I haven't read Graham Greene's novel on which this movie is based. But, "The Comedians" on film is laboriously long and drawn out. Except for the first-rate cast of big cinema names of the time, it wouldn't have held my interest all the way through. The fact that the setting is Haiti during the reign of one of the worst despots of the 20th century, François (Papa Doc) Duvalier, only adds to one's uneasiness in watching this movie. The great storyteller that he was, Graham Greene must have woven the elements of this story together very well in his novel. But here we have two big separate stories butting heads with one another. The first is the adulterous love affair between the two leads, Richard Burton as Brown and Elizabeth Taylor as Martha. The second is the plight of the people of Haiti living in a constant state of terror under the ruthless Duvalier and his henchmen. But then, two other elements that Greene no doubt worked into his single story, here appear to be separate stories awkwardly sandwiched into the two main stories. They are the businesses of Major Jones, played by Alec Guinness, and of Smith, played by Paul Ford. The end result is a plot with many subplots – all poorly connected. Besides the leads, the film has several stellar actors. Guinness and Ford are joined by Peter Ustinov as Ambassador Pineda, Lillian Gish as Mrs. Smith, and James Earl Jones as Dr. Magiot. A handful of others in the supporting cast also give good performances in the film. The direction and editing are weak. The cinematography is good and the location does a good job showing the scenery and conditions as they might have been in Haiti from the late 1950s through most of the 20th century. But for that historical connection and the performances of the supporting cast, this film is hardly worth watching. At the end of the movie, it seemed to me that I had been watching a belabored story about a sex-driven but frustrated white hotel owner in Haiti who couldn't find fulfillment in anything he did. Movie fans who enjoy history may find Duvalier's story interesting. He was a physician who treated the poor and suffering people of Haiti in his early life. That's where he got his endearing moniker from the people, "Papa Doc." He was elected president in a free open election in 1957. But he soon became crazed with power. He killed 30,000 of his countrymen and established a reign of fear and terror, while the poor of his country suffered all the more.

After three months in New York, English-accented Richard Burton (as Brown) returns to Haiti. He has been unable to sell his luxury hotel to the Americans. Also arriving on the boat are three friendly travelers; Mr. Burton has offered each of them rooms in his Haitian hotel. Unexpectedly, nice Alec Guinness (as Jones) is arrested and thrown into jail. The other two guests, elderly vegetarians Paul Ford (as Smith) and Lillian Gish (as Mrs. Smith) arrive safely and take Burton's "John Barrymore Suite"...In a possibly pre-arranged meeting, Mr. Burton meets French, then German-accented Elizabeth Taylor (as Martha) for sex in a car; the lovers must sneak around because she is married to Ambassador Peter Ustinov (as Pineda). Later, they are able to find a bed...Upon arriving at his hotel, Burton finds a dead body in his drained swimming pool. Haiti is under the iron-fisted rule of dictator "Papa Doc" Duvalier; this explains the dead body, abduction of Mr. Guinness, and other things. The decision to adapt Graham Greene's novel is commendable, and the location convincing; however, the film is too long and fails to sustain interest. Many in "The Comedians" contribute engaging work, but Burton, Ms. Taylor and Mr. Ustinov often appear bored - and it's contagious.***** The Comedians (10/31/67) Peter Glenville ~ Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Alec Guinness, Peter Ustinov

I was lucky enough to catch this on TCM, and I'm really glad I did. First off, I've only seen two movies "set" in Haiti, this one and "White Zombie" (was "Live and Let Die" in Haiti? that would be three than). So of the movies about Haiti this is the only one that actually addresses life there. I've actually got some relatives that live there and I tell myself when I think of them, there is no freakin way I'm ever living in Haiti, I don't care how much of a king I'd be, there is no freakin way. Was the movie a truthful account? God I hope not, but having traveled all over the place, something tells me there is probably a lot more truth here than fiction. I've read some reviews here about this being a very boring flick, a disaster etc etc; well let me just sum up some of the scenes and if that sounds boring than go back to CGI land where you belong. First, it looked like a real chicken that this Voodoo priest bites the head off, and that looked like real chicken blood squirting from it. Second I know the effect looked a little cheesy but I rarely ever see peoples neck's slit open like James Earl Jones's is in this movie. So you could say that the atmosphere that these whites in Haiti were living in was just a little precarious, wouldn't you? I currently live and walk among vast hordes of natives and often am the only white around and occasionally I'll think of a bad situation of me trying to escape a mob, so I really was drawn into this flick as Burton stays around because he has nothing else to go to; he just stays in this hell. It was just the madness of it all that I found so entertaining and kept me watching, than you throw in the 2 graphic (especially for the middle 60's!) scenes of the chicken and slit throat, I was really impressed! If you watching for Liz than you will be disappointed but the scene where Burton tries to get some in her house with her husband downstairs was a good exchange. I think some of these reviews are coming from this bitterness that despite all the advances the world has made you still have a whole hell of a lot of crap holes around the world (many with blacks as the majority, sad to say), and they don't like that being portrayed on film. Add to that a far left couple of characters that are so righteous and disillusioned by pouring money into a "vegetarian city" that goes nowhere but soaks them of their money, and I can see where some who support all that peace and love jive would hate this flick. I like the way the ending is left to us to wonder of Burton's fate, I would have hoped he hiked over to the other side of the island and gotten out of that hell hole called Haiti. Good to watch, at least once.

The ComediansRichard Burton & Alec Guinness star in this Graham Greene scripted tale of colonial decadence and state violence in Haiti. Hipster-creole thugs menace Alec upon his arrival, strip off his clothes, and toss him into a cell. Richard smolders morosely in a taxi marked 'publique' and passes a billboard on the highway emblazoned with the name Papa Doc. "He lives for them and they die for him," Richard sneers contemptuously. Cut to Alec in shirtsleeves, manhandled by a goon in sunglasses, van Dyke, and porkpie hat. Cut back to Richard, now in Liz's powdered arms, damp with booze and middle- aged lust. They're in the back of her touring car, talking about desire. She says something about having a baby, asserting a preternatural insight guaranteed by her womb-knowledge. The breeze lifts her Technicolor chiffon scarf. They kiss. "nothing has changed." "no, nothing."Richard looks fairly young here, pre-cirrhosis, his sideburns tawny-grey. He plays the owner of a palatial hotel in Port-au-Prince. Returning to the hotel after his assignation with Liz, he looks down into the empty pool at a bloody body. It is the president, his assistant, Joseph, informs him as the frogs acapella in what surely must be a humid night.Things grow increasingly desperate. The Haitian secret police consist of cooled out hep cats in short sleeve shirts. A brutal officer directs Alec's beating. James Earl Jones is impressive as an idealistic Haitian doctor whose throat is cut over the body of a patient during an operation. Alec knocks boots with Liz, much to Richard's chagrin. Richard, betrayed, accosts Liz. Her response is devastating: "When you want me I am a woman. When I hurt you I'm always a German." Yes indeed. Turns out Daddy was convicted of war crimes and her marriage to Peter Ustinov a desperate means of escape. Regardless, Alec and Richard decide to join a nascent revolutionary moment. Alec is gunned down by the officer. Richard leads his ragtag band of lumpen-proletarians against the state. I fall asleep.