A British film classic


Movies at the Library will present perhaps the best movie to come out of Britain in the 60s — “The Entertainer” — next Tuesday, January 19. Laurence Olivier is brilliant as Archie Rice, a small-talent music hall entertainer who has seen better days. He is nagged by his failures and insulted by his audiences and is finally brought down by a raging ego that demands undeserved admiration.


Written by John Osborne, one of the original Angry Young Men of British culture, especially for Sir Laurence, the story is often considered an allegory of Britain’s fall from grace after its empire heyday.


“The Entertainer” was directed by Tony Richardson and includes a superb cast featuring Alan Bates, Albert Finney and Joan Plowright in their film debuts. And Olivier was never better: this might be his best performance on film.


Shakespeare would have been completely at home with this tragic tale. Don’t miss it next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the library’s large-screen, surround-sound cinema on the lower level.


As always, there will be free popcorn and bottled water and, of course, donations will be accepted. See you at the movies!