Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

audrablum This week I watched the episode The Comedian (1957) from the Playhouse 90 television series. A comedic television personality with a Mr. Hyde personality and a god-complex backstage makes life miserable for everyone around him including his manager brother. This episode was amazing in the fact that it was not edit intensive and much of the story was taped live. Surprisingly for the shooting style it remained highly engaging throughout the entire film. Mickey Rooney played the difficult personality of the comedian named Sammy Hogarth, who bullies everyone around him. The interesting thing about this viewing experience is that it seems very relatable. This is a very real personality and those of us who have experienced this can attest that Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Sammy was spot on to this personality type. The sad thing about this show is that it seems like a desperate cry for help from people in the film and television industry. It says that this abuse in the industry is overlooked and no one seems to care. This episode was actually based on a novel by Ernest Lehman and the screenplay was written by the Twilight Zone founder Rod Serling. The screenplay was very strong and I think some of its greatest strengths are that it uses the character of Sammy Hogarth as the abusive, self-inflated boss to tell a very relatable story, not just in film but in many workplaces. The weakness in this script is what I refer to as the leatherface syndrome, which was a prevalent outbreak amongst directors during the golden age of television. Sufferers of this disease would cast actors and write screenplays where old men would hook up with women who could be their granddaughters. The writers and directors minds would delude them into believing that not only would these young, attractive, 20 year old women fall for their grandfathers, but the men they would fall for would look nothing like a George Clooney or Tom Cruise. Thankfully, years later the outbreak subsided and directors and writers were no longer as prone to this disease. The episode was directed by John Frankenheimer, who would later write classics like Reindeer Games (2000). One of the strongest points of directing was the fact that this episode used very little editing (as stated earlier in this review). This appears to have taken quite a bit of contemplation and direction to pull off effectively and a part of me wonders if we still have this level of directing talent today, or if anyone really cares.

Runcible The Comedian is an amazing story. Mickey Rooney's performance is mesmerizing. He is despicable, ruthlessly hateful and is a monster to anyone who doesn't bow down at his feet and give him what he wants instantly. What a revelation to me who only really saw him in the movies with a young Judy Garland. The rest of the cast is outstanding. Mel Torme is brilliant as the brother. I kept waiting for him to stand up for himself, but except for a few moments where you think he's reached the end of his tolerance, he backs down like a little mouse. Edmond O'Brien is good as the head writer but he doesn't quite match the intensity of Mickey Rooney or Mel Torme.To think this was performed live and 90 minutes long. A powerful story that you won't soon forget.

megunticook I watched this yesterday and was astounded by the performances of all, but especially Mickey Rooney. He is so natural and fluid. His performance is seamless. For those who think of Mickey Rooney as a happy-go-lucky character type, this performance will floor you. He is nasty and ruthless and heartless. The rest of the cast is similarly flawless. How much time did it take to rehearse, I wonder? Watching these old live broadcasts is also a revelation. That they were able to have such variety and density in such confined environs is amazing. While some things such as transitions and breaks are crude by today's standards, that they did all of this live is impressive. There is a montage near the end of the program with cross-fades and multiple locations. How did they do it? The writing is equally spectacular. Can one think of anything similar being done today? As another reviewer noted, the denouement does have something of a false ring to it. I won't spoil it here. I know how I would have ended it. It would be interesting to read the Ernest Lehman story on which the show is based to see if it is the same.

CitizenCaine Fresh on the heels of the release of his successful feature film debut The Young Stranger, John Frankenheimer directed this Rod Serling-penned study of a television comedian, played by Mickey Rooney, who is a megalomaniac. The story is based on a novelette by Ernest Lehman. Mickey Rooney is mesmerizing as Sammy Hogarth, an abusive and obnoxious lout who has everyone in his orbit cow-towing to him. Mel Torme must have been a dramatic revelation at the time playing Rooney's put upon brother Lester who finally has the goods, albeit, temporarily on Hogarth. Kim Hunter is Lester's frustrated wife who loves her husband but can't stand the passive wimp he has become. Edmond O'Brien is the head writer desperately trying to hang on to a career that has become increasingly ethically challenged. Frankenheimer effectively casts Rooney, who gives one of his finest adult performances, as the little man who runs everyone into the ground. Rooney is absolutely ruthless and stops at nothing to salvage his broadcasts when things go awry. Torme is equally pathetic, sad, sympathetic, and wimpy as a man at the end of his rope trying to assuage his wife and fend off his brother's abuse simultaneously. Hunter is excellent as a torn woman trying to force her husband away from the demon Hogarth. O'Brien is very good as the writer who makes a terrible mistake and then must play politician as his career crumbles in front of him. Frankenheimer directs the story with the right mix of close-ups, two-shots, and zoom shots featuring the ferocious performances he gets from his actors. Rod Serling received his third Emmy Award for his script which moves the story tautly and quickly. Frankenheimer directed several other programs for television in the 1950's, but with The Comedian, he demonstrated he was a force to be reckoned with for future dramatic productions. This is one of the many tremendous productions yielded by Playhouse 90. ***1/2 of 4 stars.