The Aristocrats (2005)

Director:

Paul Provenza

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy

Tagline:

100 Superstar Comedians. One Very Dirty Joke.

Plot:

One hundred superstar comedians tell the same very, VERY dirty, filthy joke--one shared privately by comics since Vaudeville.

Plot Keywords:

Joke | Comedian | Vaudeville | Hugh Hefner | Mountain Goat

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Chris Albrecht	...	Himself - HBO Chairman / CEO
Jason Alexander	...	Himself
Hank Azaria	...	Himself
Shelley Berman	...	Himself
Steven Banks	...	Billy The Mime (as Billy The Mime)
Lewis Black	...	Himself
David Brenner	...	Himself
Mario Cantone	...	Himself
Drew Carey	...	Himself
George Carlin	...	Himself
Mark Cohen	...	Himself
Scott 'Carrot Top' Thompson	...	Himself (as Carrot Top)
Billy Connolly	...	Himself
Pat Cooper	...	Himself
Wayne Cotter	...	Himself

Also Known As:

The @r!$t* (r@t$ (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | Australia:R | Norway:15 | Finland:K-18 | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/18 | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:AL (uncut) | USA:Unrated | USA:Not Rated | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario)

Company:

Mighty Cheese Productions

Trivia:

This joke has been used by comedians for years as a mental stretching exercise. They would tell the joke to each other as a warm up for their acts. While the setup and punchline remain the same throughout, the middle section, describing the actual family act, is always varied to get the juices going by throwing in the most they can and keeping it funny. There are stories of parties where performers will jam and keep it going for almost an hour.

Quotes:

Gilbert Gottfried: He could have an arm like Popeye

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bob Saget: That Ain't Right (2007) (TV)

Comedy is Art and "Aristocrats" is Brilliant Artistry

Typically, I'm not one to encourage obscenity so I shunned the idea of the "Aristocrats" at first. However, I must applaud the "Aristocrats" and tell you that it was brilliantly presented and not at all about obscenity. It seemed to be more about being creatively obscene while keeping your audience horrified and simultaneously roaring with laughter. Many of the bits in the film will shock the prudish movie goer, but you'll also find that, like a fatal car crash in heavy traffic, you must keep listening and watching. Later you'll be embarrassed to admit that you laughed so hard, you're not sure if your lungs are still intact. Warning: skip the beverage during this film unless you enjoy nostril burn.