They All Laughed is a 1981 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and staring Ben Gazzara, Audrey Hepbum, John Ritter, Colleen Camp, Patti Hansen, and Dorothy Stratten. The film tells the story of three private detectives investigating two women for inferentially as the detectives end up romantically pausing the women who turn the table on them. They All Laughed is a fun funny film that any rom com fan should watch.
The direction of the film is good, the film has a classic rom com style with a classic American film style that very much fits with the tone of the film. there is a dynamic of men and women/ husbands and wives throughout the film which is one of the main themes as the film revolves around certain characters wanting to get the upper hand on each other. The characters have funny and interesting dynamics with one another as the film explores these womanisers and the reasons why they do the things they do. The film ultimately seems to revolve around women and specifically men tailing them. The tailing in the film is comedic and bad as Charles one of the private investigators stalks and falls for Dolores one of the women there tailing. The demonstrates the main story of the film as being one of an intertangled web of relationships with a sensual feel to it. The film has a classic American style to it with one of the female characters being a country singer, the film also has a lot of sexual manipulation throughout it. The tailing sequences are funny as Charles stalks. Dolores in the roller-skating ring which is funny as the private investigators tail him. These investigators are shown to be sleazy womanisers. The film showcases a power struggle between men and women as the men are infatuated by other women and not their significant others. The film is a cat and mouse game between the men and the women as the film explores the interpersonal relationships between the characters. The film has this idea of out with the old in with the new when it comes to relationships, there is an interesting dynamic as it seems that Charles and Christy both in some way still have an attraction to one another but also don’t. Within the film John and Arthur are shown as sleazy causing awkward character dynamics and moments. The characters relationship dynamics are at the heart of the film as they all know the dynamics with each other. Within the film everyone is trying to outsmart everyone else creating a sexy sensual film. there is a clear power dynamic between the genders as at the end of the film almost all of them end up with there desired partner. This is except for John and Angela who have a love that can never be as Deborah picks up John in her cab as Charles and Dolores and Christy and Jose get married in a double wedding.
The acting in the film is good. Audrey Hepburn does a good job as Angela Niotes the wife of a businessman in the film that one of the main characters is infatuated by. Ben Gazzara does a good job as John Russo an aging womaniser that Angela falls for. Patti Hansen does a good job as Sam a cab driver that John befriends. John Ritter as Charles Rutledge a nervous anxious man that falls for another woman in the film. Dorothy Sratten does a good job as Dolores Martin a young attractive woman that Charles falls for. Blaine Novak does a good job as Arthur Brodsky a young womanising hippy. Linda MacEwen does a good job as Amy Lester of the sectary in the film that is having an affair with their boss. George Morfogen does a good job as Leon Leondopolous their private investigators boss that is having an affair with his sectary. Colleen Camp does a good job as Christy Miller a signer that is dating Charles in a semi loveless relationship. Sean Hepburn Ferrer does a good job as Jose Angelas son that John and Arthur befriends.
The writing in the film is good. There is a dynamic between the men and women that is clearly established in the film as the film is initiated by a family that comes here both to visit and for business. The film establishes one of the main characters as after the businessman’s woman as the characters have a fun and interesting dynamic with one another. The film characters are womanisers and exs. The film centres around divorces and women. The men in the film are reporters tailing women as Charles stalks and falls for Dolores in a comedic way. There are ultimately stalking guys and girls in the film as investigators end up tailing a couple. One of the investigators develops a crush on the woman he is tailing as one of the other guys goes to be his ex-works to annoy her, but she must keep signing. He is a sexual manipulator throughout the film, as Charles stalks Doloresand is bad at chatting her up and jealous of his friend who is chatting up other girls. They end up investigating and tailing Dolores as she runs out of the neighbour’s house, also in the film their boss is a womaniser. The people in the film are ultimately sleazy womanisers with their boss having an affair with the sectary. Harold tries to get his wife of the scent of him following another woman by buying her shoes as John and Arthur tale Angela. They track her and her son down to a toy store and John tells her that her husband’s having an affair witch she is not surprised by. Within the film Charles and Christy both have an attraction to one another and don’t at the same time, also as John and Arthur sleaze up to Angela attraction grows between her and John. The dynamics between the characters really work in the film as shown for when they switch partners during the dance scene. Christy and Jose almost kiss before catching themselves as Christy kisses another guy. Then both John and Angela and Christy and Jose kiss as their attraction grows. Charles ends up watching Dolores again as she and her husband get into a fight, Charlies and Dolores then kiss but she quickly runs away. Charlies tries to track down Dolores as Christy spies on him as Angela and her husband split up causing the invitation to get bad. The guys end up following the girls, but the girls know this as they get into a car crash as Angela and John hook up. With the film the guys manipulate the girls and the gurls manipulate the guys both in equal measure, Charles and Deloris then reunite and fall in love in a sexy sensual scene. Christy then introduces Jose as her fiancé as it then shows that John and Angela have a love that can never be. John sees Anglea off as Deborah picks him up in her cab as the film ends with Charles and Dolores and Christy and Jose getting married in a double wedding.
The cinematography in the film is decent. There is a good use of POV shots as one of the characters reads a newspaper and a god shot that shows a house with two winnows as a couple has an argument form each window. There is also some good POV shots of running as a good use of walls in the film showing separation.
They All Laughed is a good, fun, funny rom-com that any fan of the genre should watch.
