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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Archie Rice
Phoebe Rice
Mick Rice
Jean Rice
Billy Rice
Frank Rice
Critic Reviews for The Entertainer
All Critics (13) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (3)
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This kind of purposeful acting is something encouragingly new on the British screen; and the cinema cannot be allowed to imagine it can continue to do without it.
January 11, 2020 | Full Review… -
Customers who expect all British films to be either sunny or funny will get a nasty jolt, but Olivier's Archie Rice is a brilliant exploit.
October 31, 2019 | Full Review… -
Rarely have I seen so disorganized a film; nothing seems to lead to anything; there's a lot of fancy cutting and camera angles, but each attempt at cinematic effect merely confuses things still more.
July 16, 2019 | Full Review… -
The changes just aren't ruthless enough; the play's inherent difficulties haven't really been solved.
January 31, 2018 | Full Review… -
Laurence Olivier gives one of his most riveting, Oscar-nominated performances in this bleak drama about a selfish, aging, pathological vaudevillian.
June 7, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… -
Quote not available.
October 25, 2007 | Rating: 5/5
Audience Reviews for The Entertainer
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Mar 31, 2018A standout entry, with early performances by nearly unrecognizable Joan Plowright, Albert Finney and Alan Bates, this concerns not only the gradual decline of one seedy and narcissistic performer (Larry Olivier chewing scenery with abandon), but also of an entertainment style (the English music hall) and perhaps of England herself, seen from the guts outward. A glorious kitchen sink production, grime-y and livid.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Dec 10, 2011The Entertainer is slice of history, and is an ably presented filming of the John Osborne play. Though the story's political allegory is now old and faded itself - Archie Rice/Lawerence Olivier's pathetic floundering music hall and career, which stands in for a fading, bankrupt post-WWII Britain ,what remains is still worth seeing. This is a kitchen sink family drama with terrific seedy English seaside and sleazy theater atmosphere. Tony Richardson's early career showed great promise, and this film is a beautiful example of his talents. It contains Sir Larry's most heartfelt and naturalistic peformance on film and it's too bad that he didn't have more of these type of interior, heartfelt performances on film, the grandiose Shakespearan dramas aside. The cast includes a who's who of future British film stars,as Archie's three grown kids - Alan Bates, Albert FInney and Joan Plowright, all in their first film appearances. Robert Livsey and Brenda de Banzie as Archie's elegant music hall dad and his second wife, an alcoholic, are also wonderful. For a Canadian, it's amusing that the panacea for the family's problems is to make a new life in Toronto, something that Archie resists till the end of the film after a whole load of tragedy has beaten him down. Without the contemporary relevance of 1960, this is just a very good family drama with a top notch British cast, but no world shaking groundbreaker. The DVD transfer is crisp and looks fantastic.Josh M Super Reviewer
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Jan 22, 2009If you only know Olivier from dignified Shakespearian performances prepare yourself for an epiphany of colossal proportion.Randy T Super Reviewer
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Apr 04, 2007Wow, tough audience @ the Flixster. Give the poor guy a break.Bob S Super Reviewer
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