missed beat by the enthusiastic, tireless and tightly-bonded cast. It's a hyper-drive Carol Burnett "Funt And Mundane" sketch comfortably stretched over a (relatively) epic running time that leaves you exhausted--but sated--by the end...particularly if you've ever performed in any live theater yourself.

I'm sorry the company that created this marvel didn't get more attention for their work. It's sad that "Noises Off," which is incredibly similar, got all the attention--"Footlight" is far superior; it moves faster, isn't as redundant and has more gags per minute than its more popular cousin. Ahh well, not to be selfish but who cares; now that I have my own version to watch over and over all is right with the world at last.

Cheers to the creators of this project for bringing so much joy to the world, and cheers to "Tarnished sillllveeerrrrrrr!"

I taped it ;-)

[tflanster · 10/10 · 9 January 2011]

Easily one of the funniest "plays" I ever saw. I taped it - VHS, and as soon as I get the new DVD/Tape recorder I'll try making a DVD of it. I tried having it copied commercially but the company wouldn't do it because its a commercial product. I did however copy it to another tape for my son. That worked o.k.

There isn't a dull moment in the play. Funniest line - among many: Addie (Diz White) saying she wants another baby because the first two ". . . didn't turn out very well." Cracked me up! Shearman and Diz White wrote it. I just got a copy of another of their efforts - "BULLSHOT." Detective Bullshot Crummond's investigation of a crime. Hilarious!

No, no, no, no, no

[rhoda-9 · 1/10 · 8 October 2023]

The favourable reviews here (is it a cabal?) are mysterious indeed. If you really want to see this you can do so on the rarefilmm website, but don't waste your time. It is coarse, stupid, amateurish, and not at all funny. The writing is one cliche after another, and the actors seem to think it is extremely comic to shout, contort their faces, and windmill their arms about. If you want to see a funny show about a play that goes badly wrong, see Doubting Thomas, with Will Rogers. There is also, of course, Noises Off, but I don't think the movie is very good. With a good cast and direction, in the theatre, it is dangerously hilarious.

Delightful

[NannieJelo · 29 August 2003]

I looked up this title to see if it was available to rent or own. I remember it from years ago when cable TV 1st came to my area. If you ever get a chance to see it, please do! After almost 20 years, all I remember is it being about a small local theater company trying to save the business with one last show. Please forgive my lapses, but either the actors or the behind the scenes crew do not show up for the play. The inexperienced put their hearts and souls into this last ditch effort, the results being disastrous. Hysterical physical comedy. I would love to see it again. I was so disappointed to see that it is not available!