The first thing the trader said, who sold me this rare DVD was, "It's not a comedy".No it's not, only in an ironic bittersweet way.The second thing I noticed was that Edmund Purdom (who played second officer Lightoller in "Titanic" 1953 and More (who played the same role in "A Night to Remember" (1958) are playing thespian friends.They share a grotty, run down flat somewhere in London while they struggle to find acting work.I was rather surprised to note "The Comedy Man" is dated 1964 as this seems quite recent considering both actors shone in the mid-fifties and I mentally dated it 1953 while I watched it but realised it must be in reality more recent when a mid-sixties Roller drove up to their lodgings.
Those like me who make a note of jobbing actors will note a whole plethora of well known faces in the British film industry in this film.Notable were Billy Whitelaw as Chick Byrd's true love Judy.Norman Rossington (a steward in "A Night to Remember) as Theodore Littleton who act as an unofficial pawnbroker in the lodgings, Dennis Price playing a seedy theatrical agent Tommy Morris, and Cecil Parker playing an old "ham" Thomas Rutherford.I believe Kenneth More married Angela Douglas who plays Fay Trubshaw.An old girlfriend in my youth said I reminded her of Edmund Purdom in my facial looks, (he certainly was a handsome devil)!
Other reviewers have explained the plot and I too won't provide a spoiler for its denouement in the final scene.It certainly shows that acting is not for the faint-hearted, it's a bit like trying to make a living out of art.Only the very talented, dedicated and lucky usually manage to make a successful career in these professions, instead of doing "a proper job".I was surprised I had not seen this film before and was pleasantly surprised by it's authentic "feel".I rated it 7/10.
Those like me who make a note of jobbing actors will note a whole plethora of well known faces in the British film industry in this film.Notable were Billy Whitelaw as Chick Byrd's true love Judy.Norman Rossington (a steward in "A Night to Remember) as Theodore Littleton who act as an unofficial pawnbroker in the lodgings, Dennis Price playing a seedy theatrical agent Tommy Morris, and Cecil Parker playing an old "ham" Thomas Rutherford.I believe Kenneth More married Angela Douglas who plays Fay Trubshaw.An old girlfriend in my youth said I reminded her of Edmund Purdom in my facial looks, (he certainly was a handsome devil)!
Other reviewers have explained the plot and I too won't provide a spoiler for its denouement in the final scene.It certainly shows that acting is not for the faint-hearted, it's a bit like trying to make a living out of art.Only the very talented, dedicated and lucky usually manage to make a successful career in these professions, instead of doing "a proper job".I was surprised I had not seen this film before and was pleasantly surprised by it's authentic "feel".I rated it 7/10.