USA: STANLEY TUCCI ACTS AND DIRECTS COMEDY FILM 'THE IMPOSTERS'

Record ID: 388075

  • Title: USA: STANLEY TUCCI ACTS AND DIRECTS COMEDY FILM 'THE IMPOSTERS'
  • Date: 6th December 1998
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS -- ACCESS ALL) (SOUNDBITE) (English) STANLEY TUCCI: "The key thing is, you have to have a good actor do it. Only a good actor could do it because you must be able to -- because we've all been bad and we know when we're bad, and what I love about all of the actors in this film is that they'll all admit when they're b
  • Embargoed: 21st December 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVABCDM0TLTQ2VY10L67HIATX5XS
  • Story Text: Stanley Tucci has written, acted in and directed "The Impostors," his paean to Hollywood's madcap comedies of the 1930s and the follow-up to his triple-threat debut, "Big Night."
    "The Impostors" casts off on a 1930's ocean voyage with Arthur and Maurice, two unemployed actors turned luxury cruise stowaways.It all begins as Arthur (Tucci) and Maurice (Oliver Platt) face hunger, unemployment and a maritally challenged theatre producer.Their only ambition in the world is a chance to act - a chance at the biggest, boldest performance of their lives -- but fate has not brought them any opportunities.
    Until now.
    As actors, Arthur and Maurice are always pretending to be who they are not.In an attempt to stave off hunger, they plot to finagle free pastries from a local baker with a grand performance that ultimatelynot with free food but with two tickets to the theatre for a performance of Hamlet starring the phenomenally successful yet mediocre thespian Jeremy Burtom (Alfred Molina).In an after-theatre lounge, a confrontation between the duo and their least favourite actor in the world occurs.Wrongly accused of physically abusing the over-wrought and under-talented Burtom in a bar, Arthur and Maurice find themselves pursued not by big time directors but by the law.
    A narrow escape from the cops lands them in a packing crate aboard a cruise ship.But this is no ordinary cruise ship.On board is a plotting revolutionary, deposed royal, illicit lover, suicidal singer, wealthy sheikh, gold-digging mother, grim-hearted daughter, sadistic suitor and pretentious performer - including none other than Jeremy Burtom.
    Joining Tucci, Plat and Molina on-board is an ensemble cast that includes Teagle Bougere, Elizabeth Bracco, Steve Buscemi, Billy Connolly, Hope Davis, Campbell Scott and Tony Shalhoub.
    As Arthur and Maurice attempt to remain incognito - with the help of the irrepressible head stewardess Lily (Lili Taylor) - they find themselves caught up in a loopy world of ingenue and intrigue, not to mention caught in supply closets, under beds and repeatedly in the wrong rooms, witnessing all sorts of shenanigans.
    But at long last they find themselves with their long-awaited opportunity to act, in both meanings of the phrase.It seems the ship is about to blow up, a tragedy that could well lead to war, mayhem and a very premature and too real death scene for Arthur.Yet if Arthur and Maurice can out-perform the many poseurs and pretenders on board they might just have a chance to save the ship and their own belief that they can play and maybe even be, dramatic heroes.
    Tucci, long a well respected actor, recently took on the additional roles of writer and director with the feature "Big Night," a story of two immigrant brothers looking for the American Dream through their Platonic ideal of an Italian restaurant.Tucci's acting credits include "The Pelican Brief," "Billy Bathgate," "Deconstructing Harry," and "A Life Less Ordinary." Current projects include "Winchell," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Playing Maurice to Tucci's Arthur is Oliver Platt, who, since debuting in "Working Girl" has acted in "Indecent Proposal," "A Time To Kill," "Dangerous Beauty,"
    and "Bulworth."
    "The Impostors" was filmed almost entirely in New York City, including Manhattan and Central Park.While the story itself begins in Manhattan, the majority of the action takes place aboard the S.S.Intercontinental, a 1930's ocean liner.
    With Art Deco ocean liners in scant supply two sets were built for the ship; its decks were re-created in an indoor studio, the lobby and staterooms fashioned from the interior of an historically accurate hall in New Jersey.
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