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The Entertainer

"As the applause grew fainter … As the spotlight grew dimmer … His women were younger!"

1960-07-25 Drama 1hr 36m

Archie Rice, an old-time British vaudeville performer sinking into final defeat, schemes to stay in show business.

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Storyline

Archie Rice, an old-time British vaudeville performer sinking into final defeat, schemes to stay in show business.

  • Released
    1960-07-25
  • Revenue
    n/a
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 36m
  • Genre
    Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.1
  • Production
    Woodfall Film Productions, Continental

Crew

Tony Richardson
Director
John Osborne
Screenplay
Harry Saltzman
Producer
Keywords:
beauty contest based on play or musical dysfunctional family bankruptcy music hall seaside town kitchen sink realism vaudeville performer british new wave suez crisis

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Cast

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier
Archie Rice
Brenda De Banzie

Brenda De Banzie
Phoebe Rice
Roger Livesey

Roger Livesey
Billy Rice
Joan Plowright

Joan Plowright
Jean Rice
Alan Bates

Alan Bates
Frank Rice
Daniel Massey

Daniel Massey
Graham
Albert Finney

Albert Finney
Mick Rice
Shirley Anne Field

Shirley Anne Field
Tina Lapford
Thora Hird

Thora Hird
Mrs. Ada Lapford
Miriam Karlin

Miriam Karlin
Soubrette
Geoffrey Toone

Geoffrey Toone
Harold Hubbard
MacDonald Hobley

MacDonald Hobley
McDonald Hobley (as McDonald Hobley)
Anthony Oliver

Anthony Oliver
Interviewer
Max Bacon

Max Bacon
Charlie Klein
George Doonan

George Doonan
Eddie Trimmer
James Culliford

James Culliford
Cobber Carson
Gilbert Davis

Gilbert Davis
Brother Bill
Charles Gray

Charles Gray
Columnist
Gwen Nelson

Gwen Nelson
Hope Jackman

Hope Jackman
Morecambe Mother
Tony Selby

Tony Selby
Teddy Boy (uncredited)
Nigel Davenport

Nigel Davenport
Theatre Manager (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

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The Entertainer
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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Entertainer
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-04-04

Certainly, Laurence Olivier is superb in this drama, but he is surrounded by a superior supporting cast that lend huge poignancy to this sto... read more

Certainly, Laurence Olivier is superb in this drama, but he is surrounded by a superior supporting cast that lend huge poignancy to this story. He is "Archie Rice", a seaside entertainer who has long since passed his use-by date. His quick witted, slightly risqué and smutty humour no longer amuses the theatre audiences who now require much greater sophistication. He can't adapt though - it's in his blood. As he desperately tries to stay one step ahead of the bailiffs and the taxman, he puts his nearest and dearest through a maelstrom of emotions and trauma. It doesn't help his wife "Phoebe" (Brenda de Banzie) that he is also a bit of a womaniser - usually with younger girls, too. His long suffering kids "Jean" (Joan Plowright) and "Frank" (Alan Bates) try to keep things running as they struggle to make ends meet and stay cohesive as a family. Add to these four, a sparing but super contribution from Roger Livesey as his father - another man who made his living treading the boards back in the day, and what we have here is a telling look at a man who just no longer belongs. Olivier, the actor, turns his hand to stand-up, tap dancing, singing - all standard skills that anyone making a living this way would have needed; and he does it really well. None of the theatrical, method style he is so often famed (and criticised) for. Indeed, I think this is the most natural I have ever seen him on film. He seems to be rejoicing in the role - and that's contagious to watch. It's not a bundle of laughs, we are given plenty of opportunity to dislike this rather selfish, narcissist - especially when he is with the excellent Plowright and de Banzie. Although there is an inevitability to the conclusion, I still felt for this family reaching a crossroads, ill-equipped to fit into a society they didn't recognise nor really want to embrace.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by CinemaSerf

Certainly, Laurence Olivier is superb in this drama, but he is surrounded by a superior supporting cast that lend huge poignancy to this story. He is "Archie Rice", a seaside entertainer who has long since passed his use-by date. His quick ...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-04-04

Certainly, Laurence Olivier is superb in this drama, but he is surrounded by a superior supporting cast that lend huge poignancy to this story. He is "Archie Rice", a seaside entertainer who has long ...

read more