Laurence Olivier attempts to be a bottom of the barrel vaudeville entertainer in this depressing little film about a small-time hustler who is so pathetic, that we are supposed to feel sorry for him. But we don't; at least I didn't. The really great actors in this film are the people pretending to laugh at his horrendous jokes, and applauding for his atrociously sung songs. He was an adequate soft shoe, but that is nowhere near enough for him to be on stage for more than five minutes, much less for hours at a time. It is interesting to see what passed for entertainment during this era in British history. Archie Rice is a soulless con man with no perceptible talent except to be a burden on others. Difficult viewing, at best. Olivier tries to make him a Shakespearean figure, but fails in the attempt.
Review of The Entertainer
