‘The Comedy Man’ is a somewhat neglected British film from the early 1960s. It doesn’t quite fit into the British new wave of kitchen sink dramas from the era such as ‘This Sporting Life’, ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’, ‘The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner’ or ‘A Taste of Honey’, but it has its moments in depicting urban poverty and hopelessness and commenting upon the state of society.
Lead actor Kenneth More was one of the most bankable British stars at the time. He had proven his mettle in war movies and dramas such as ‘A Night to Remember’ that recounted the sinking of the Titanic, but had also shown his acute comic timing in ‘Genevieve’ and ‘Doctor in the House’. In this film he draws upon both facets of his talent. He is perfectly cast as 40-something Chick Byrd, a feckless provincial actor who is permanently down on his luck and on the scrounge for his next low-paid role. Fired from repertory theatre for sleeping with the leading lady (the producer’s wife), he heads to London for the final throw of the dice to see if he can keep his unremarkable career alive.
Once in London, he meets up with various lovers, including those played by Billie Whitelaw (‘The Omen’) and Angela Douglas (the ‘Carry On’ films), as well as fellow actors and agents as he glides from bedsits to dingy casting calls to showbiz parties.
‘The Comedy Man’ shines an unexpectedly honest light on show business. It’s a little like a prototype ‘Withnail and I’, without the grotesque characters and razor-sharp dialogue. This comes out clearest in the hapless character of Jack Lavery (played by the brilliant but often-underused Alan Dobie). He is torn between following Byrd from casting call to casting call for old time’s sake, and giving up on acting to find a regular job now that his wife is pregnant. But he is 40 and doesn’t know what else he can do with his life, even though his acting career is all but dead. Jacqueline Hill, at roughly the same time that she joined the original cast of ‘Doctor Who’ at the series’ launch, is impressive as Sandy, Lavery’s unfortunate wife who is called upon to dish out reality checks and tough love to her dreamer husband.
We can’t help but like Kenneth More’s Chick Byrd, even though there is something repellent about a man in his 40s who acts as though he’s still in his 20s. He also reveals the lengths that he will go to for work that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. His carefree lifestyle leaves him treating women thoughtlessly, as he’s habitually self-serving in all aspects of his life. But he’s also funny. As he has charm and makes us laugh, he’s oddly sympathetic, despite his considerable foibles. His scenes opposite the superb Billie Whitelaw are amongst the best in the film, and she showcases her remarkable ability to glide quickly through contrasting emotions.
Although in an interview in the extra features, director Alvin Rakoff says that he intended for the film to be part-comedy and part-kitchen sink drama, ‘The Comedy Man’ ultimately feels like it falls between stools. Nor is the journey that Chick Byrd goes on enough to redeem him, which leaves audiences with a slightly empty feeling as the final credits roll. Does he really learn any lessons? Ultimately, we’re invited to either laugh at, or with, the amusing characters and their absurd careers, or find them appalling. This nuance, that allows for interpretation of the story’s message, is possibly why the film didn’t make an impression at the box office at the time that it was released. Yet its curious mixture of whimsy and reality is compelling and original, and leaves ‘The Comedy Man’ ripe for reappraisal. It has that quality that draws you in and doesn’t care if you’re uncomfortable.
Fans of British television and cinema of the era will enjoy the remarkable ensemble cast. There are notable performances by Dennis Price (‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’) as a supercilious casting agent, Cecil Parker as an elderly actor (and a warning to Byrd as to what his future holds), Frank Finlay (‘The Three Musketeers’) as an agent, JG Devlin as a landlord, Derek Francis as a bank clerk, Ronald Lacey and Edwin Richfield as directors, as well as appearances by many other familiar faces. It is well worth seeking out this often-overlooked slice of 1960s British cinema.
The black and white film print of ‘The Comedy Man’ looks fantastically sharp in this 4K restoration. It is presented in the original aspect ratio that fills the screen. There are a few extras on the disc that make for great viewing. Primarily, there is a lengthy interview with director Alvin Rakoff, who is enjoying a long life, and who was married to Jacqueline Hill when the film was made. He looks back on this part of his career with great detail and insight. There is another lengthly featurette with film studies academic and author Neil Sinyard, who puts ‘The Comedy Man’ into its historical context and examines why, amongst other things, it wasn’t a commercial success at the time. ‘The Comedy Man’ is a welcome addition to Studiocanal’s Vintage Classics range.
Cast: Kenneth More, Billie Whitelaw, Cecil Parker, Dennis Price, Norman Rossington, Angela Douglas, Edmund Purdom, Frank Finlay, JG Devlin, Alan Dobie, Jacqueline Hill Director: Alvin Rakoff Writer: Peter Yeldham, Douglas Hayes Released by: Studiocanal Certificate: 12 Duration: 96 mins Release date: 18th March 2024 Buy ‘The Comedy Man’
