Watch The Entertainer

The Entertainer is a British drama film from 1960 starring renowned actor Sir Laurence Olivier as Archie Rice, a washed-up music hall performer who is struggling in his personal and professional life. The film is directed by Tony Richardson and based on a play by John Osborne. Set in the seaside resort town of Morecambe in northern England, the film tells the story of Archie Rice, a third-generation vaudevillian whose career is on the decline. The film opens with Archie performing on stage in a mostly empty theater, struggling to connect with his audience and to keep up with the changing times. Offstage, Archie's personal life is equally in disarray. He is estranged from his wife Phoebe (played by Brenda de Banzie), and has a strained relationship with his father (played by Roger Livesey), a former star of the music hall who is now living in retirement. As the story progresses, Archie's fortunes continue to decline. He is forced to accept a job performing at a seedy club in London's East End, where he is subjected to heckling and abuse from the rough-and-tumble audience. Meanwhile, his daughter Jean (played by Joan Plowright) is grappling with her own personal demons, having gotten involved in left-wing politics and fallen in love with a black man. The Entertainer is a complex and nuanced portrayal of a man who is struggling to come to terms with his own mortality and the changing times around him. Olivier delivers a masterful performance as the flawed and deeply human Archie Rice, capturing both his charisma and his desperation. The film also features strong supporting performances from de Banzie, Livesey, and Plowright, each of whom brings depth and complexity to their respective roles. The film's cinematography, by Oswald Morris, is also noteworthy, capturing the gritty atmosphere of London's East End and the faded glamour of the seaside resort. Ultimately, The Entertainer is a powerful and affecting film about the human cost of show business, and the toll that it can take on those who pursue it. Its themes of aging, regret, and disillusionment are timeless and universal, and the film's expertly crafted performances and direction make it one of the great classics of British cinema.