The Comedians in Africa

"The Comedians" was a big financial bust of a film back in 1967. And, if you watch the DVD for the film, you'll get this little featurette as an added extra. While it purports to be about Dahomey (part of modern Benin in West Africa), it's really a film about the movie in order to get you to go to the movie. But as I said, the film lost money and so apparently "The Comedians in Africa" didn't help very much!

The short talks about how "The Comedians" was made there because there is no way they actually could have filmed the movie in Haiti...where it was supposed to be set. There are some similarities and the folks of Dahomey speak French....though I didn't believe the narrator as he said how perfectly suited Dahomey was as a substitute for Haiti!

Overall, mildly interesting though considering it's about a film that is pretty mediocre, there's probably not much need to see either...especially "The Comedians in Africa" since it's really just a lengthy ad!

A short film promoting "The Comedians" (October, 1967), starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. At the time, both were in the annual "Quigley" poll of top ten money-making stars, and given serious consideration by film critics. This short is rather good, and signals a possible classic in the making. The resulting film did not meet expectations. Here, the emphasis is on the African location. It was hot. Very hot. Her part in "The Comedians" was disappointing small, but veteran actress Lilian Gish is seen...

"A motion picture star for half a century," Ms. Gish bravely bears the heat. She says Mr. Burton revealed the temperature reached 138 degrees. Looking glamorous always, Ms. Taylor gets a lot of camera attention. Starring husband Burton and director Peter Glenville also appear, of course. Alec Guinness speaks, briefly. The film had to be shot in Africa (Dahomey) due to the repressive dictatorship in Haiti, it is explained. Narrator Karl Weber, the behind-the-scenes location footage and soundtrack are engaging.

****** The Comedians in Africa (1967) MGM ~ Karl Weber, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Lillian Gish

Here's another of those trailers which advertised a coming attraction, masquerading as a selected short subject. Look! It's got a title and everything! Maybe they'll show a new Three Stooges short!

This short subject -- may as well call it that -- concerns itself with the big-budget production of THE COMEDIANS, and it make a fuss about its stars (Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Alec Guinness), and the fact the movie was set in Haiti, but was being shot in Dahomey, because events in Haiti were too closely mirroring events in the novel written by Graham Green.

Well, it's a talking point. When it comes to getting people to see a new movie, there's no limit to what they'll say.