They All Laughed (HBO, 1981)

About They All Laughed

"They All Laughed" is a romantic comedy directed by Peter Bogdanovich, released in 1981. The movie tells a story about a group of private detectives who get personally involved with the women they are supposed to be surveilling. The movie cherishes the value of love and friendship against heartbreaking predicaments. It beautifully combines humor and drama to depict the complexity of human relationships and emotions.

Making / Production

The movie was directed and produced by Peter Bogdanovich, who tried to experiment with genre and storytelling to craft this unique story. Following the tradition of the director's love for dance and music, he incorporated singer-songwriter standards by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. The movie production faced challenges initially due to the sudden death of co-star Dorothy Stratten. However, the final cut of the movie was much appreciated for honoring her role.

Actors

• John Ritter as Charles Rutledge: Ritter brought his usual charm and comedic timing to the role of a love-stricken private investigator.
• Dorothy Stratten as Dolores Martin: Stratten delivered an emotional and memorable performance in her final role before her untimely death.
• Peter Bogdanovich as Arthur: Bogdanovich not only directed the film but also played a pleasing role that contributed significantly to the success of the movie.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie title, "They All Laughed," is taken from a song by George Gershwin.
• Dorothy Stratten's role was reprised by her sister, Louise Stratten, in a few post-production scenes following Dorothy's death.
• Director Peter Bogdanovich released a book titled "The Killing of the Unicorn" where he chronicled his relationship with Dorothy Stratten and the production of the film.

Awards

No awards were won by the movie. However, the performances of both John Ritter and Dorothy Stratten were highly praised.

Quotes

• "People aren't just people, they're animals." - Charles Rutledge
• "I believe in love. It's the only hope for human beings."- Dolores Martin

Music and Soundtrack

• "They All Laughed" - the movie theme song by Gershwin
• "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" - by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster
• "Rock Around the Clock" - by Max Freeman and Jimmy DeKnight