THE COMEDIANS
US, 1967, 150 minutes, Colour.
Richard Burton, Alec Guinness, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Ustinov, Paul Ford, Lilian Gish, Raymond St. Jacques. Directed, by Peter Glenville.
The Comedians is based on Graham Greene's mid-60's novel, and he himself wrote the screenplay. The film is rather long and, with the stars, a bit too romantic. Nevertheless, it has the usual Greens ingredients of odd and seedy characters who wear comedians' masks to cover their real selves and who, in varying degrees, have the truth revealed to them.
Smith, Brown and Jones are the names of the comedians. Brown is Richard Burton doing one of his cynical soul-searching performances with typical Greene remarks about having lost faith in faith. Alec Guinness is good as the braggard Jones who is ultimately unmasked as a humbled, repentant man. Paul Ford's Smith is more a common man eccentric's role, more that of the ordinary comedian. Lilian Gish is effective as Mrs. Smith. Peter Ustinov gives a fine, sober performance as the Ambassador, and Elizabeth Taylor is her usual self as his wife.
Haiti is the setting (although filmed in Africa) and the outspoken criticisms of Papa Doc and his regime, meant that the film and all concerned with it were banned from Haiti.
Director is Peter Glenville who directed such films as Summer and Smoke (1961), Term of Trail (1963) and Becket (1964). Anything by Graham Greene is worth discussing.
1. Why did Graham Greene call his novel "The Comedians"? Is it just a name for people who professionally make us laugh? Or has it more to do with people who show insight into the foibles of human nature and its littleness as did the writers of classic comedies? which meaning is closer to what the film presented?
2. The significance of the major characters being called Brown, Jones and Smith?
3. Was the film about Haiti?
4. The first impressions of the film - traditional Christian chants, welcome to Haiti, superstition and the Tontons Macoute? What kind of world does the Haiti of the film represent? Is it often found throughout the world?
5. - Brown - what kind of man, a typical Greene hero? How? Imprisoned in his hotel and his knowledge and experience of Haiti, living in a pas*- of decayed grandeur, involved in the politics and danger of the present - deaths, bodies in pools, curfews, prisons, using influence, relationships with the local people. Brown's cynicism?
- Jones - a brash phony immersed in a world of harsh reality of prison and torture where his bragging and supposed bravery mean nothing, a smooth talker who says very little?
- Smith (and Mrs. Smith)- the eccentric do-gooders of this world, very American, naive, expecting goodness everywhere and shocked by its absence?
6. Why did Martha and Brown have their affair? What did it mean to either of them? How much love was there?
7. The Ambassador - as a person, his love for his wife and son (her love for her son), trying to exist dutifully in Haiti?
8. The world in which these comedians act - how vividly portrayed - murders, religious funerals, arrests and torture, Duvalierville and empty promises, depression; the people, revolution; Their lives of poverty, begging, the cock-fights; the voodoo superstitions and the religious support; Dr. Maggio and doing good; the need for Intrigue?
9. Why did the ironic Brown get involved? why did Jones get involved? Why did Martha and the Ambassador get involved when it meant political defeat?
10. How successful was the suspense in the film - change of cars, yet the humour of Jones as the washerwoman?
11. How important was the final conversation of Brown and Jones? Why did Jones need to confess? How religious was this? why did Brown absolve him, even when he said he had no faith in faith? Who was the Christ figure?
12. The irony of the ending - Haiti, revolution and the jet escaping back into the world?
13. What insights into human nature and life did the film offer?
