The Entertainer

While the central character has sadly faded as an uninspiring and outdated vaudeville performer, England itself has lost its luster in 1956. From start to finish, there is a distinct sadness not only about Archie Rice and his tragically dysfunctional family but about the once great nation and society that surrounds them.

Eh, these British kitchen sink movies from the 1950s and 1960s I guess just don't do it for me.Laurence Olivier acts up a storm and won a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as a washed up music hall performer in this dreary, depressing snapshot of post-WWII England.

A conniving, has-been song-and-dance comedian reaches the sticky end of his career as his family recognise the seedy truth about him - and their own lives.John Osborne in 1960, showing the English the true state of their country through the metaphor of dying music hall.

As an American, getting a peek at post-War Britain in decline, a look at Olivier as a most interesting character in the person of never-was vaudevillian Archie Rice, and a look at several British players (Joan Plowright, Anthony Bates, and Albert Finney) very early in their careers is priceless.Archie Rice is a despicable character, and the drama centers on his problems of having all of his financial issues - including some long overdue tax debt - come to a head just as he can finally get no more work as a vaudevillian even in the bad music halls.

This tour de force, in glorious big screen black & white, features astonishing acting by one and all, not to mention stunning camera work, an exquisite music track and top-notch scripting. The story focuses on a veteran stage entertainer Archie Rice who, to his friends and family is "a bit of a bastard.

In his long and illustrious stage and screen career both before and after this film, Laurence Olivier played many kings, princes, lords, generals, statesmen and even a god. As such, the role of the third rate musical hall performer Archie Rice was a major departure for him.

Laurence Olivier reinvented himself in The Entertainer and set to work with the angry young turks of British theatre and film. A new generation of talent like John Osbourne and Tony Richardson who would had regarded Olivier as yesterday's man as this film introduces Albert Finney and Alan Bates, the next generation of great actors.

The film is about the decline, of a man's career, the music hall and the British Empire, with the Suez Crisis a big part of the movie's background. rw4260715 WILLYWU_200@HOTMAIL.

The only thing I want to say about this superb piece of acting from the sorely missed "every man" Jack Lemmon is I would give my eye teeth for a copy of this on DVD. I saw this on TV in 1976 and have never forgotten this performance.