If you don’t think farts are funny, I’m sorry to say Dustin Hoffman And Tom Cruise disagree with you.

An interview excerpt resurfaces from 1988 is a perfect example of the first rule of fart humor: it’s never about the fart; it’s a question of timing.

During an interview for a Swedish television station, a young Cruise was answering a seemingly serious question about Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman when Hoffman, sitting next to him on the couch, lifts his buttocks off the cushion.

He then lets out a very audible fart, much 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, lots of sushi in Japan,” Hoffman said, trying to hold back his own laughter.

“Sushi, then catching up in Berlin with the sausages, and now I’m in England…” he continues as Cruise continues laughing next to him.

“With the bangers and the mash? Cruise asks as Hoffman finally breaks down and joins Cruise in hysteria.

“With the bangers in England…I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to,” Hoffman says, causing Cruise to laugh with renewed glee as Hoffman dabs away his tears with a nearby cushion.

Considering the two were promoting the now-classic film Rain Man, it was perfect timing.

In the 1988 film, Ray (Hoffman) and Charlie (Cruise) are briefly together in a phone booth 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 phrase still often quoted by movie fans: “Did you fart Ray?” Did you fucking fart?’

The comments section below the interview clip is full of people quoting the phrase, which may not have been in the original script.

It has long been rumored that the moment was actually entirely improvised and that Hoffman had 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 phone booth like in Rain Man.”

@samkresil6011 joked: “To think Hoffman just couldn’t stop himself from farting around Tom Cruise.”

@eye21021 wondered why the video wasn’t widely known and wrote: “How come I haven’t seen this before?”

We can’t help but admit that this moment should have been on our radar earlier, but now that it is, we can all collectively agree to cherish it forever.

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