The Entertainer

Tony Richardson’s 1960 The Entertainer, based on the John Osborne play, is a cultural event of the first importance.

Olivier is truly remarkable in his portayal of the hammy actor, anti-hero Archie.

Richardson's direction of this unhappy little gem gives off the appropriate dull glimmer while being economical and inventive.

The film errs in many ways, and at times the editing seems glaringly poor, but Olivier's performance gives it venomous excitement.

Excellent support from Alan Bates, Albert Finney, and Joan Plowright, but Richardson's direction drags more than a bit.

John Osborne's quirky indictment of '50s stagnation still looks stagebound, despite extensive location shooting and the cool, inventive photography of Oswald Morris. Too many words, too many tantrums, too much kitchen-sink sentimentality; yet there are moments when this looks like a good film.

The boredom of British film realism is indescribable. I was yawning, and turning around, and fidgeting--what an experience! [08 Dec 1960, p.11]