Neighbors (1981)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writers:

Thomas Berger (novel)
Larry Gelbart (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Lock the doors... here come the Neighbors

Plot:

A quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.

Plot Keywords:

House | Meat | Prank Telephone Call | Shadow | Torn Shirt

Cast

John Belushi	...	Earl Keese
Kathryn Walker	...	Enid Keese
Cathy Moriarty	...	Ramona
Dan Aykroyd	...	Vic
Igors Gavon	...	Chic
Dru-Ann Chuckran	...	Chic's Wife
Tim Kazurinsky	...	Pa Greavy
Tino Insana	...	Perry Greavy
P.L. Brown	...	Police Officer #1
Henry Judd Baker	...	Police Officer #2
Lauren-Marie Taylor	...	Elaine Keese
Sherman G. Lloyd	...	Fireman #1 (DOC) (as Sherman Lloyd)
Bert Kittel	...	Fireman #2
J.B. Friend	...	Additional Fireman
Bernie Friedman	...	Additional Fireman

Also Known As:

Neighbours (Australia)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Originally, John Belushi wanted the final piece of music to be a punk rock song performed by Fear, the band fronted by singer/actor Lee Ving. The studio music supervisor rejected the song choice.

Quotes:

Vic: In light of Earl's feelings, I think it would be best if we left.
Enid Keese: Oh, no, no. Sit down, sit down. Let's finish this magnificent meal. Don't worry about Earl. He'll get over his feelings.
Vic: He spurned my sauce!
Enid Keese: No, he loves your sauce. He's just jealous, he can't cook.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Stayin' Alive

A Favorite

I read Belushi's Biography and was surprised to learn of "Neighbors", his last movie. I tracked it down just out of curiosity, as I'm also a Berger fan, and had read the novel that the movie is based on. I liked the novel, and wondered about the movie. Although the movie does depart from the novel, it's a great movie in its own right. It's not the sort of humor that everyone would enjoy, and it does poke fun at suburban America. In a lot of ways, I think this is an even better film than the celebrated "Blues Brothers"- but it's more subtle and less of a cartoon than that one. Belushi and Akroyd are great in this film, and it's very funny. I found myself laughing out loud. I wish someone would release it on DVD so more people would get the chance to watch it.