Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (2011)

"You always giggle falsely!"

Director
Matthew Bate

Cast
Eddie Lee Sausage
Mitch Dupry
Ray and Peter

Before YouTube, Facebook, or any social media platform, or before the internet, and before everyone carried a camera in their pocket, when the word "viral" only referred to viruses, there was Peter Haskett and Raymond Huffman.
The documentary Shutup Little Man! covers the rise to fame Ray and Pete, two cantankerous drunks living together in a low-rent apartment complex at 237 Steiner Street in San Francisco's Lower Haight District, never felt the "joys" of.
Had it not been for two 20-something year old punks, Eddie Lee Sausage and Mitch Depry, spreading their wings out of Wisconsin and into the bright pink Steiner Street Apartment, which they dubbed the "Pepto-Bismol Palace," back in 1987, Ray and Pete would have just been barely even a memory in the faint recollect of anyone who came into contact with them. What was their claim to fame? It was their nightly drunken fights that often went well into the early morning hours.
As a result of their tumultuous fighting, they've been written about in Rolling Stone Magazine, Vanity Fair, Playboy, and other various big publications since the early nineties. They're lives together have been portrayed in plays, skits, comic books, and parodied in a variety of shows including SpongeBob SquarePants. There was even a 2001 movie (one I have yet to find a copy of) called Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth based entirely on Ray and Pete. I even read that these two guys where the inspiration behind the noisy neighbors in Disney's Zootopia.
And when Ray and Peter were still alive, they had no idea just how popular they'd become nationwide, particularly in underground cassette trading circles known as "audio vérité" or "found sound." 

Well, Peter was informed about all the attention later on in the mid-nineties (he died in 1996). But it seems Ray, who died in 1992, may not have known.
Peter was a homosexual man living with Ray who drank a lot and had a way with words. And Ray? Well, in the documentary Eddie describes him as a Cro-Magnon of a man who drank, and drank, and belittled Ray for being "queer", and then drank.
As Eddie describes in the film, for the first three or so nights of moving into the apartment, he was awoken by the mysterious shouts of "Shut up little man! Shut up little man! SHUT UP LITTLE MAN!" coming from the neighbors next door.
Not only did this make him frantic, the fact that Mitchell wasn't hearing what he was hearing made him frantic. So, unable to take anymore sleepless nights, Eddie walked over to the apartment one early morning, pounded on the door, and was greeted by a behemoth of a man who could barely stand. That was Ray.
He basically told this guy to shut up. And Ray responded with "Hey listen, you c---sucker! Shut your 

f---in' mouth and go back to bed. I was a killer before you were born and I'll be a killer when you're dead."
Eddie also noticed the neighbors kept a fake skull in the front window. Welcome to the city, guys!
So, they began recording these nightly arguments for the sake of documentation in case Ray carried through with being a killer. But the arguing quickly went from maddening to intriguing and entertaining. Eddie and Mitch would even prank call Ray and Pete just to get them going.
To record their nightly tête-à-têtes, Eddie and Mitch would attach a microphone to a ski pole and extend it to their neighbors window.

Raymond Huffman (left) and Peter Haskett

They would play back the recordings for Ray and Peter in the hopes they'd get the message. 

Still, their neighbors in apartment three argued despite hearing themselves. 

Eddie and Mitch distributed their recordings to their friends, who distributed them to other friends, and before Eddie and Mitch knew, they were being contacted by San Francisco based publication Bananafish Magazine asking them to release the tapes commercially. Thus began the fame of Ray and Peter, who didn't realize any of this was going on. Peter was later discovered and interviewed, as shown in the film, in 1995 so he could sign a release form.
Their ever-so quotable and colorful phrases uttered in the anger and alcohol enriched moments of temper, such as “You always giggle falsely,” “Something happened with the dinner because you crucified it,” “If you wanna talk to me, then shut your f--king mouth,” “Don’t call me ‘goodnight'," and my personal favorite, "I am the human race" would easily be recognized if emblazoned on a t-shirt. Of course, heavily sprinkled in all these catch phrases is the colorful profanity usually spewed forth. You’d think these guys were married!

The spread of these audio recordings at a time when the term "social media" didn't exist is intriguing. 

And according to the documentary, the recordings of Ray and Pete were the holy grail of audio vérité. Mitch and Eddie also discover that a third person, Tony Newton, was often in the apartment with them. Of course, he was just as much a lush as Peter and Ray, but didn't quibble like they did. He can still be heard in some of the audio. 

I’ve listened to the sounds of Raymond and Peter several times on YouTube. At first, I felt guilty sitting there listening to drunk-fueled arguments between two grown men. It felt really intrusive, especially knowing this was a surreptitiously recording debacle. 

But something drew me back to them. Call it a sick curiosity? I don't know. After listening to it for the first time, which was after I watched this documentary, their voices continued to replay in my head. I wanted to go back and see it all over again for my own curiosity and (why lie?) to get some laughs. 

I've even had their arguments playing in my headphones as background noise while at work. 

Recordings of two drunks arguing is certainly not art. As the documentary attests, what people do with the recordings might be considered art by modern standards. When all the layers are peeled back, what's left is the misery of two long-gone drunks who (again, as the documentary proves) actually cared for each other when they were sober. 

Otherwise, their misery in the last few years of what may be considered pissed away lives is what we're given. They didn't have much say in the matter. It's like they were forced to give the world, who didn't otherwise care much for them before Shutup Little Man, a little something extra pulled right out from the darkest areas of their last years on earth whether they liked it or not. 

Anyhow, the story behind all this, the ethical questions that arise, the legality in certain aspects, and the role media plays here is simply amazing to me. 

The documentary tackles ethical issues such as the legality or illegality of recording people without their knowledge and distributing it for profit, and even attempting to copyright it. Mitchell argues in the documentary that Ray and Peter were so loud, their arguments were heard outside the confines of their apartment, making it public domain. There's a story on their Shut Up Little Man website that corroborates just how loud these two were.
The movie is fascinating to watch, especially when Mitchell and Eddie discover at the time of filming that Tony Newton is still alive - the last vestige of the Peter and Raymond legacy. They find him still living in San Francisco, and after a couple of attempts persuade him to agree to an interview, he agrees to one.

Eddie Lee Sausage (left) and Mike Dupry.

Shutup, Little Man is certainly a media story to top other media stories. The hypothetical issue of how Ray and Peter would fair on platforms such as YouTube if they were alive and loud today is talked about, as so many altercations no matter how private, or embarrassing, or violent, or damaging, are shared for everyone to see for the sake of entertainment and personal recognition. It all comes down to the question, why?  Is it just our fascination with people we don't know? It's a media topic that's crucial in this day of viral videos and privacy.
Ray and Peter are the stuff of urban legends. Whether they like it or not, they've been shoved into the realm of San Francisco history. May their legacy live on, and may they continue always giggling falsely.

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

Hoola, Hoola, Hoola! Boola, Boola, Boola! Look who's got the front seats to the Mexican hat dance now! Just like a bunch of spiders in a birthday cake.

Director
Dan Aykroyd

Cast
Chevy Chase - Chris Thorne
Dan Aykroyd - Judge Alvin Valkenheiser/ Bobo
John Candy - Dennis/ Eldona
Demi Moore - Diane Lightson

Nothing But Trouble, released in 1991 and directed by Dan Aykroyd, is one of the most enigmatic comedies I've ever seen. In fact, it was Aykroyd's directorial debut.
After watching this, I felt the need to do some research into this movie's production.
First off, this was a bad movie. But, it's not completely terrible. I even had fun watching it. Like I said-enigmatic. It's bad, but I feel drawn to it.
My first impression after seeing Nothing But Trouble was that it's incredibly imaginative and visually interesting. And, believe it or not, it's hip hop artist TuPac's initial movie appearance.
All in all, I want to watch it again. I might even purchase a copy. I'm sure I can find a copy in the $5 DVD bin at Walmart.
I wish someone would write a book about its production from beginning to end. The movie feels like a big, giant mix of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Marx Brothers, Tim Burton, and Looney Tunes being the proverbial cherry on top. Just...plain...wow!
The history of Nothing But Trouble begins with the 1987 horror classic Hellraiser.
In that year movie producer Robert Weiss went to see Hellraiser with Dan and his brother, Peter Aykroyd.
Weiss, who was suffering from a broken rib, picked that movie thinking if they had gone to see a comedy, he would have been in pain from laughing. Still, they all found Hellraiser to be funnier than what I'm sure director Clive Barker had wanted it to be. This scene planted the idea in Dan's head to come up with a comedic horror movie.
An actual storyline came about years earlier when Dan was pulled over for speeding somewhere in upstate New York while driving back from Canada.
He was forced to appear before a Justice of the Peace, who not only fined him $50, but invited Dan to stick around for some tea. So, he did.
After Aykroyd came up with a script, he took it upon himself to direct, and was given absolute control over the picture from Warner Brothers as they threw $40 million at him to get it going. I mean, that makes sense given his list of successful writing history with titles such as The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters, and Spies Like Us.
Well, when it comes to Aykroyd, his script writing history normally involves directors needing to weed through his elaborate and wild imagination, and come up with something doable. Just listen to John Landis discuss Aykroyd's original script for The Blues Brothers. But with Nothing But Trouble, audiences are given pretty much unhindered, carte blanche Dan. I also hear that Aykroyd allowed the cast to direct themselves. Perhaps that might have hurt the movie a bit?
In this movie, financial publisher (not banker) Chris Thorne (Chevy Chase) hosts a party in his New York penthouse apartment. During his shindig, Thorne meets successful attorney Diane Lightson (Demi Moore). She tells him through small talk about her failed romance (Why? I don't know!) and then says she needs to meet with a client in Atlantic City.
She then asks to borrow his car. Bold move, seeing as how she just met him. And it's weird this successful attorney doesn't have a car of her own.
Nevertheless, it's worth mentioning that the entire plot of the movie all starts with Demi Moore's character asking to borrow Thorne's car - again whom she doesn't really know. He refuses and states "I'll drive." That's it, and that's all!
Meanwhile, two of Thorne's clients, Fausto (Taylor Negron) and Renalda Squiriniszu (Bertila Damas), wealthy Brazilian brother and sister, include themselves along for the ride. They don't add much to the story other than making the initial encounter that much more odd.
On their way, Thorne detours through the obscure, nearly dead town of Valkenvania. He rolls through a stop sign, and is then followed by a cop. 

Dan Aykroyd as Judge Valkenheiser

Rather than pull over, the Squiriniszus tell him to step on it. There's no real reason to attempt to allude this cop, other then get out of a potential traffic ticket. Of course, he steps on the gas and tries to lose him.
The pursuing officer has some gadgets and switches to finally force Thorne to stop. And when he does, it turns out the cop, Dennis (John Candy), is the nicest cop in history. He doesn't so much as raise his voice or point an accusatory finger at this motorist who just put both of their lives, and the lives of others, in danger. In fact, he tells Thorne that if he follows him to the Justice of the Peace, he'll ignore the attempt to elude. Wow!
So, Thorne agrees, and they all head to a dilapidated mansion that is the Valkenvania Court House. It's surrounded by mounds of abandoned cars, toasters, refrigerators, strange metal sculptures, and other scraps. 

It's the seat of Dennis's 106-year old grandpa, Judge Alvin JP Valkenheiser (Dan Aykroyd). They try to simply pay their ticket and leave. But they learn
it's not going to be that quick and easy.

Alvin not only impounds Thorne's car, and orders them to stay the evening in order to appear for a further hearing the next day, he also invites them to supper.

As things are completely awkward, unsettling, and weird for them, their stay in the cluttered mansion/court house becomes an attempt to escape. And what's worse, Thorne ends up being engaged to Dennis's mute sister, Eldona (also John Candy) who was struck dumb at birth by a thunder clap.
The cast is impressive - Dan Aykroyd. Chevy Chase, the late great John Candy, and Demi Moore who's last movie before Nothing But Trouble was Ghost.  
But from what I gathered, Chevy Chase was a huge pain to work with. Evidently during production, Chase would yell at other cast members, including Aykroyd. There are stories that Chase even criticized Demi Moore for wearing an outfit that was "too revealing."
It's not hard to believe as Chase has been called out on other productions for acting abrasive and mean to co-workers.
Despite all these stories, his performance seems nothing but motion. He says his one-liners, gives his comedic Chevy Chase looks, goes through all the other motions, loves his time being on screen, and that's about it. He got through the movie, and that seems to be all that matters.
Aykroyd is the most enjoyable. Since it's his movie, he seems to be having fun in his role as a 106-year old judge. His mannerisms and quips are hilarious. His makeup is memorable. And his role as the overweight man-baby, Bobo, is just deadly to anyone's appetite.
John Candy plays two roles well enough. But having his female character to be a mute seems all too obvious. It takes me back to watching him on SCTV which used to air on Comedy Central back in the 90s. Occasionally, Candy dressed in drag for various sketch comedy routines. Since the movie was $5 million over budget, I guess hiring a female voice actor to speak lines for him, or have Candy try to speak like a woman himself wasn't going to work? So, the next best option was keeping Candy silent. Maybe that was the cheapest option as well? I'm speculating, of course.
This role seems to be more of a straight man. Candy is a comedian, not a straight man. This definitely isn't a Candy role that stands among his more notable movie roles in Spaceballs, Uncle Buck or Plains, Trains, and Automobiles). Regardless, and maybe I'm just prejudice, but I still love watching Candy perform here as I'm a Candy fan! I believe if he were still with us, he'd have the same kind of prestigiousness and legendary status that some other long standing comedians such as Bill Murray and Steve Martin possess today. Where he still alive, Candy could easily walk out onto a stage and receive a standing ovation before saying a word.  
The sets in this movie are just fantastic and imaginative. The mansion itself reminds me of the set from Rocky Horror Picture Show. There's even a roller coaster on the property that takes guilty defendants to the "bone stripper" - a carnival-like torture device that strips the flesh of people's bones. Though we don't see that actually happening, rather we see the bones spit out at the other end  into a large bone pile. And this is followed by the supper scene were Alvin treats his guests to hot dogs that look less than savory and appetizing. Subtle horror? 
As Judge Alvin Valkenheiser comes from a family of mechanics, the set is detailed with a number of abandoned cars, scrap metals, refrigerators, and toasters is awesome and well done.
The interior visuals are where the imagination really sets in, especially the mansion's attic which is covered in the driver's licenses of "culprits" long gone, including Jimmy Hoffa. There's also secret passages and hidden rooms.
The town of Valkenvania, which has had coal fires burning underneath since the 1920s, is based on Centralia, Pennsylvania. 

The town and the courthouse are unsettling but not necessarily terrifying.
Remember when I talked about "Unhindered Dan?" This is very apparent when characters Bobo (Dan Aykroyd) and Little Debbull (John Daveikis) are introduced. They're both Cewpie doll-looking adult babies in diapers. They both have the mentality of a two-year old, are not allowed inside the house, and yet are both mechanics or blacksmiths working on the scrap metal around the mansion. They're appearance is sure to make audiences lose their appetite. From what I've heard about the movie, Aykroyd couldn't find anyone to play Bobo, so he performed the character himself. The suit and makeup and incredible. To think of Aykroyd having to were this body suit and heavy makeup, and then were makeup for his Alvin character, and direct the movie on top of all this. Brilliant work!

John Daveikis worked with Aykroyd on Ghostbusters as a hardware consultant (according to IMDB). Aside from his role as Little Debbull, his only other acting credit is "Russian Border Guard" in Spies Like Us which also starred Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd.

Dan Aykroyd and John Daveikis as Bobo and 

Little Debbul in Nothing But Trouble.

And I can't ignore the sudden appearance of hiphop group Digital Underground.
In the movie, the entire group of rappers is taken to the judge on speeding charges, and it's hilarious.
But when they break out into the movie's theme song "Same Song," at the judge's request, it's just out of place and distracting. It's the only musical performance in the movie, and why it's there, other than to sell the group, is beyond me. Nevertheless, the song is catchy and entertaining!
The story structure as a whole is off. Things happen in this movie because...well...just because. For instance, the whole borrowing the car in the beginning is one example. It makes very little sense.
During the dinner scene at the court/mansion, the Brazilian siblings just decide to up and leave claiming they've had enough. And they escape by jumping out of a window, even though we later learn nobody ever escapes. They seemed to get away somehow.
Nevertheless, there's just something about this movie that's intriguing. It pulled me in, and I couldn't look away. When I wanted to look away, it was because of something that made me queasy like the dinner scene with the hot dogs. The whole scene is just gag inducing.
In fact, the horror element of the movie is on par with something like Beetlejuice. 
And Valkenheiser's nose becomes a penis in one scene. There's no other way to state that. This can't be ignored no matter how much I try. I'm sorry if that's crass to mention it. What does one say to that?
If Aykroyd ever comes out with a special edition to this movie, which I hope he does, I'm buying it. 

Note: Rather than include a link to the trailer above where I quote directly from the film, I've linked the quote to the movie's dinner scene. This just needs to be watched. If you haven't seen this movie before, that scene will give you the best taste (no pun intended) of this movie.