The Comedy Man
7.8 /10 1 Votes7.8
Duration Language English | 7.6/10 IMDb Genre Drama Cinematography Ken Hodges Country United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Release date 3 September 1964 (London) (UK) Based on novel by Douglas Hayes Cast Similar movies Related Alvin Rakoff movies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chick Byrd (Kenneth More) is an unemployed actor in London, recently fired from a repertory theater amidst allegations of sexual misconduct. His flatmate, Julian Baxter (Edmund Purdom), has recently returned from a disillusioning stint in Hollywood, and his agent, Tommy Morris (Dennis Price), is pressuring Byrd to take jobs in television, a medium he considers beneath his talents. When Byrd relents and takes a small part in a TV commercial, unexpected repercussions complicate his life.
Contents
The Comedy Man is a 1964 British drama film directed by Alvin Rakoff and starring Kenneth More, Cecil Parker, Dennis Price and Billie Whitelaw. It depicts the life of a struggling actor in Swinging London.
More later said that when he read the script he "was profoundly struck by its relevance to my own life, and to the lives of so many actors I had known." However it received limited distribution, being released on a double bill with Lord of the Flies (1963).
A middle-aged stock actor goes to London to try the big time. After much frustration, he lands a job doing TV commercials, gaining wealth and recognition. He eventually gives it all up to return to stage work and keep his pride.
Plot
Sacked from his job in provincial rep, actor Chick Byrd moves into digs in London with Julian, a fellow actor. Julians career soars after a successful screen test, but Chicks meets with continued failure. Mobilised into action by the suicide of a friend, Chick auditions for a TV commercial and finally finds fame. Confident of his talents for the first time, but fearing he may have sold out, Chick leaves London to return to rep.
Cast
Critical reception
Radio Times wrote, "written by Peter Yeldham with a nice balance between irony and drama, and directed by Alvin Rakoff with an accurate eye for the dingy environments and brave bonhomie of unemployed actors, this modest British film boasts a superior cast" ; while Allmovie wrote, "matching Mores terrific starring performance are such British "regulars" as Dennis Price, Billie Whitelaw, Cecil Parker, Norm Rossington, and Frank Finlay" ; and the Sunday Mirror noted, "Kenneth More in the greatest performance of his career. Brilliantly directed."
References
The Comedy Man WikipediaThe Comedy Man IMDb The Comedy Man themoviedb.org