Drama

The Entertainer

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

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

Release Date : 1960-07-25

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Woodfall Film ProductionsContinental

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Archie Rice

Original Name : Laurence Olivier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Phoebe Rice

Original Name : Brenda De Banzie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Billy Rice

Original Name : Roger Livesey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jean Rice

Original Name : Joan Plowright

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frank Rice

Original Name : Alan Bates

Gender : Male

Character Name : Graham

Original Name : Daniel Massey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mick Rice

Original Name : Albert Finney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tina Lapford

Original Name : Shirley Anne Field

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Ada Lapford

Original Name : Thora Hird

Gender : Female

Character Name : Soubrette

Original Name : Miriam Karlin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harold Hubbard

Original Name : Geoffrey Toone

Gender : Male

Character Name : McDonald Hobley (as McDonald Hobley)

Original Name : MacDonald Hobley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interviewer

Original Name : Anthony Oliver

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charlie Klein

Original Name : Max Bacon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eddie Trimmer

Original Name : George Doonan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cobber Carson

Original Name : James Culliford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brother Bill

Original Name : Gilbert Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Columnist

Original Name : Charles Gray

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Gwen Nelson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Morecambe Mother

Original Name : Hope Jackman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teddy Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Selby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Theatre Manager (uncredited)

Original Name : Nigel Davenport

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

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 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.