An interview clip has resurfaced showing Dustin Hoffman ripping a huge fart during an interview with Tom Cruise (Picture: Getty Images)
If you don’t think farts are funny, I’m sorry to say that Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise disagree with you.
A resurfaced interview clip from 1988 is a perfect example of the first rule of fart humour: It’s never about the fart; it’s about the timing.
During an interview for a Swedish TV station, a young Cruise was in the midst of answering a seemingly serious question about the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman when Hoffman, sitting beside him on the sofa, lifts his rear off the cushion.
He then lets rip a very audible fart, to Cruise’s surprise and delight.
The Top Gun actor bursts out laughing, completely derailing the interview.
‘Sorry, it’s been a long three days, a lot of sushi in Japan,’ Hoffman says, trying to swallow his own laughter.
‘Sushi, then catching up in Berlin with the sausages, and now I’m in England…’ he continues as Cruise continues to guffaw beside him.
‘With the bangers and mash?’ Cruise asks as Hoffman finally breaks down and joins Cruise in hysterics.
‘With the bangers in England… I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to,’ Hoffman says, causing Cruise to begin laughing with renewed glee as Hoffman dabs his tears with a nearby cushion.
The pair were critically acclaimed for their roles in the 1988 classic Rain Man (Picture: SGranitz/WireImage)
Given that the pair were promoting the now-classic movie Rain Man, it was a fitting moment.
In the 1988 film, Ray (Hoffman) and Charlie (Cruise) are briefly in a phonebooth together when Hoffman’s character lets one rip.
Ray warns his brother by saying: ‘Uh-oh….fart’ while Charlie is on the phone.
Charlie then says a line that’s still often quoted by cinephiles: ‘Did you fart Ray? Did you f***ing fart?’
The comment section under the clip of the interview is full of people quoting the line, which may not have been in the original script.
It’s long been rumoured that the moment was actually wholly improvised and Hoffman farted in real life, prompting Cruise to decide to react in character and create a memorable moment.
@emmalouisefriis5955 commented on the interview clip: ‘Well at least this time they’re not stuck in a phonebooth like in Rain Man.’
@samkresil6011 joked: ‘To think Hoffman just couldn’t resist farting anywhere near Tom Cruise.’
@eye21021 wondered why the video isn’t well-known, writing: ‘How come I didn’t see this before?’
We can’t help but agree that the moment should have been on our radar sooner, but now that it is, we can all collectively agree to cherish it forever.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.