| The Entertainer | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Tony Richardson |
| Produced by | Harry Saltzman |
| Written by | Nigel Kneale John Osborne |
| Starring | Laurence Olivier Brenda De Banzie Joan Plowright |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
| Release date(s) | July 25, 1960 |
| Running time | 96 min. |
| Country | U.K. |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Entertainer is a 1957 play by John Osborne, made into a film in 1960, which told the story of a failing third-rate music hall stage performer who tried to keep his career going even as his personal life fell apart. The story is set against the backdrop of the dying music hall tradition, and this has usually been seen as symbolic of Britain's general post-war decline, its loss of its Empire, its power, and its cultural confidence and identity. The film starred Laurence Olivier, Brenda De Banzie, Roger Livesey, Joan Plowright, Alan Bates, Daniel Massey, Thora Hird and Albert Finney. The movie was adapted by Nigel Kneale and John Osborne from Osborne's play, and was directed by Tony Richardson. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Laurence Olivier). It was filmed on location in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe.
