{"id":32,"date":"2006-03-07T14:17:57","date_gmt":"2006-03-07T21:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32"},"modified":"2022-09-05T12:09:31","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T19:09:31","slug":"comic-the-1969","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32","title":{"rendered":"Comic, The (1969)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You can&#8217;t steal another man&#8217;s moustache.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Poster-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Poster-1-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Poster-1-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Poster-1-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Poster-1.jpg 656w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nSilent film comedian Billy Bright (Dick Van Dyke) rises to the top of his field, then loses it all.  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Carl Reiner Films<\/li>\n<li>Cornel Wilde Films<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Has-Beens<\/li>\n<li>Mickey Rooney Films<\/li>\n<li>Rise-and-Fall<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review:<\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, Dick Van Dyke may very well have had &#8220;his best movie role&#8221; as silent comedian Billy Bright in this &#8220;offbeat&#8221; pseudo-biopic (loosely based on the life of Buster Keaton). Ironically, the film itself is far from comedic &#8212; indeed, it&#8217;s actually difficult to watch at times, as the philandering, ill-tempered, criminally self-absorbed Bright seemingly does everything in his power to ruin his chances for personal happiness. The scene in which Bright drives up to his house and mistakes the neighbor kid for his own is absolutely tragic:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Seeing-Son.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It reminded me of the scene in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=134\"><em>Payday<\/em> (1971)<\/a> where Maury Dann arrives &#8220;either four months too early or eight months too late&#8221; for his child&#8217;s birthday. Nonetheless, if you can find a copy of it, <em>The Comic <\/em>is worth watching at least once, due primarily to its &#8220;fine performances, impressive comical sequences, and sharp satire.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> While this film isn&#8217;t technically a &#8220;biopic&#8221;, I&#8217;m classifying it as such simply because it follows the same basic structure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Van Dyke&#8217;s stand-out performances in the sepia-toned silent film sequence (had he been born during the silent comedy era, he would undoubtedly have been a big name)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke-1024x583.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"364\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke-1024x583.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke-768x437.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke-1536x875.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Van-Dyke.png 1709w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Michele Lee&#8217;s sympathetic performance as Bright&#8217;s long-suffering wife<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee-1536x866.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Lee.png 1719w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Mickey Rooney playing second-bill comedian as &#8220;Cockeye&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney-1024x578.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney-1536x867.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/Comic-Rooney.png 1727w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth watching, especially if you&#8217;re a fan of silent comedy and\/or Dick Van Dyke.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0064179\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t steal another man&#8217;s moustache.&#8221; Synopsis: Silent film comedian Billy Bright (Dick Van Dyke) rises to the top of his field, then loses it all. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Biopics Carl Reiner Films Cornel Wilde Films Flashback Films Has-Beens Mickey Rooney Films Rise-and-Fall Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: As Peary notes, Dick Van Dyke may very well have had &#8220;his best movie role&#8221; as silent comedian Billy Bright in this &#8220;offbeat&#8221; pseudo-biopic (loosely based on the life of Buster&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=32\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86869,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions\/86869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}