THE ENTERTAINER is another kitchen sink drama based on a play by John Osborne. It's of note thanks to a towering central performance from an against-type and all but unrecognisable Laurence Olivier playing a seedy, sleazy end-of-pier music hall entertainer in the dying days of the industry. Olivier's character is completely horrid but also oddly enthralling; much like a train or car wreck you can't help but watch to see what unfolds.
The film is bolstered by the usual effective performances from the supporting cast members, all of whom are naturalistic and engaging in their various parts. The black and white photography brings out the coastal locations quite neatly and the film has an undercurrent of suspense that builds to a fittingly downbeat climax. For a '70s version of the same story, try Reg Varney in THE BEST PAIR OF LEGS IN THE BUSINESS.
The film is bolstered by the usual effective performances from the supporting cast members, all of whom are naturalistic and engaging in their various parts. The black and white photography brings out the coastal locations quite neatly and the film has an undercurrent of suspense that builds to a fittingly downbeat climax. For a '70s version of the same story, try Reg Varney in THE BEST PAIR OF LEGS IN THE BUSINESS.