The Comedians (1967 film)
| The Comedians | |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Peter Glenville |
| Produced by | Peter Glenville |
| Written by | Graham Greene |
| Starring |
Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton Alec Guinness Peter Ustinov |
| Music by | Laurence Rosenthal |
| Cinematography | Henri Decaë |
| Edited by | Aram Avakian |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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UK: 150 min US: 152 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $5,200,000 $2,600,000 (rentals) |
The Comedians is a 1967 film directed and produced by Peter Glenville, based on the novel of the same name by Graham Greene, who also wrote the screenplay. The stars were Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Ustinov, and Alec Guinness.
Paul Ford and Lillian Gish had supporting roles as a presidential candidate and wife, as did James Earl Jones as an island doctor.
Set in Haiti during the Papa Doc Duvalier regime, it was filmed in Dahomey (Benin since 1975). The film tells the story of a sardonic white hotel owner and his encroaching fatalism as he watches Haiti sink into barbarism and squalor.
The role played by Elizabeth Taylor was originally intended for Sophia Loren.
The film's tag line was: "They lie, they cheat, they destroy ... they even try to love."
A ship arrives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Four of the alighting passengers are: Major H. O. Jones (Alec Guinness), a British businessman with a letter of invitation to do business with the government; Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Paul Ford and Lillian Gish), an elderly American couple who wish to set up a vegetarian complex for education and nutrition for the locals; and the central character, a cynical, washed-up hotel owner named Brown, portrayed by Richard Burton.
Upon arrival, Major Jones presents his credentials to Captain Concasseur (Raymond St. Jacques), a law enforcement officer, who notices that the official who invited Jones has been deposed and imprisoned. Concasseur and his men rough up and imprison Jones.
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