The Comic

Overview

An account of the rise and fall of a silent film comic, Billy Bright. The movie begins with his funeral, as he speaks from beyond the grave in a bitter tone about his fate, and takes us through his fame, as he ruins it with womanizing and drink, and his fall, as a lonely, bitter old man unable to reconcile his life's disappointments. The movie is based loosely on the life of Buster Keaton.

Directed by Carl Reiner

Top cast

Dick Van Dyke

Billy Bright

Michele Lee

Mary Gibson

Mickey Rooney

Cockeye

Cornel Wilde

Frank Powers

Nina Wayne

Sybil Atlas

Pert Kelton

Mama Bell

Steve Allen

Steve Allen

Barbara Heller

Ginger

Ed Peck

Edwin G. Englehardt

Jeannine Riley

Lorraine Bell

Gavin MacLeod

1st Director

Jay Novello

Miguel

C

Craig Huebing

Doctor

Paulene Myers

Phoebe

Fritz Feld

Armand

J

Jerome Cowan

Lawrence

Isabel Sanford

Woman

Jeff Donnell

Nurse

Carl Reiner

Al Schilling

H

Howard Dayton

Ketchup Man

Details