They All Laughed [VHS]

They All Laughed [VHS]

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Editorial Reviews

A trio of detectives are hired by a trio of women who think their husbands are cheating on them.

Director Peter Bogdanovich started off the 1980s with this trifle: a sweet romantic valentine to a New York City where bumbling detectives fall in love with their targets. This is a Big Apple where country music blares, taxi drivers are gorgeous models, sass permeates, and Ben Gazzara embodies all that is cool. He is the chief hound in the blue-collar Odyssey Detective Agency specializing in observing wives for their suspicious husbands. John Ritter, who became famous four years later with Three's Company, plays the equally daft Charles, a man who literally falls head over heels with cutie-pie Dolores (Dorothy Stratten). Gazzara falls for a socialite played by Audrey Hepburn (in her last starring role). The veteran actors are at their movie-star best. The film has a casual style and charm, another change of pace for Bogdanovich who was still trying to find the magic of his first films (including The Last Picture Show and What's Up, Doc?). He fills the screen with gorgeous females including Patti Hansen as an all-knowing cab driver, Colleen Camp as a country singer, and Stratten, the former Playboy Playmate of the Year. However, if there is a big surprise, it's co-writer/producer Blaine Novak as the long-haired, roller-skating detective Arthur, who has a tart remark for everyone and nearly steals every scene.

The film ran into trouble in post-production when Stratten, who was now an item with Bogdanovich, was murdered by her estranged husband. The eerie similarities with the movie were another reason no studio wanted to release it. Bogdanovich funded it himself and when it bombed, the artistic and personal loss resulted in the director not making a film until Mask, nearly five years later. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Simply wonderful!

Reviewed by John, 2010-03-03

I have watched this movie countless times, and I must say I found it thoroughly entertaining! If you are a fan of light-hearted romantic comedies, then you might like this movie as well. In my opinion, this is a seriously underrated film; I found I enjoyed it far more than some of Audrey's earlier work (such as Paris when it Sizzles or Two for The Road).

Recommended to all Audrey fans! =)

Beguilingly Charming Comedic Romance

Reviewed by T. Anderson, 2009-10-14

This Peter Bogdanovich ensemble piece is as beguilingly sweet as the plot is simple: a gaggle of bumbling detectives play fodder for cupid when they fall head-over-heels in love with their respective marks.

You almost can't help loving this movie even though its transparent ideological slant (marital infidelity isn't really wrong when it leads unfaithful and misunderstood spouses to true love) is rendered thoroughly creepy by the lens of Bogdanovich's real-life affair with Stratton (which arguably contributed to her murder). But despite Bogdanovich's self-serving cinematic rationalizations for seducing and manipulating a vulnerable beauty, the performances save the day; everyone from seasoned actors Audrey Hepburn and Ben Gazarra, to future star John Ritter, to emerging talents like Patti Hansen and Blaine Novak (and the luminous Stratton) are fabulous in their understated grace and charm.

One of the Best

Reviewed by L. Hansen, 2009-05-24

Wonderful Movie, the last major role for Audrey Hepburn, and the last role for Dorothy Stratton (murdered one month after completion of filming). This is a complicated 'detective' story, with all of the various story lines converging at the end to a wonderful conclusion. Also starring a young John Ritter (before Three's Company), Ben Gazzara (who had just completed a real-life affair with Audrey), and Patti Hansen (later married Keith Richards of the Stones).

THEY ALL LAUGHED

Reviewed by Laura Denise, 2009-02-28

"THEY ALL LAUGHED" is a wonderful romantic comedy about Manhattan detectives who fall for the women they are following. Peter Bogdanovich directed this 1981 movie that stars Audrey Hepburn (her last lead role), Ben Gazzara (after his and Audrey's affair had ended), John Ritter, and Dorothy Stratten (her one and only starring role in a movie). Colleen Camp plays a delightful country-western singer. Filmed entirely on the island of Manhattan gives you a pre-9-11 sense of big city life. This DVD also has a commentary track with the director reminiscing about the movie. The soundtrack features Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and a great roller-skating scene featuring "Sing, Sing, Sing." ENJOY!

They All Laughed

Reviewed by Stephen H. Wiley, 2009-01-24

Whether the story line makes any sense at all is irrelevant. This movie features the last appearances of Dorothy Stratten and Audrey Hepburn. For no other reason, that makes it worth the price of admission. Then add to that appearances by John Ritter and Ben Gazzara and you have some top actors doing the best they could with the script. I am also a Colleen Camp fan and as a songwriter enjoyed hearing her sing. She is a very good actress who is not well known. Believe it or not Colleen has been involved with more than 80 films in her career. This film is basically a showcase and was supposed to help Dorothy breakout into some legitimate acting roles. Peter had a very active interest in Dorothy to say the least. As it turned out, the picture is not only a fun experience to watch but more than that it is an historical document. The tragedy of Dorothy's death and the timing of it damaged the film's distribution. Although now it is somewhat dated the work of some fine actors is preserved and we get to see Dorothy one more time. Audrey Hepburn was and forever is one of the world's most beautiful women. Supposedly she had had an affair with Ben Gazzara during the filming of Bloodline in 1979. Their re-uniting was also a bittersweet moment because the scenes they shared were particularly poignant. It is a shame that the film never really had a national promotional campaign behind it and consequently only had a limited release. But those of us who know the film and appreciate it for it's own beauty and grace as well as comedic sense, are very pleased that it is now available on DVD and no longer need to worry about our well worn VHS copies. Thanks Amazon for having a copy for me to buy.