Sunset Limousine

Last updated
Sunset Limousine
Sunset Limousine VHS cover.jpg
Sunset Limousine VHS cover
GenreComedy
Written by Dick Clement
Ian La Frenais
Wayne Kline
Directed by Terry Hughes
Starring John Ritter
Susan Dey
Paul Reiser
Audrie Neenan
Martin Short
George Kirby
James Luisi
Louise Sorel
Lainie Kazan
Michael Ensign
Music by Mike Post
Frank Denson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Dennis E. Doty
Producers Allan McKeown
Robert Vehon
Production location San Diego
CinematographyDennis Dalzell
EditorMichael J. Lynch
Running time92 minutes
Production companies ITC Entertainment
Witzend Productions
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseOctober 12, 1983 (1983-10-12)

Sunset Limousine is a 1983 American made-for-television comedy film written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Directed by Terry Hughes and shot on locations in San Diego and Los Angeles, the film stars John Ritter, Susan Dey, Paul Reiser, Audrie Neenan, Martin Short, and George Kirby in a story about a limo driver who aspires to be a stand-up comic.

Contents

Pre-production began in 1979 after British company Witzend Productions signed to produce the project for CBS. [1] Filming took place during May 1983 with Lainie Kazan, [2] Martin Short, and Audie Neenan joining the cast that month. [3] The film debuted October 12, 1983 on CBS. [4]

Plot

Alan O'Black is an aspiring stand-up comic who takes on a job as limousine driver in order to prove to his girlfriend Julie after she has kicked him out of their shared home, that he can be a responsible adult. Her standing complaint about Alan as a boyfriend has been that he sees life as one long rehearsal. This is exacerbated by the fact that, even with a now-steady job and dealing with strange passenger/clients, Alan rehearses his comedy at every opportunity and deals with bizarre situations with good-natured aplomb. He and his buddy Jay become involved the shady dealings of businessman Bradley Coleman, which results in a chase through Los Angeles with both sides of the law in pursuit.

Eventually, things come to a head when he loses Bradley at a galleria, forcing him to go back and look for him just as he's about to perform a stand-up routine at the Laff Track. Unfortunately, he and Julie, who had followed him, end up being pursued by the mobsters. Looking for an opportunity to lose them, they try to blend in at a funeral at Inglewood Park Cemetery, only to find themselves among the mourners for real following an accident which ends up costing Alan both his limo and his job. They return to the Laff Track just in time for him to perform his routine, and Bradley reveals that he had gotten his goods legitimately through an inheritance and wanted to donate them before the IRS caught wind. During the routine, Alan stumbles when he sees the mobsters who had been pursuing him and stolen his limo at the cemetery have followed him to the Laff Track, triggering a brawl that he, Julie, Jay, and Bradley barely escape with their lives, but not before Alan schedules an appointment with network executives who had seen his act. When the police arrive, Alan indicates the men they came for, one of whom pathetically tries to pin it all on his partner. Later, Alan reveals to Julie everything involving Bradley's dealings, including his dropping the goods off at the post office between the funeral and his stand-up routine for safekeeping until he could get them back to Bradley. The film ends as Alan and Julie kiss.

Principal cast

Reception

People magazine bemoaned John Ritter's comedy ability being "drowned out" within the "cruder context of Three's Company", and wrote that his ability "shines in this fanciful TV-movie." It was expanded that the film's story line is silly, but as Ritter's character "gamely rehearses his [comedy] act through it all", he shows himself as "delightful." [5]

The Age wrote that Sunset Limousine stood out from most American television comedies because it actually was funny. In praising star John Ritter, it was offered that his timing and charm made a story that was otherwise rubbish into something entertaining. As the story progresses Ritter's character "handles the most impossible situations with politeness and good humor," becoming "increasingly endearing." [6]

Ocala Star-Banner praised the film, writing the film's "magic ingredient is John Ritter," and that "Ritter's style is what makes Sunset Limousine a welcome bit of light entertainment." [7]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette panned the film, offering that CBS' reliance on names over substance could not keep the film from being silly, and that even appearances by Lannie Kazan and George Kirby could not save the film from being mindless. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Toxic Avenger</i> (1984 film) 1984 American superhero black comedy splatter film by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman

The Toxic Avenger is a 1984 American superhero black comedy splatter film produced and directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman from a screenplay by Joe Ritter, based on a story by Kaufman. The film was produced and released by Troma Entertainment. It is the first installment in The Toxic Avenger film series and generated a media franchise.

<i>My Favorite Year</i> 1982 film directed by Richard Benjamin

My Favorite Year is a 1982 American comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Richard Benjamin and written by Norman Steinberg and Dennis Palumbo from a story written by Palumbo. The film tells the story of a young comedy writer and stars Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, and Joseph Bologna. O'Toole was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film was adapted into an unsuccessful 1992 Broadway musical of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Pryor</span> American comedian and actor (1940–2005)

Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most important stand-up comedians of all time. Pryor won a Primetime Emmy Award and five Grammy Awards. He received the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998. He won the Writers Guild of America Award in 1974. He was listed at number one on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ministry of Silly Walks</span> Monty Python sketch

"The Ministry of Silly Walks" is a sketch from the Monty Python comedy troupe's television show Monty Python's Flying Circus, series 2, episode 1, which is entitled "Face the Press". The episode first aired on 15 September 1970. A shortened version of the sketch was performed for Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Reiser</span> American actor

Paul Reiser is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He played the roles of Michael Taylor in the 1980s sitcom My Two Dads, Paul Buchman in the NBC sitcom Mad About You, Modell in the 1982 film Diner, Carter Burke in the 1986 film Aliens, and Detective Jeffrey Friedman in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024). More recently, he has gained recognition for his roles as Jim Neiman in the 2014 film Whiplash and Dr. Sam Owens in the Netflix series Stranger Things.

Mad About You is an American television sitcom starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a married couple in New York City as they navigate life together. In later seasons, the couple has a daughter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lainie Kazan</span> American actress and singer (born 1940)

Lainie Kazan is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for St. Elsewhere and the 1993 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for My Favorite Year. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in My Favorite Year (1982). Kazan played Maria Portokalos in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise. She also played Aunt Freida on The Nanny.

<i>Lust in the Dust</i> 1985 film

Lust in the Dust is a 1985 American Western comedy film directed by Paul Bartel, written by Philip John Taylor, and starring Tab Hunter, Divine, Lainie Kazan and Cesar Romero.

Bob Florence was an American pianist, composer, arranger, and big band leader.

<i>Kangaroo Jack: GDay U.S.A.!</i> 2004 American film

Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.! is a 2004 animated action comedy film. It is a sequel to 2003's Kangaroo Jack that is directed by Ron Myrick and Jeffrey Gatrall. Released direct-to-video in 2004, it was produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Castle Rock Entertainment and was distributed by Warner Home Video.

James Komack was an American television producer, director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for producing several hit television series, including The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Chico and the Man, and Welcome Back, Kotter.

<i>My Favorite Year</i> (musical) Musical by Joseph Dougherty, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahren

My Favorite Year is a musical with a book by Joseph Dougherty, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. It is based on the 1982 film of the same name.

<i>You Dont Mess with the Zohan</i> 2008 film directed by Dennis Dugan

You Don't Mess with the Zohan is a 2008 American satirical action comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan; written by Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel, and Judd Apatow; produced by Sandler and Jack Giarraputo; and starring Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, and Rob Schneider with supporting roles by Kevin Nealon, Ido Mosseri, Dave Matthews, Michael Buffer, Charlotte Rae, Sayed Badreya, and Daoud Heidami.

<i>My Chauffeur</i> 1986 film by David Beaird

My Chauffeur is a 1986 American comedy film produced by Crown International Pictures and Marimark Productions starring Deborah Foreman, Sam J. Jones, Howard Hesseman and E.G. Marshall. It was written and directed by David Beaird. The original music score was composed by Paul Hertzog with additional music by The Wigs.

<i>Lady in Cement</i> 1968 film by Gordon Douglas

Lady in Cement is a 1968 American neo-noir mystery crime comedy thriller film directed by Gordon Douglas, based on the 1961 novel The Lady in Cement by Marvin H. Albert. The film stars Frank Sinatra, Raquel Welch, Dan Blocker, Richard Conte, Martin Gabel, Lainie Kazan, and Pat Henry.

<i>The Hangover Part III</i> 2013 film by Todd Phillips

The Hangover Part III is a 2013 American action comedy film and the sequel to The Hangover Part II (2011), both produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the third installment in The Hangover trilogy. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Jeffrey Tambor, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, and John Goodman with Todd Phillips directing a screenplay written by himself and Craig Mazin.

<i>Stretch</i> (2014 film) 2014 American film

Stretch is a 2014 American crime comedy film written and directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, James Badge Dale, Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Alba, and Chris Pine. Wilson portrays the title character, a struggling limousine chauffeur who finds his life in danger after he picks up a mysterious millionaire (Pine).

<i>Divorce Invitation</i> 2012 United States"`UNIQ--ref-00000002-QINU`" film

Divorce Invitation is a 2012 American romantic comedy film directed by S. V. Krishna Reddy and co-written by Robert Naturman and Bala Rajasekharuni. It was produced by R. R. Venkat and co-produced by M S P Srinivas Reddy. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews. The movie is based on director's own 1997 Telugu movie Aahvaanam.

Edward Francis Finney (1903–1983) was an American film producer and director. He is best known as the man who introduced cowboy singer Tex Ritter to the moviegoing public.

<i>The Kominsky Method</i> American comedy drama television series (2018–2021)

The Kominsky Method is an American comedy-drama television series, created by Chuck Lorre, that premiered on November 16, 2018, on Netflix. It stars Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Sarah Baker, Nancy Travis, Paul Reiser and Kathleen Turner and follows an aging acting coach who many years earlier had a brief moment of success as an actor.

References

  1. ↑ Shreger, Charles (August 24, 1979). "British Moving In On American Film Industry". The Spokesman-Review . p. 68. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ staff (May 28, 1983). "If you loved Lainie Kazan..." Wilmington Morning Star . Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ Marilyn Beck (May 22, 1983). "Actress gets part of Hughes estate; The Videoland View". The Spokesman-Review . p. 4. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ staff (October 9, 1983). "Ritter drives into trouble in Sunset Limousine". The Salina Journal . p. 59. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ staff (October 17, 1983). "Picks and Pans Review: Sunset Limousine". People Magazine . Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Murdoch, Anna (August 28, 1986). "Smiling in the sunset". The Age . p. 30,31. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ Flander, Judy (April 24, 1985). "Tune in Tonight". Ocala Star-Banner . Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ Sherwood, Rick (October 12, 1983). "'Sunset Limousine' another silly movie without substance". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved September 10, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.