''Four Rooms'' is a 1995 American anthology

farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity or ...

black comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

co-written and co-directed by

Allison Anders Allison Anders (born November 16, 1954) is an American independent film director whose films include ''Gas Food Lodging'', ''Mi Vida Loca'' and ''Grace of My Heart''. Anders has collaborated with fellow UCLA School of Theater, Film and Televisio ...

Alexandre Rockwell Charles Alexandre Rockwell is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and professor. Life and career Alexandre Rockwell is best known for his independent films made in NYC with a small group of actors he met on the lower east side in ...

Robert Rodriguez Robert Anthony Rodriguez (; born June 20, 1968) is an American filmmaker, composer, and visual effects supervisor. He shoots, edits, produces, and scores many of his films in Mexico and in his home state of Texas. Rodriguez directed the 1992 ac ...

, and

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue, profanity, dark humor, non-linear storylines, cameos, ensemb ...

, loosely based on the adult short fiction writings of

Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter ace of Norwegian descent. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has b ...

. The story is set in the fictional Hotel Mon Signor in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the December 31, last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly ...

Tim Roth Timothy Simon Roth (born 14 May 1961) is an English actor and producer. He began acting on films and television series in the 1980s. He was among a group of prominent British actors of the era, the " Brit Pack". He made his television debut ...

plays Ted, the

bellhop A bellhop (North America), or hotel porter (international), is a hotel employee who helps patrons with their luggage while checking in or out. Bellhops often wear a uniform (see bell-boy hat), like certain other page boys or doormen. This occupa ...

and main character in the

frame story A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction * Framing ( ...

, whose first night on the job consists of four very different encounters with various hotel guests. The film received mixed reviews from critics who praised the segments directed by Rodriguez and Tarantino, but heavily criticized the segments by Anders and Rockwell.

Plot

Sam (

Marc Lawrence Marc Lawrence (born Max Goldsmith; February 17, 1910 – November 28, 2005) was an American character actor who specialized in underworld types. He has also been credited as F. A. Foss, Marc Laurence and Marc C. Lawrence. Early life Lawrence ...

) of the Hotel Mon Signor briefs his replacement, Ted (

). The film's animated

opening credits In a motion picture, television program or video game, the opening credits or opening titles are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen ...

, inspired by the cartoons of '' The Pink Panther Show'', feature the scat song " Vertigogo" by Combustible Edison.

Honeymoon Suite – "The Missing Ingredient"

*Written and directed by

Ted assists a group of unusual women with their luggage, which he brings to the Honeymoon Suite. He learns they are a

coven A coven () is a group or gathering of witches. The word "coven" (from Anglo-Norman ''covent, cuvent'', from Old French ''covent'', from Latin ''conventum'' = convention) remained largely unused in English until 1921 when Margaret Murray promot ...

of witches, attempting to reverse a spell cast on their goddess,

Diana Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...

( Amanda De Cadenet). The ritual requires them each to place an ingredient into a large cauldron; however, one (

Ione Skye Ione Skye Lee ( ; Ione Skye Leitch; born September 4, 1970) is a British-born American actress and the daughter of singer Donovan. She made her film debut in the thriller '' River's Edge'' (1986) before gaining mainstream exposure for her star ...

) has still to retrieve her ingredient –

semen Semen, also known as seminal fluid, is an organic bodily fluid created to contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads (sexual glands) and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize the female ovum. Semen ...

– with one hour left. She seduces Ted and they have sex in the cauldron. He leaves and they complete the ritual, and Diana emerges from the cauldron. After Ted's service in the honeymoon suite, a party guest from another room ( Lawrence Bender) calls the front desk for some ice. He is unsure which floor he is on, but eventually directs Ted to Room 404.

Room 404 – "The Wrong Man"

*Written and directed by

At Room 404, Ted finds himself in a fantasy hostage situation. Sigfried ( David Proval) maniacally accuses Ted, whom he calls Theodore, of having slept with his wife Angela (

Jennifer Beals Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963) is an American actress and former teen model. She made her film debut in '' My Bodyguard'' (1980), before receiving critical acclaim for her role in '' Flashdance'' (1983), for which she won NAACP Image ...

). Ted is forced at gunpoint to participate in the scenario, uncertain what is real. He becomes stuck in the bathroom window as the party guest appears in the window above, uttering the word "ice" and vomiting. Ted escapes, just as another guest (Paul Skemp) arrives, looking for Room 404, and is greeted by Sigfried in the same manner.

Room 309 – "The Misbehavers"

*Written and directed by

A husband (

Antonio Banderas José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born 10 August 1960), known professionally as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish actor and singer. Known for his work in films of several genres, he has received various accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival ...

) and wife (

Tamlyn Tomita Tamlyn Naomi Tomita (born January 27, 1966) is a Japanese-American actress and singer. She made her screen debut as Kumiko in ''The Karate Kid Part II'' (1986) and reprised the character for the streaming series ''Cobra Kai'' (2021). She is also ...

) leave for a New Year's Eve party, tipping Ted $500 to keep an eye on their children, Sarah and Juancho (Lana McKissack and Danny Verduzco). Ted instructs the children to stay in their room; when he leaves, they vandalize the room, exploding a bottle of

champagne Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...

. They call Ted for toothbrushes, and he tries unsuccessfully to put them to bed. He leaves but is summoned back to find the room in further chaos: a painting has been turned into a dartboard with lipstick and a syringe, Juancho has a cigarette, Sarah has a bottle of liquor, the television is set to an adult channel, and the children have found a dead prostitute ( Patricia Vonne) in the box spring. Sarah stabs Ted in the leg with the syringe when he repeatedly uses the word "whore" and Juancho accidentally sets the room on fire. Their father returns, carrying his passed-out wife, and asks Ted, "Did they misbehave?" The sprinkler system activates while everyone stands still. Unsettled, Ted calls his boss Betty (

Kathy Griffin Kathleen Mary Griffin (born November 4, 1960) is an American comedian and actress who has starred in television comedy specials and has released comedy albums. In 2007 and 2008, Griffin won Primetime Emmy Awards for her reality show '' Kathy ...

) to quit. After a conversation with Margaret (

Marisa Tomei Marisa Tomei ( , ; born December 4, 1964) is an American actress. She came to prominence as a cast member on ''The Cosby Show'' spin-off '' A Different World'' in 1987. After having minor roles in a few films, she came to international attention ...

), he gets Betty on the phone and tries to quit, but receives a call from the hotel penthouse. Betty convinces him to stay and tend to the guests.

Penthouse – "The Man from Hollywood"

*Written and directed by

, adapted from " Man from the South" by

The penthouse is occupied by famous director Chester Rush (Tarantino) and his friends, including Angela. They request a block of wood, three nails, a ball of twine, a bucket of ice, a doughnut for Chester, a club sandwich for Angela, and a hatchet "as sharp as the Devil himself". Ted is invited to join their challenge: Chester's friend Norman (

Paul Calderón Paul Calderón is a Puerto Rican actor, writer, director and producer. He is a founding member of the Touchstone Theatre, the American Folk Theatre and the LAByrinth Theater Company. He is also a member of the Actors Studio, auditioning and ...

) has bet he can light his

Zippo A Zippo lighter is a reusable metal lighter produced by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the nine decades since their introduction, including mili ...

cigarette lighter ten times in a row; if Norman succeeds, he will win Chester's car, but if he fails, his pinky will be cut off. Ted, asked to "wield the hatchet" should Norman fail, tries to leave, but Chester offers $100 to hear them out and another $900 to perform this assigned role. Norman's lighter fails on the first try, and Ted immediately chops off his pinky, sweeps up the money, and leaves the penthouse with an energetic step. As the credits roll, Chester and company frantically prepare to take a screaming Norman to the hospital.

Cast

as Ted *

as Sam

"The Missing Ingredient"

* Sammi Davis as Jezebel * Amanda de Cadenet as

Valeria Golino Valeria Golino (born 22 October 1965) is an Italian actress and film director. She is best known to English-language audiences for her roles in ''Rain Man'', ''Big Top Pee-wee'' and the two ''Hot Shots!'' films, particularly the olive-in-the-bell ...

as Athena * Madonna as Elspeth *

as Eva *

Lili Taylor Lili Anne Taylor (born February 20, 1967) is an American actress. She came to prominence with supporting parts in the films ''Mystic Pizza'' (1988) and '' Say Anything...'' (1989), before establishing herself as one of the key figures of 1990s i ...

as Raven *

Alicia Witt Alicia Roanne Witt (born August 21, 1975) is an American actress, singer and pianist. She first came to fame as a child actress after being discovered by David Lynch, who cast her in ''Dune'' (1984) and '' Twin Peaks'' (1990). Witt had a critic ...

as Kiva

"The Wrong Man"

* David Proval as Siegfried *

as Angela * Lawrence Bender as Long Hair Yuppie Scum *Paul Skemp as Real Theodore *Quinn Thomas Hellerman as Baby Bellhop

"The Misbehavers"

as Husband *

as Wife * Lana McKissack as Sarah *Danny Verduzco as Juancho * Patricia Vonne as Corpse *

Salma Hayek Salma Hayek Pinault ( , ; born Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez; September 2, 1966) is a Mexican and American actress and film producer. She began her career in Mexico with starring roles in the telenovela ''Teresa'' (1989–1991) as well as th ...

as TV Dancing Girl

Betty's house

as Betty *

as Margaret *Julie McClean as Left Redhead *Laura Rush as Right Redhead

"The Man from Hollywood"

as Chester Rush *

as Angela *

as Norman *

Bruce Willis Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series '' Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero ...

as Leo (uncredited) *Kimberly Blair as Hooker (uncredited)

Crossovers between rooms

The four segments are shown chronologically, except for "The Misbehavers", the events of which both precede and succeed the events of "The Wrong Man". There are some connections between the four segments: *In "The Wrong Man", Ted recalls the witches' ritual in "The Missing Ingredient" with the expression "weird voodoo thing". *Ted can be seen with the two cherries from "The Missing Ingredient" at the beginning of "The Misbehavers". *Sarah in "The Misbehavers" calls a random room to ask a question. The man who picks up happens to be Siegfried from "The Wrong Man". *Angela appears in both "The Wrong Man" and "The Man from Hollywood". *When calling his boss, just before the beginning of "The Man from Hollywood", Ted recalls the events of the first three segments.

Production

Miramax presold Japanese distribution rights to

Shochiku () is a Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution company. It also produces and distributes anime films, in particular those produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks (which has a long-time partnership—the company released most, if not ...

along with

Gary Fleder Gary Fleder (; born December 19, 1965) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His most recently completed film, '' Homefront,'' was released by Open Road Films and Millennium Films in November 2013. In recent years he has bee ...

’s '' Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead'',

George T. Miller George Trumbull Miller (born 28 November 1943) is a Scottish-Australian film and television director and producer. He has directed ''The Man from Snowy River'', '' The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter'' and ''Zeus and Roxanne''. He star ...

’s ''

Robinson Crusoe ''Robinson Crusoe'' () is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published on 25 April 1719. The first edition credited the work's protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a tr ...

'', John Ehle’s '' The Journey of August King'' and '' Halloween 6'' in a bulk acquisition deal.

Reception

Critical reception

James Berardinelli James Berardinelli (born September 25, 1967) is an American film critic and former engineer. His reviews are mainly published on his blog ''ReelViews.'' Approved as a critic by the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, he has published two collections of r ...

ReelViews James Berardinelli (born September 25, 1967) is an American film critic and former engineer. His reviews are mainly published on his blog ''ReelViews.'' Approved as a critic by the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, he has published two collections of r ...

described it as "one of 1995's major disappointments". Hal Hinson of ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large n ...

'' said it "asserts itself as a goof so laboriously and aggressively that you almost feel pinned back in your seat".

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

of the Chicago-Sun Times ranked Rodriguez's segment as the best by far and also best capitalizing on Roth. Tarantino's segment was well-made but undistinguished while Ebert declared Anders's efforts were "disappointing" and Rockwell "unsuccessful". The film won a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for Madonna. The film holds a 13% "Rotten" rating from

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wan ...

based on 45 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "''Four Rooms'' comes stocked with a ton of talent on both sides of the camera, yet only manages to add up to a particularly uneven – and dismayingly uninspired – anthology effort.

Box office

The film grossed $4,257,354 in only 319 theaters.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack features a score composed and performed by contemporary

lounge music Lounge music is a type of easy listening music popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It may be meant to evoke in the listeners the feeling of being in a place, usually with a tranquil theme, such as a jungle, an island paradise or outer space. The rang ...

band Combustible Edison, coproduced by

Mark Mothersbaugh Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (; born May 18, 1950) is an American composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, lead singer and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo, whose " Whip It" was a top 2 ...

. Additional music is by

Juan García Esquivel Juan García Esquivel (January 20, 1918 – January 3, 2002), often known mononymously as Esquivel!, was a Mexican band leader, pianist, and composer for television and films. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisti ...

Track listing

#" Vertigogo (Opening Theme)" ( Combustible Edison) – 2:35 #*Tracks 2–11 from "The Missing Ingredient": #"Junglero" – 1:54 #"Four Rooms Swing" – 2:11 #"Theme From '

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typi ...

'" ( Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller) – 1:01 #"Tea and Eva In The Elevator" – 0:55 #"Invocation" – 1:26 #"Breakfast At Denny's" – 3:57 #"Strange Brew" – 0:27 #"Coven Of Witches" – 0:59 #"The Earthly Diana" – 0:36 #"Eva Seduces Ted" – 2:10 #*Tracks 12–17 from "The Wrong Man": #"Hallway Ted" – 0:31 #"Headshake Rhumba" – 0:41 #"Skippen, Pukin, Siegfried" – 0:29 #"Angela" – 0:46 #"Punch Drunk" – 2:57 #"Male Bonding" – 3:06 #*Tracks 18–25 from "The Misbehavers": #"Mariachi" – 0:29 #"Antes De Medianoche" – 2:45 #" Sentimental Journey" (Written by

Bud Green Bud Green (19 November 1897 – 2 January 1981) was an American lyricist especially of Broadway musicals and show tunes Early life and family Green was born Moses David Green in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and immigrated to the United Stat ...

, Les Brown and

Ben Homer Ben Homer (born Benjamin Hozer, 27 June 1917, Meriden, Connecticut – 12 February 1975, Los Angeles, California) was an American songwriter, composer and arranger. Biography He joined the Meriden Symphony Orchestra when he was eleven years old, ...

, performed by

Esquivel Esquivel is a surname of basques, Basque origin as well as a place name. Origin The last name Esquivel (or Esquibel) has its origins in the village of Esquivel, located in the ayuntamiento of Mendoza, Álava, in Basque Country (autonomous commun ...

) – 2:39 #"Kids Watch TV" – 2:03 #"Champagne and Needles" – 2:06 #"Bullseye" – 1:01 #" Harlem Nocturne" (Written by

Earle Hagen Earle Harry Hagen (July 9, 1919 – May 26, 2008) was an American composer who created music for movies and television. His best-known TV themes include those for ''Make Room for Daddy'', ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', ''I Spy'', ''That Girl'' a ...

, performed by

) – 2:30 #"The Millionaire's Holiday" – 2:13 #*Tracks 26–29 from "The Man from Hollywood": #"Ted-o-vater" – 0:39 #"Vertigogo (Closing Credits)" – 5:33 #"'D' In The Hallway Credits" – 0:25 #"Torchy" – 0:16

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control 1995 films 1990s black comedy films 1995 independent films A Band Apart films American anthology films American black comedy films American films with live action and animation American independent films 1990s English-language films Films based on short fiction Films based on works by Roald Dahl Films directed by Allison Anders Films directed by Alexandre Rockwell Films directed by Robert Rodriguez Films directed by Quentin Tarantino Films produced by Lawrence Bender Films set in hotels Films set in Los Angeles Films set around New Year Films with screenplays by Robert Rodriguez Films with screenplays by Quentin Tarantino Films about witchcraft Films based on classical mythology Diana (mythology) Golden Raspberry Award winning films 1990s American films