The Entertainer (1960)

Archie Rice, an old-time British vaudeville performer sinking into final defeat, schemes to stay in show business.

Director:

Tony Richardson

Writers:

John Osborne (screenplay), Nigel Kneale (screenplay),

Stars:

Laurence Olivier, Brenda de Banzie, Roger Livesey

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurence Olivier	...	Archie Rice
Brenda de Banzie	...	Phoebe Rice
Roger Livesey	...	Billy Rice
Joan Plowright	...	Jean Rice
Alan Bates	...	Frank Rice
Daniel Massey	...	Graham
Albert Finney	...	Mick Rice
Shirley Anne Field	...	Tina Lapford
Thora Hird	...	Mrs. Ada Lapford
Miriam Karlin	...	Soubrette
Geoffrey Toone	...	Harold Hubbard
MacDonald Hobley	...	Himself - the TV star (as McDonald Hobley)
Anthony Oliver	...	Interviewer
Max Bacon	...	Charlie Klein
George Doonan	...	Eddie Trimmer

Storyline

Archie Rice, a pathetic music hall comic, plagued by debts, manipulates those around him in a defiant and selfish attempt to survive against improbable odds. He drinks, makes crude philosophical jokes about sex and politics and humiliates his lamenting, gin-soaked wife. Archie lures his father, Billy Rice, out of retirement for a benefit performance which will ultimately bring financial aid to Archie and his impractical investments.

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Plot Keywords:

vaudeville | father son relationship | generation | morecambe england | bankrupt | 

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Taglines:

As the applause grew fainter ... As the spotlight grew dimmer ... His women were younger!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 1960 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

A komédiás

Filming Locations:

Alhambra Theatre, Morecambe, Lancashire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Woodfall Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 105 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Includes the movie debuts of Albert Finney, Alan Bates, and Joan Plowright.

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Quotes

Frank Rice: Cheer up love, life isn't as bad as all that, and even if it is, there's nothing we can do about it.

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Connections

Referenced in John Osborne and the Gift of Friendship (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Winter Garden Dance"
(uncredited)
Music by Ronald Cass

User Reviews

From Spartacus to this role of has-been Entertainer -- amazing!

I've seen this movie many times on tv and still feel irresistibly drawn into the realistic setting of people's humdrum lives at a British seaside resort. Some films can be viewed once and that's enough, but not this one.

All the cast members are remarkable in projecting the ordinary bleakness of the story's circumstances -- the people, time and place, their foibles, tragedies, and often futile efforts as they struggle with events. Believe it or not, I even got to like Olivier's singing of "Why Should I Care"!

A memorable, thoughtful film well worth experiencing.