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The Comedians

  • 19671967
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Comedians (1967)
Trailer for this film based on the novel
Play trailer1:19
1 Video
16 Photos
  • Drama
A cynical Welsh hotel owner secretly romances a diplomat's wife in Haiti, under the violent reign of the despot "Papa Doc" Duvalier.A cynical Welsh hotel owner secretly romances a diplomat's wife in Haiti, under the violent reign of the despot "Papa Doc" Duvalier.A cynical Welsh hotel owner secretly romances a diplomat's wife in Haiti, under the violent reign of the despot "Papa Doc" Duvalier.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Glenville
  • Writer
    • Graham Greene(novel "The Comedians")
  • Stars
    • Richard Burton
    • Elizabeth Taylor
    • Alec Guinness
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Glenville
  • Writer
    • Graham Greene(novel "The Comedians")
  • Stars
    • Richard Burton
    • Elizabeth Taylor
    • Alec Guinness
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Comedians
    Trailer 1:19
    The Comedians

    Photos16

    Richard Burton and Lillian Gish in The Comedians (1967)
    Elizabeth Taylor in "The Comedians" 1967 MGM
    The Comedians (1967)
    James Earl Jones and Georg Stanford Brown in The Comedians (1967)
    Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in The Comedians (1967)
    Lillian Gish and Raymond St. Jacques in The Comedians (1967)
    Lillian Gish in The Comedians (1967)
    Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in The Comedians (1967)
    Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Ustinov in The Comedians (1967)
    Richard Burton and Lillian Gish in The Comedians (1967)
    Lillian Gish in The Comedians (1967)
    Richard Burton, Lillian Gish, and Zakes Mokae in The Comedians (1967)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Burton
    Richard Burton
    • Brownas Brown
    Elizabeth Taylor
    Elizabeth Taylor
    • Martha Pinedaas Martha Pineda
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Major H. O. Jonesas Major H. O. Jones
    Peter Ustinov
    Peter Ustinov
    • Ambassador Manuel Pinedaas Ambassador Manuel Pineda
    Paul Ford
    Paul Ford
    • Smithas Smith
    Lillian Gish
    Lillian Gish
    • Mrs. Smithas Mrs. Smith
    Georg Stanford Brown
    Georg Stanford Brown
    • Henri Philipotas Henri Philipot
    Roscoe Lee Browne
    Roscoe Lee Browne
    • Petit Pierreas Petit Pierre
    Gloria Foster
    Gloria Foster
    • Mrs. Philipotas Mrs. Philipot
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • Dr. Magiotas Dr. Magiot
    Zakes Mokae
    Zakes Mokae
    • Michelas Michel
    Douta Seck
    • Josephas Joseph
    Raymond St. Jacques
    Raymond St. Jacques
    • Captain Concasseuras Captain Concasseur
    Cicely Tyson
    Cicely Tyson
    • Marie Thereseas Marie Therese
    Thomas Baptiste
    Thomas Baptiste
    • Haitian Soldieras Haitian Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Make Bray
    • Haitian Soldieras Haitian Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Robin Langford
    • Angelito Pinedaas Angelito Pineda
    • (uncredited)
    Dennis Alaba Peters
    • Césaras César
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Peter Glenville
    • Writer
      • Graham Greene(novel "The Comedians") (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To get Dame Elizabeth Taylor to do the movie at a "bargain" salary, producer and director Peter Glenville told her that he had offered it to Sophia Loren. She promptly cut her customary $1 million salary in half and signed on.
    • Goofs
      In the last few shots in the movie, as the Character is leaving the airport, there is initially a departing Vickers VC10 airliner flying overhead from right to left, this changes to a close up, followed by a shot of the same airliner now flying into the distance - unfortunately this is different 4 engine Jetliner, probably a Boeing 707.
    • Quotes

      Petit Pierre: [to Brown] They are waiting for Major Jones. For some reason they believe that only white men are experts in killing.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Comedians in Africa (1967)

    User reviews44

    Review
    Top review
    INTERESTING
    Peter Glenville's "The Comedians" is a very difficult film for the average viewer. Based on a Graham Greene novel, it's about the political atmosphere in Haiti while under French rule. It was a box office flop in 1967 and is pretty much forgotten today.

    That's sad, because this is an important film. Since the departure of Duvalier, the film has the added historical value it didn't have in 1967. It is another entry in the canon of Taylor-Burton collaborations. It also may be the only film in which Alec Guinness, Peter Ustinov, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton all appear in together. Plus, how can you trash a film that flaunts its' Haiti exteriors so joyfully?

    The vast Panavision photography will be lost on TV screens, especially in the horrific pan and scan format. The best way to see this film is on a big screen and even that may be impossible these days. The title will confuse many (most will think it's about comedians in a comedy club), but it does have a hidden subtext: these people are "comedians" in a sense. They kid each other endlessly to avoid reality. In that context, "The Comedians" succeeds. It could benefit from some trimming, but that's a small complaint. I can't think of anyone else who would even attempt to make such a challenging film in such a chaotic climate.

    ***1/2 out of 4 stars
    helpful•31
    19
    • KatMiss
    • May 16, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 31, 1967 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Haitian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Komedijasi
    • Filming locations
      • Benin
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Maximillian Productions
      • Trianon Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,200,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 30 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • 70 mm 6-Track
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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