"No More Smiles"

Author(s): D.W. Dillon
Location: Las Vegas, NV

"No More Smiles"

Directed by Frank Oz
Written by John Logan
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Choreography by Peggy Holmes
Edited by Mary Sweeney
Art Direction by Leslie Morales
Cinematography by Rob Hahn
Produced by Frank Oz and Bernard William

Comedy/Musical

Main Cast

Billy Crudup as Gordon Jeffries
Christina Applegate as Lindsay Desmond
Norbert Leo Butz as Diamond Davis
Deborah Harry as Francine Tremaine
Sara Ramirez as Talisa Jeffries
Chris Isaak as piano man
Deven May as Lindsay's Ex-Husband/Thug
Dan Ackroyd as Dr. Slovak

Tagline: "A miracle walks into a bar..."

Synopsis: Once upon a time, in the city of Chicago, lived an overly polite and happy do-gooder, named Gordon Jeffries (Billy Crudup). He worked as a bartender in a small piano bar, where he would look after patrons such as the scorned poet Diamond Davis (Norbert Leo Butz), who sang the bitterest of songs. The lonely lush Francine Tremaine (Deborah Harry), desperately trying to recapture her youth as a sultry lounge singer, only now mishmashing lyrics of every golden oldie. Though the beautiful standards from the piano man (Chris Isaak) would always reach the heavens to everyone's delight. Listening was Gordon's gift and his advice chirped like a bird's morning song. Oh, how he cherished music so...until one day.

With the bartender's back turned, shots rang out like a cymbal in Gordon's ears. His head crashes into the bottles that decorate the wall behind the register. Broken glass gape his ears and head. His eyes open and close every few seconds. He sees Diamond Davis wrestling the gun away from the hostile patron. He sees Francine Tremaine hovering over him-her hands press against his bleeding ears. He sees lights flashing and paramedics. He hears...nothing. He sees black.

Gordon awakes to a world he was not ready for. Dr. Slovak (Dan Ackroyd), a physician with a compromising demeanor, diagnoses his injuries; profound hearing loss in both ears. Gordon struggled to adapt to the life of the hearing-impaired. With a little help from his friends he would forge ahead; Francine would teach him sign language, Diamond Davis protected him from any discriminative patrons and the piano man raised money for a hearing-aid. Though his wife, Talisa (Sara Ramirez), could not find the patience for Gordon's new obstacle and would soon leave him after countless fights over spilled milk and a bleak future. He was now completely lost in this life, with a newfound temper that started to get the best of him. That is until a beautiful but shy woman walked into his bar looking for a job. Her name was Lindsay Desmond (Christina Applegate) and she possessed a strong sense of compassion. A once battered wife, she sought to start her life over. After a frustrating interview due to Gordon's handicap, he left her high and dry but as she left, the piano man struck up a number for Lindsay, to which would capture Gordon's heart, lifting him up from a pit of despair for he could hear her voice and only her voice as she sang with all her heart. As their Gordon and Lindsay's love blossomed soon after, all was not what it had seemed. For Lindsay's past scratches like a nail on a chalkboard when he finds out her jailed ex-husband (Deven May) is none other than the hostile drunk he had denied service to. A man who attempted to kill him, changing his world forever into a world of silence, but with a voice of love in the air, anything is possible.

Soundtrack:

"Green Behind The Fear" sung by Billy Crudup
"She Broke My Heart, I Broke Her TV" sung by Norbert Leo Butz
"Dive Bar Blues" sung by Deborah Harry
"Billy Joel's A Jerk" performed by Chris Isaak
"Beautiful World" sung by Billy Crudup
"Too Bad, So Sad, Look What You Still Have" sung by Dan Ackroyd
"Everywhere a Sign" sung by Deborah Harry
"You Talkin' To Me?" sung by Norbert Leo Butz
"Life Lessons For the Lost" performed by Chris Isaak
"Love Is Not Enough" sung by Sara Ramirez
"She Broke My Heart, I Broke Her TV (Reprise)" sung by Norbert Leo Butz
& Billy Crudup
"Bitter World" sung by Billy Crudup
"I'm Not Down" sung by Christina Applegate
"No More Smiles" sung by Billy Crudup
"It Really Doesn't Matter" sung by Billy Crudup & Christina Applegate
"Beautiful World (Reprise)" performed by Chris Isaak

What the Press would say:

With the current crop of movie-musical explosions, few stand high above the rest. While adaptations of beloved past relics, few shine with uniqueness and originality. Frank Oz takes another stab at the genre he once attempted with his film adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors, with John Logan's heartfelt and hilarious musical of love, lies, and lyrics that is "No More Smiles".

Tony Award nominated for his Broadway performances in Pillowman and The Elephant Man, also a notable character actor, Billy Crudup stars as the happy-go-lucky bartender who lives to please and lives to listen, until the one thing he held dear was taken away, shattered to pieces, as if he were Humpty Dumpty. His character development is exceptional in it's undertaking, almost as if we were seeing two completely different performances. A truly changing man who goes from good to bad to worse to hopeful. Everything we could ever want in a lead character is achieved through Crudup's impeccable performance and journey of beloved bartender, Gordon Jeffries. And through Gordon's journey we meet a cast of likable odds and sods that will forever be unforgettable. From acclaimed Broadway actors like Norbert Leo Butz as the bitter boozing patron with a heart of gold and Sara Ramirez's turn as Gordon's frustrated and hopeless wife. Christina Applegate hits the notes she's been waiting her life for as she captures not only Gordon's heart, but also eases his pain. Making a name for herself on television, paying her dues on Broadway, we see a star shine before our eyes.

"No More Smiles" brings everything a musical enthusiast desires. A brilliant leading performance could not be achieved if it not for the exceptional brilliance of the songwriting accomplishments of composer Alan Menken and lyricist, Glenn Slater. From the cheer-pop opening of "Green Behind the Fear" to the hilarious stomp shuffle of "She Broke My Heart, I Broke Her TV" to the heartbreaking "Love is Not Enough", capped off with the sing along epic, "I'm Not Down" and the masterpiece that is titled theme song. The bar plays host as the cozy quarters these characters interact and perform, whether it be on and around the piano or bar. To experience hilarity John Logan and Frank Oz know that it is imperative to bring us down so that the characters may rise from the ashes like the build up to an anthem chorus. As the viewer, we understand we must suspend belief for the angelic voice that cures Gordon's hearing loss, for the voice is love and love conquers all.

Best Picture
Best Director - Frank Oz
Best Actor - Billy Crudup
Best Actress - Christina Applegate
Best Supporting Actor - Norbert Leo Butz
Best Supporting Actress - Sara Ramirez
Best Original Screenplay - John Logan
Best Cinematography - Rob Hahn
Best Editing - Mary Sweeney
Best Score - Alan Menken
Best Original Song - "No More Smiles" by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater
Best Original Song - "She Broke My Record, I Broke Her TV" by Alan
Menken and Glenn Slater