THE ENTERTAINER
UK, 1960, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Laurence Olivier, Joan Plowright, Alan Bates, Roger Livesey, Brenda de Banzie, Albert Finney, Miriam Karlin, Nigel Davenport, Shirley- Ann Field.
Directed by Tony Richardson.
The Entertainer is the screen version of John Osborne's play, adapted by him for the screen. By the mid-'50s, young British playwrights had moved away from a tradition of drawing-room comedies and even the strong dramas of Somerset Maugham and Terence Rattigan. They became what was called kitchen-sink dramatists, focusing on the working class, the difficulties of lives, the sordid aspects of lives. John Osborne was famous for his play, Look Back in Anger, which Tony Richardson filmed with Richard Burton, Claire Bloom and Mary Ure in 1958.
The Entertainer takes place at a seaside resort, during the mid-'50s at the time of the Suez crisis (which feature in the background with Archie Rice, the entertainer, having his youngest son go off to Suez, be captured and be killed). It is the end of the musical hall era. Television is coming in. The screenplay creates the style of life in the mid-'50s, the faded star who was desperate to keep going, a drinking man, avoiding taxes and getting in debt, a womaniser. Laurence Olivier confounded audience anticipation of his more classic performances by bringing Archie Rice vividly to life, the disillusionment and yet the optimism, the cynicism and yet the sense of humour, the desperation for relationships, the collapse of his marriage, his love for his children. He even does a number of song routines as well as tap-dancing. Joan Plowright is introduced as his daughter Jean, the anchor of common sense in the family. There are some discussions in the screenplay about Olivier marrying the character played by Shirley- Ann Field, old enough to be his daughter. (In fact, in real life, Olivier did marry Joan Plowright.)
A number of stars were at the beginning of their screen careers, notably Alan Bates, Daniel Massey, Shirley- Ann Field and, in one scene, Albert Finney.
The film is a sharp portrait of the entertainer, backed by the portrait of his simple and sometimes disillusioned wife played by Brenda de Banzie and, especially, his old entertainer father, Billy, played excellently by Roger Livesey.
Tony Richardson was to have a varied career in cinema over several decades, pioneering many of the British social concern of the '50s and '60s including The Loneliness of the Long-Distance? Runner, moving to more spectacular films like The Charge of the Light Brigade and then, during the '70s and '80s, going to Hollywood and directing entertaining dramas, like The Border and The Hotel New Hampshire as well as many television movies.
1. A film of its period? Showing Britain in the '50s and the changes that occurred socially and economically as well as in popular entertainment? The film as a period piece seen from a perspective of fifty years later?
2. The black and white photography, the locations, the beachside resort, the water, the buildings and streets, the homes, the music halls? The musical score, themes, the popular songs, Archie and his singing, Billy and his singing? Dance routines?
3. The work of John Osborne, his perspective on England, the kitchen-sink dramas? Aided by the film work of Tony Richardson?
4. The structure of the film: the focus on Jean, her coming back home, the flashbacks about her own life and relationship questions, Mick going to Suez? The straightforward narrative of what went on in the Rice household, Archie trying to put on the musical, the disintegration of relationships within the family?
5. The portrait of Archie Rice: Laurence Olivier's presence and performance, appearance, age experience? Seeing him in action, the music hall jokes and routines? His relationship with the audience? His love for Jean, his relying on Frank, his anxiety about Mick and Suez? His relationship with Phoebe, the revelation about Jean's mother walking out on him, catching him with Phoebe, her death? The marriage to Phoebe, the children? His being tired of her? The beauty contest and his selecting a girl to have a relationship with? The beauty contest, his comparing and style, people's reactions? The locals laughing at his jokes? His selecting Tina, talking with her, with her parents, getting them to promise the money for the show, the sexual relationship, falling in love with her, even contemplating marriage? His going home, tensions in the house, his ignoring them, smoothing them over? His love for Jean, talking with her? Frank following in his father's footsteps? His relationship with his father, admiration for him? The show, the cast and their demanding their money? The plan to separate from Phoebe, Jean's anxiety and telling Billy, Billy going to the family and telling them the truth? His going to his son, Archie's disillusionment? The show not going on? The news about Mick's death, the funeral ceremony for him? Archie and his growing desperation, the possibility of going to Canada but his not wanting to? The final performance, his having tried with his father to get a backer, his father's collapse off-stage, the entrepreneur refusing the money, the curtain coming down? The possibility of his going to jail for tax evasion and fraud? Signing cheques when he had no money? His future?
6. Jean, a good young woman, working with the children in London, her relationship with Graham, love, his wanting to get a job in Africa, trying to persuade her, her feeling she should go back home? Going home, meeting her grandfather, assessing the situation? Phoebe and their friendship, yet her not being Phoebe's daughter, Phoebe angrily and tearfully turning on her at times? Her love for Frank, having seen Mick off to Egypt with Graham? Her listening, smoothing things over in the house, watching her father, with Tina? Telling Billy about the plan? Her shock then when the money was not forthcoming? Honesty with her father, Graham coming, his not taking the job in Africa? His presence at the funeral? The postponing of the wedding and her feeling she should be with the family?
7. Phoebe, her relationship with Archie, a salesgirl at her age, very limited imagination and experience, anxiety over Mick, drinking, clashes, ultra-sensitive, emotional outbursts? Her buying the cake for Mick, borrowing the money from Jean, Billy eating it and her tirade against him? Feeling that there would be a separation, her knowing Archie's relationships, knowing that it was with Tina? Mick's death and her grief? Hanging on?
8. Billy, a good old man, his days in the music hall, at the pub and his singing? His love for his son yet seeing through him? His love for the rest of the family, Phoebe looking after him, yet turning on him, especially about the cake? His enjoying life in retirement? His going to the family to tell them the truth about Archie? His apologising to Archie for what he had done? Going to the entrepreneur, the possibility of a comeback, his getting ready for the show, his collapse and death?
9. Frank, love for his father, stage-managing, with Jean? Love for his mother? Following in his father's footsteps? The possibility of going to Canada, his decision to take it and start a new life?
10. Mick, the youngest, getting ready to go to Egypt, living day by day, the farewell, the capture, his release, the accidental death? The tribute in the town?
11. Tina, in the beauty contest, her mother and her incessant chatter, the father and his wealth? Their being charmed by Archie, promising the money? Enjoying the show - and then, hearing the truth, turning on him? Tina, starry-eyed, coming second in the contest, chosen by Archie, infatuated with him, the sexual relationship, the possibility of marriage?
12. The cast of the show, the bitter actress and her always demanding the money? The performances, the precarious nature of employment?
13. The people in the audience, the old enjoying it, the young wondering whether it was funny, the audience for the beauty contest and the ethos of the time? The talk about television?
14. The authentic atmosphere of the period? An insight into Britain in the '50s?
