Martin Croser also suggested the following three “films about comedy”.

Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
Made by Billy Crystal at the height of his powers, Crystal plays lounge comedian Buddy Young. Buddy Young was a character Crystal developed in Saturday Night Live but this is a much more dramatic movie than the other SNL spin-off’s you can think of.

The Punch and Judy Man (1963)

Interesting choice. Not strictly a film about a comedian but the Punch and Judy Man of the title. However the fact that’s it’s both co-written and starring Tony Hancock does rather sway it.

Where the Truth Lies (2005)

I was a big fan of this Atom Egoyan movie when it was released a few years back about a Martin and Lewis style double act who may or may not have been involved in the mysterious death of a college girl found dead in their Hotel suite. Like Funny Bones and King of Comedy I can also add this to the list of films with characters loosely based on Jerry Lewis, although in this one he’s played by Kevin Bacon rather than Lewis Himself.

The Entertainer (1960)

In Tony Richardson’s brilliant film Laurence Olivier plays music hall entertainer Archie Rice, who now earns his crust performing in holiday camps. It’s based on John Osbourne’s play of the same name and adapted for the big screen by both Osbourne and Quatermass author Nigel Kneale. Recommended.

The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963)

The inclusion of The Entertainer reminded me of this movie. One of my new all time favourites. The great Anthony Newley plays the comedian Sammy Lee, now working as a compere in a Soho strip club. He has five hours to raise £300 (a awful lot of money in 1963) to pay off a gambling debt, whilst trying to compere various strip shows. Meanwhile, Patsy a young girl he was seeing during a summer season at a Bradford Holiday camp has come to London to see him. Both Bill Cosby and Sammy Davis Jr. were huge fans of the movie and tried to produce US remakes with themselves in the leading role. The streets of 60s Soho are a joy to see and remain Geographically exactly where they should be, which is a detail of the film I really enjoy. Watch the opening credits here for a taster. The film co-stars various famous faces in small roles including Wilfred Brambell, Robert Stephens, Warren Mitchell, Derek Nimmo, Roy Kinnear and Lynda Baron. Read more here.

I will be appearing at Martin Croser’s gig Comedy at the White Heart on Thursday 28th January alongside Nish Kumar and Josie Long.