THE ENTERTAINER

US, 1976, 100 Minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Ray Bolger, Sada Thompson, Annette O' Toole, Tyne Daly.
Directed by Donald Wrye.

A happy name for a rather grim film. John Osborne's play was set in England with the atmosphere of the Music Hall and the British drama of the 50s and 60s. Convincingly adapted to the U.S. during the War, this version uses the background of American burlesque. But the drama of family emotional conflicts, of ambitions, success and failure are just as well explored. Jack Lemmon succeeds as serious as well as wryly comic. Ray Bolger is effective as his father, especially in a cake-eating sequence and a song-and-dance routine. Sada Thompson is worth seeing as the simple ageing Phoebe. Serious drama.

1. The focus of the film's title? Audience expectations and their fulfilment? The basic irony of the title? The fact that the film was based on a play, adapted for television? Was this evident? The fact that it was based on an English play, set in the 50s and transferred to America in the 40s? How well was the transition made? The reputation of the play and John Osborne's skill in drama?

2. The adaptation of the play to a musical? How well was it done, musical background, music-hall routines, the various songs in the film? How enjoyable and entertaining? The pathos of so much of the music? The theme song and its use, 'It's the Only Way To Go'? This song as a commentary on the whole film?

3. The importance and use of the setting: America and the 40s, the war, the beachside resort, old people, the closing down of the theatres? As a symbol of what was happening to the family?

4. The picture of the family? Their home? Archie and the memories of his first marriage, his relationship to Phoebe, making her laugh, yet his constant infidelity? How much love was there between the two? The pride in Michael, the absent son, Frank and his lack of promotion, Jean and the sadness of her return? Archie always feeling a failure in the light of his father's reputation? The impact of the son's death, his father's death?

5. The picturing of Archie as an entertainer? How convincing was Jack Lemmon, the opening with the jokes and the songs, the quality of the acts? The effect of his personality? The effect of poor audience response on him? Sense of achievement, sense of failure? His clutching at hope for a new show? His infatuation with Bambi, grooming her for the show, the liaison with her? His persuading her parents about the money? Their reaction and pride? The fact that Archie's father went to tell them the truth?

6. The impact of Phoebe? What type of woman? Her simple-mindedness, her infatuation with Archie? Disappointment? How true to life was the performance? Her relationship with the children? With Billy? The pathos of the sequence where she attacked Billy about the cake, and then was laughing with Archie? A life of disappointment?

7. What did the film have to say about human nature? As portrayed in each of the members of the family and their interaction?

8. Jean and her return, her military work, the background of her life, its effect on her? Her being away from home? Her support of Phoebe, her trying to tell the truth to her father, her regard for her grandfather? Her observations on Bambi? What was she left with at the end?

9. How well did the film build up the expectations for Michael's return? Pride and celebration? The impact of the news of his death on each of them?

10. The character portrayal of Billy? His reputation and success? His role in the home? His ageing and people's disregard for him? The pathos of his eating the cake and being rebuked by Phoebe? The importance of his final singing and dancing? His death? How convincing a man?

11. Themes of success and failure, of the need for respect?

12. The build-up to the comeback? The information about theatres closing, the backer and his willingness to put up money for Archie and Billy? The humour and the skill of the song and dance routine? The pride in Archie, the pride in Billy?

13. Was Billy's death to be expected? His investment in the act?

14. The effect of his death on all? Archie and his failure? Everybody going away from him? His seeming return into darkness and the old act?

15. The entertainment value of the film, the insight into human nature?