Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Scott LeBrun "Nickelodeon" is the heartfelt tribute by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich to the earliest days of movie-making, in the first dozen or so years of the 20th century. Apparently a stickler for accuracy, that does show in the script credited to both Bogdanovich and W.D. Richter. It's based on recollections of vintage directors such as Raoul Walsh ("The Big Trail", "Sadie Thompson") and Allan Dwan ("A Broken Doll", "The Forbidden Thing"), and it's a pretty colourful and often delightful look at the filmmaking process of over a century ago.The film begins by telling us that this was a time when big-shot producers would go out of their way to prevent independents from having ANY success. Its story begins in 1910 Chicago, when attorney Leo Harrigan (Ryan O'Neal) bumbles his way into a screenwriting gig for larger-than-life character H.H. Cobb (a hilarious Brian Keith). Eventually, he's roped into directing. Burt Reynolds plays Buck Greenway, a charming Floridian who comes to NYC and somehow manages to become a movie star. Lovely Jane Hitchcock plays the starlet who comes between them."Nickelodeon" is not one of Bogdanovichs' most renowned films; in its time, it was an expensive flop. Part of the problem is that it's going to be far too silly for some viewers, that it goes TOO heavy on the old-style slapstick. It also probably could have used some tightening, as it DOES lose steam as it goes along. But there's still a fair amount to enjoy here. Bogdanovichs' obvious devotion to this period in film history is rather infectious, and the recreations of the era are well done. The stunts are likewise quite impressive.The main reason that this picture is able to sustain itself for just over two hours is that the cast is so great. O'Neal, Reynolds, and lovely Hitchcock do set off some sparks as their love triangle plays out. Keith steals all of his scenes, as does O'Neals' precocious, Oscar-winning daughter Tatum, who shines in her big negotiation scene. Stella Stevens and John Ritter provide likeable support as an actress and cameraman, and there are MANY familiar faces in character roles, including Harry Carey, Jr., James Best, Brion James, Priscilla Pointer, Don Calfa, Philip Bruns, George Gaynes, M. Emmet Walsh, and Hamilton Camp. You also get to see Lorenzo Music (voice of "Carlton, your doorman" and Garfield the Cat) in an actual on-screen bit, as one of Cobbs' writers.Some viewers may argue that the subject deserves a more clear-headed, less self-indulgent treatment, and certainly "Nickelodeon" does suffer from some excess. But this viewer personally found it rather charming, and it does create some interesting characters who are worth following from beginning to end.Also available in a black & white "director's cut" running approximately three minutes longer.Eight out of 10.

Neil Doyle If director Peter Bogdanovich hadn't used such a heavy-handed slapstick treatment of his little epic about early film-making called NICKELODEON, there might have emerged a fond tribute to the pioneering days of silent films in the early part of the 20th Century.But instead, he has filled NICKELODEON with a whole series of non-stop sight gags that become tiresome and repetitious, even more so because none of the characters involved really come to life. As the pretty heroine of the piece, JANE HITCHCOCK has very limited abilities beyond staring wide-eyed into the camera lens for comic effect. BURT REYNOLDS at least does derive several good chuckles from his comedy efforts as a reluctant participant in RYAN O'NEAL's troupe of silent film actors.O'Neal has obviously chosen to play his role as though he has just watched a Harold Lloyd film, wearing spectacles for his first entrance and doing the bumbling sight gags on cue, as hapless a hero as Lloyd was in all his comedies. He's not too bad, but is never as funny as he was in WHAT'S UP DOC?, an earlier Bogdanovich film.Tecbnically, the film is handsomely produced and pleasing to look at in color, but STELLA STEVENS is given little to do in what amounts to a supporting role. JOHN RITTER doesn't have too much opportunity to display his comic gifts. Entirely too much footage is devoted to a rough and tumble fight between Reynolds and O'Neal that takes up too much time with too many slapstick pratfalls to emerge as anything more than filler.The film plods along without the benefit of a tight script or a really compelling story and suffers, mainly, from the heavy-handed approach to comedy.

ub In 1975, I was a Teamster Driver for the studios, and one of the first locations was a location caterer for the movie Nickelodeon. With all of the behind the camera activities, I happened to notice a "drop-dead" beautiful woman, who was always near Ryan. Feeling more confident with myself during the second week, we started a conversation about everything, but really about nothing. We stayed in touch; she went her way and I went my way. Before a short period of time, we went out (she insisted on driving). Why? Because she owned a 1925 Silver Cloud, black and silver in color. That was 1979, and during the summer of '80, I landed a prime job as the caterer for a total of 9 weeks; at sea; off Catalina Island; 3 meals per day; 7 days a week. It was just me and the ship's crew of 7. I had to always be there to service cast, crew and the ship's crew. O.K. not bad, but it got a lot happier on the 4th week end. I phoned Sheree and asked her to visit. She did. We stayed close friends, and in 1994, we got married. I never did see the movie!

BeautifulDisaster Clearly Peter Bogdanovich was running out of ideas and commercial luck by the time this movie hit the theaters. Ryan O'Neal repeating the role ( with much less success ) from What's Up Doc? is hardly watchable and very predictable. Burt Reynolds totally miscast and trying to be funny at all costs (as is the movie from time to time, the scenes don't work because they are too calculated to make us laugh ). The best comes from the three female leads, Stella Stevens is always a pleasure to watch even in a nothing role as hers in this movie, Tatum O'Neal steals all the scenes she is in ( not a very difficult endeavor )and the stunningly beautiful Jane Hitchcock ( a Cybill Shepherd look-alike ) makes the movie worth-watching again and again and again . For Jane ( whatever happened...), for the great movie that could have been ( and never was )and comparing from the crap we're getting today ( SNL comedians, Farrelly Bros, Stiller & Friends ... ). Nickelodeon is a must see.