The Entertainer (1960)

Why should I care?

An interesting episode was depicted in the second part of Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain. In the mid-1950s, a young playwright John Osborne wrote «Look Back in Anger». The play was very successful, but Lawrence Olivier was not too impressed. Afterwards, Arthur Miller visited London and asked Olivier to accompany him to the theater.

After the play, Arthur Miller and Lawrence Olivier went backstage to meet a young playwright. There, astonished Miller saw how Olivier begged Osborne to write something for him. The Great Baron Lawrence Olivier begging some boy! Nonsense! Nevertheless, «The Entertainer» stepped out on the London stage and the shortly thereafter, the film was made.

Great Britain finished the Second World War as a formal winner, but lost its imperial power. Before the 8^th of May, 1945 there was the British Empire, but after that there was only Great Britain. For a while, the British ruling class tried to behave like Empire, but the Suez Crisis destroyed all illusions.

«The Entertainer» starts in the first days of the Suez Crisis, The author shows a grey and tired Britain, whose habitants has lost the faith in a future of their country. The more successful are dreaming of immigration, the less successful are trying to speculate on the remains of the Imperial Glory. The film is set in some crisis-struck coastal British town.

«The Entertainer» shows not-so-good adventures of Archie Rice – a fifty-year old music hall artist, who has been avoiding the income tax man for twenty years. Son of a music hall legend, Archie presents a primitive show, which quickly loses its popularity. One day he got the chance – he seduced a young girl, whose wealthy parents are ready to bankroll his new show…

As I have written before, the author portrayed Britain in decline. That is why, the decay of music hall is one of the main themes. Music hall was one of the characteristics of the Edwardian Era – the peak of British glory and power. In the mid-1950s, music hall, along with Britain, was in decline.

Whatever you tell about Margaret Thatcher reforms, her reelection in 1983 was guaranteed by victory in the Falklands War, which gave back the imperial pride to the British. The Suez Crisis also began on a high note. Archie Rice Show is again popular, his father got an invitation for comeback, son of Archie – sergeant in the British Army, - will be soon home.

Despite all of the bravado, in 2017 we know the final of the Suez Crisis. In the first time for many centuries, Britain was subdued by another Empire. The fall would affect every hero of the film. The post-Suez Britain became a satellite of the US. The new values dominated everything, including music hall.

Truly, why should I care, it I lost already.

Watch this films, maybe it will make you think.