the fresh films reviews

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The Comedians (1967)

Director:
Peter Glenville
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Drama/Political
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Den onde øya
RUNNING TIME
152 minutes
Producer:
Peter Glenville
Screenwriter:
Graham Greene


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Brown Richard Burton
Martha Pineda Elizabeth Taylor ½
Major Jones Alec Guinnes ½
Ambassador Pineda Peter Ustinov
Henri Philipot Georg Stanford Brown
Petit Pierre Roscoe Lee Browne
Mr. Smith Paul Ford
Mrs. Philipot Gloria Foster
Mrs. Smith Lillian Gish
Dr. Magiot James Earl Jones

 

Review

Richard Burton wisecracks his way through this ostensibly ambitious contemporary political drama about the situation in Haiti during Papa Doc's reign. His sardonic, standoffish stance fits the material just as perfectly as it does his persona, because the film itself doesn't seem quite comfortable with its story. It tries to brainstorm all its political meanderings into place. And the romance alas feels contrived. It's as if Burton and Elizabeth Taylor couldn't muster up the passion they once had for each other – or at least not in a way that's palpable onscreen. The screenplay is by Graham Greene, based on his own novel. The film was a box-office failure.

Copyright © 13.08.2019 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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