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The Comedy Man

  • 19641964
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
219
YOUR RATING
The Comedy Man (1964)
  • Drama
Charles Byrd, known as "Chick", has spent his adult life acting in small repertory companies all over the UK, and he's never had much luck. All too aware that he's no longer young, Chick mak... Read allCharles Byrd, known as "Chick", has spent his adult life acting in small repertory companies all over the UK, and he's never had much luck. All too aware that he's no longer young, Chick makes one last stab at finding success in London.Charles Byrd, known as "Chick", has spent his adult life acting in small repertory companies all over the UK, and he's never had much luck. All too aware that he's no longer young, Chick makes one last stab at finding success in London.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
219
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alvin Rakoff
  • Writers
    • Peter Yeldham(screenplay)
    • Douglas Hayes(novel)
  • Stars
    • Kenneth More
    • Cecil Parker
    • Dennis Price
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alvin Rakoff
  • Writers
    • Peter Yeldham(screenplay)
    • Douglas Hayes(novel)
  • Stars
    • Kenneth More
    • Cecil Parker
    • Dennis Price
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos26

    Alan Dobie in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Frank Finlay and Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Alan Dobie and Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Derek Francis and Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Angela Douglas and Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Angela Douglas, Kenneth More, and Dennis Price in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Kenneth More and Cecil Parker in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)
    Angela Douglas, Freddie Mills, and Kenneth More in The Comedy Man (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kenneth More
    Kenneth More
    • Chick Byrdas Chick Byrd
    Cecil Parker
    Cecil Parker
    • Thomas Rutherfordas Thomas Rutherford
    Dennis Price
    Dennis Price
    • Tommy Morrisas Tommy Morris
    Billie Whitelaw
    Billie Whitelaw
    • Judyas Judy
    Norman Rossington
    Norman Rossington
    • Theodore Littletonas Theodore Littleton
    Angela Douglas
    Angela Douglas
    • Fay Trubshawas Fay Trubshaw
    Edmund Purdom
    Edmund Purdom
    • Julian Baxteras Julian Baxter
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Proutas Prout
    Alan Dobie
    • Jack Laveryas Jack Lavery
    J.G. Devlin
    J.G. Devlin
    • Gus Sloppittas Gus Sloppitt
    Valerie Croft
    • Yvonneas Yvonne
    • (as The Croft Twins)
    Leila Croft
    • Paulineas Pauline
    • (as The Croft Twins)
    Gerald Campion
    • Gerryas Gerry
    Jacqueline Hill
    Jacqueline Hill
    • Sandy Laveryas Sandy Lavery
    Harold Goodwin
    Harold Goodwin
    • Second Assistant Directoras Second Assistant Director
    Penny Morrell
    • Actress #2as Actress #2
    Naomi Chance
    • Bit Partas Bit Part
    Guy Deghy
    Guy Deghy
    • Schuysteras Schuyster
    • Director
      • Alvin Rakoff
    • Writers
      • Peter Yeldham(screenplay)
      • Douglas Hayes(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many critics noted that the character Edmund Purdom plays - a small-time actor who gets cast in the lead in a Hollywood epic and becomes a star overnight - bore a resemblance to Purdom himself. He went from obscurity to fame in 1954, taking on the title role in The Egyptian (1954) as a late replacement for Marlon Brando, and slipped from fame almost at once after the film proved a costly flop.
    • Goofs
      During the party when Chick sees Tommy chatting up Fay, he is not smoking, but in a wide shot, he's taking a cigarette from his mouth. He's also holding a glass of wine which disappears in his close-up.
    • Quotes

      Judy: You bloody fool! When are you going to stop acting as if you're twenty-five?

      Chick Byrd: It's my favorite age!

    • Connections
      Featured in Talkies: Remembering Kenneth More: Part One (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      An Actor's Life For Me
      (uncredited)

      Written by Brian Fahey

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    Kenneth More Stars
    A surprisingly good comedy/drama about a group of British actors on the periphery is THE COMEDY MAN, which stars Kenneth More as a down-and-out actor who finally finds success, but in a series of TV commercials about breath mints. The various members of the group experience all sorts of ups and downs and live in a shared, squalid flat. They chase all over London looking for work but fall prey to the indifference of producers. An oily agent (Dennis Price) lords overs them and plays favorites as he bestows various small jobs. One actor (Edmund Purdom) lands a small film role that that launches him to major screen success ... much to the bitter envy of the others. It's a great look at the small lives of actors who have the fire to perform but never really make the grade.

    Billie Whitelaw is good as an actress working as a waitress. Cecil Parker nearly steals the film as the old gent whose best days are long gone but he still clings to the hope of one last great role ... while he sponges off the younger actors. Frank Finlay, Alan Dobie, and Angela Douglas also appear.

    Kenneth More is excellent as the 40-ish actor who can never quite make anything of the small chances he gets. More seems pretty much forgotten today but ranked as a major Brit movie star in the 1950s. He's excellent here.

    The ending is quite good.
    helpful•3
    0
    • drednm
    • Aug 19, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 10, 1964 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Karriere des Chick B.
    • Filming locations
      • Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Consant Films
      • Grayfilms
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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