The Entertainer poster

1960·104 min·Released

The Entertainer

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

Drama

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

6.2(57 votes)

Popularity1

Videos

Unofficial Trailer- THE ENTERTAINER (1960)

Cast & Crew

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

Renée Baxter

Geoffrey Toone

Geoffrey Toone

Harold Hubbard

MacDonald Hobley

MacDonald Hobley

McDonald Hobley (as McDonald Hobley)

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CinemaSerf

Written on 4/4/2022

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.

Media

Unofficial Trailer- THE ENTERTAINER (1960)

Unofficial Trailer- THE ENTERTAINER (1960)