LAKEBOAT Listen to an original Bobby Caldwell Song written for "Lakeboat" "You've Got It Made" Skippy: Charles Durning  Pierman: Peter Falk Fireman: Denis Leary Joe: Robert Forster Collins: George Wendt Stan: J.J. Johnston Fred: Jack Wallace Dale Katzman: Tony Mamet Directed By: Joe Mantegna      A cast photo taken on location in Canada  Click here for more photo's of the shoot  A Panorama Entertainment film. Screenplay by David Mamet, based on his play. Running time: 98 minutes. Rated R REVIEWS "Thumbs Up!" Roger Ebert "Its a work of art to be experienced. Take the cruise, I highly recommend it."  Rob Mc Kinnon "Involving, enjoyable and enlightening." Wolf Entertainment Four Out Of Five Stars! Moviefone Moviegoers Rating "Satisfyingly gruff, funny and poignant" The Hollywood Reporter "Comic and Touching" Variety   Highlights from the September 24th 2001 Directors Guild Screening. Joe with Robert Forster Nearly 500 of Joe's fellow actors, directors, producers and friends filled the DGA theater for a special screening of "Lakeboat." The showing began around 8:00 with a brief speech by Robert Forster and Tony Mamet. Joe was busy finishing a day of filming on his new CBS show "First Monday." He arrived as the film ended and was greeted by a very happy audience. This film marks Joe's first effort directing a feature film. If you think you have heard of "Lakeboat" before it's possible. Joe did direct the original play at the Tiffany Theater in West Hollywood in 1994 for sold out audiences night after night. Tony Mamet recalls, "Joe directed it in a sort of cinematic way. That combined with the audience reaction, we said, We've got something. This could make a really good film" So with persistence from Tony and Joe's agreement to direct "lakeboat" the movie was born. Filmed in Canada the movie takes you on a journey with 7 endearing men on their summer voyage on a great lakes steel freighter. Tony Mamet's character "Dale" joins as the new cook to replace the un-billed but very visible Andy Garcia. Don't be disappointed if you thought Joe stayed behind the camera. Joe does make an appearance in "Lakeboat" reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock. Directing this film was a very positive experience for Joe and according to him it won't be the last time. He is currently looking at several different projects to choose what he would like to do on his up coming hiatus. "It depends a lot on if I do another "Spencer" film for A&E" Joe remarked. The fourth in the successful film series that Joe has been staring and Co-Producing.                           Joe with J.J. Johnston and Charles Durning                                          Joe with Tony Mamet Everyone one was happy to see Bobby Caldwell who provides his own swing'n version of Bobby Darin's hit "Beyond The Sea" during the opening credits. His Manager Henry Marx in the middle is flanked by Joe and Bobby.