BERT RIGBY, YOU'RE A FOOL
US, 1989, 94 minutes, Colour.
Robert Lindsey, Robbie Coltrane, Cathryn Bradshaw, Bruno Kirby, Corbin Bernsen, Anne Bancroft.
Directed by Carl Reiner.
Bert Rigby, You're a Fool is directed by Carl Reiner. Reiner had success as a director of many comedies (as well as writer), especially with Mel Brooks and then Steve Martin (The Jerk, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, All of Me,). This is a star vehicle for Robert Lindsay, the English song and dance artist who made such a success on Broadway in Me and my Girl.
The film is by way of anecdote, a Hollywood anecdote which takes us back to England and then to the uglier sides of Hollywood. It has a lot of comic routines, some song and dance in the Kelly, Astaire - Rogers manner. The supporting cast is quite strong with Robbie Coltrane as an agent, Anne Bancroft doing a variation on her Mrs Robinson style, Bruno Kirby as a Hollywood producer, Liz Smith as Bert's mother. In many ways, the comedy is something of a hit and miss entertainment.
There are some very good moments, some slack moments, some corny moments.
1. A musical anecdotal entertainment? Storytelling? Musical comedy?
2. The English locations, the American locations? The blend and the contrast between the two? A look at Hollywood?
3. The musical score, the choreography? The tradition of Gene Kelly, the dedication to him? Astaire and Rogers? Songs and dances? The range of classic 30s songs? A star vehicle for Robert Lindsay?
4. The work of Carl Reiner, his comedies? Observations on things American? Eccentric American characters? The strong cast?
5. The opening with Bert telling, his story, the anecdotal overture of the movie - and therefore its tone, whether it was all true or not? The ending with a new anecdote and the happy finale?
6. Robert Lindsay as Bert, as a miner, on strike, at home, his relationship with his mother, love for Laurel, meeting her? His hopes in the town, for refurbishing the cinema for his career as a song and dance man?
7. His going with Sid Trample? Robbie Coltrane and his presence, bully? The amateur show? The routines, the singing, Lindsay and the faking the fluffing of the song? The competitions, the people, Comperes? A future in the amateur show? Sid and his dominating style?
8. Bruno Kirby as the Hollywood producer, his American style? his patter? Persuading Bert and Sid to go to Hollywood? The working with the commercials? The preparation for the commercials, the deals? Sid and his agent? Sid's disappearance and leaving Bert stranded with the bills?
9. Mrs Perlestein, Anne Bancroft's screen style? Wealth, home? Hollywood productions? Her lifestyle, her sexual advances? Her dominance, his backing away from her? Her ruining him? The Van Gogh going up in flames?
10. Jim Shirley - the star, his work with the producer, his style, needing the coaching? Bert working with him?
11. The art gallery sequence, the hold-up, Bert being there, foiling the attempt despite himself?
12. In the bar, doing his song and dance routine? The new agent signing him up? Success? The finale in the cinema, Laurel and the baby? The fulfilment of his dreams?
13. A succession of entertaining anecdotes, serious and comic touches? Songs and dances?
