As this entertaining recording of his one-man show reveals, Reilly was a natural raconteur.
Life of Reilly (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:39
Fresh:39
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.5/10
Consensus: The Life of Reilly is a humorous and endearing look at the late comedian.
Runtime: 87 mins
Genre: Television
Synopsis: Beloved late actor Charles Nelson Reilly headlines his one man show SAVE IT FOR THE STAGE: THE LIFE OF REILLY in this filmed performance. The frequent TONIGHT SHOW guest reveals everything from his... Beloved late actor Charles Nelson Reilly headlines his one man show SAVE IT FOR THE STAGE: THE LIFE OF REILLY in this filmed performance. The frequent TONIGHT SHOW guest reveals everything from his childhood in the Bronx to his struggles and successes as a gay actor in Hollywood. [More]
Starring: Charles Nelson Reilly
Starring: Charles Nelson Reilly
Director: Frank Anderson, Barry Poltermann
Director: Frank Anderson, Barry Poltermann
Screenwriter: Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Linke
Producer: Bob Fagan, Wrye Martin
Composer: Frank Anderson
Studio: Reel Diva
Reviews for Life of Reilly
...the man’s sense of stagecraft and storytelling prowess are undeniable.
... a poignant tribute to the one-time Broadway star best known to the public at large as a game-show wit and Johnny Carson guest.
Makes a fitting legacy for a showbiz trooper who refused to fade quietly away.
This charming, bittersweet 90-minute monologue consists of the actor telling tales of his childhood and early years, when he was an ugly duckling from an uglier family.
I love this movie.I don't say those four words often, so I had to put them first. And isolate them ... a postmortem revelation as much as a perfect swansong.
It... holds wrenching emotional power in its naked, warts-and-all history of one man’s life...
Occasionally you see a documentary and it hits you how much you don’t know about someone who was part of your mental landscape. Charles Nelson Reilly didn’t arouse much of anything in me, but he does in The Life of Reilly.
...he's far more candid recalling his grand delusions in a school play than he is when he gets to Broadway and Hollywood.
The funniest and most poignant documentary of the year is The Life of Reilly, the final will and testament of the great Charles Nelson Reilly.
Anyone expecting epicene camp or gossip about Gene Rayburn and Fannie Flagg will not know what hit them.
Assembled from Reilly's final performance of Save It for the Stage in North Hollywood, Life of Reilly is as charming and disarmingly affecting as the man himself.
Reilly conjures a self-portrait that is insightful, hilarious and completely devoid of self-pity.
Unfortunately, I never caught Nelson live, but this film has to be the closest thing to it.
Warm and hilarious... the bittersweet milestones play like a Spalding Gray monologue loosened up with a few shots of tequila.
The Life of Reilly pays fitting homage to a man who deserves to be remembered for much more than just trading double-entendres with Brett Somers on The Match Game.
It doesn't pretend to be a movie, really, but it's an unexpected treat from a man who made a living out of being silly.
For anyone who appreciates what The Life of Reilly was really all about, it is worthwhile.
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