The Comic is a 1969 American comedy-drama film directed by Carl Reiner and starring Dick Van Dyke as the eponymous character alongside Michele Lee, Mickey Rooney, and Reiner himself in a cameo role.
Based on a screenplay written by Reiner and Aaron Ruben, the film tells the story of fictional silent-era comedian Billy Bright, a talented performer whose prolific career and personal life disintegrate due to his own narcissism.
The film contains examples of:
- The Alcoholic: Billy Bright suffers from alcoholism after his wife divorces him.
- Asshole Victim: Silent film star and egotistical jerk Billy Bright is Forced to Watch as his career and his personal life spiral into oblivion.
- Big Guy, Little Guy: Billy Bright (portrayed by the 6'1" Dick Van Dyke) and Martin "Cockeye" Van Buren (played by the 5'2" Mickey Rooney).
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Billy Bright sometimes adopts a cheerful, humorous demeanor, but this does little to hinder his selfishness.
- Creator Cameo: Carl Reiner appears in one scene as Billy Bright's manager, Al Schilling.
- Disguised in Drag: Billy Bright wears a white wedding dress, a comically large wig, and a bonnet in one of his films.
- Drunk Driver: One night, an intoxicated Billy Bright drives to the house of his ex-wife, crashing his car directly into the front door as he perpetually shouts her name.
- Dying Alone: By the time of his death, Billy Bright has lost practically everything he holds near and dear to his heart.
- First-Person Smartass: The film is posthumously narrated by Billy Bright, who is unable to see his own faults and morosely blames others for anything that has gone wrong.
- Forced to Watch: Billy Bright as his career and personal life shrivel into a cinder.
- Laughing at Your Own Jokes: Billy Bright has a penchant for occasionally laughing at his own jokes.
- Meaningful Funeral: The film begins with the funeral of Billy Bright, the eponymous character of the film.
- Named After Somebody Famous: Martin "Cockeye" Van Buren.
- Never My Fault: Billy Bright posthumously narrates the film, and he always finds a way to blame someone else for anything bad that ever happened to him.
- Nice Character, Mean Actor: Although he may be known for his affable charm in pictures, Billy is an egotistical jerk behind the camera.
- Nice Guy: Martin "Cockeye" Van Buren is as nice as can be, and probably the only thing Billy Bright has not lost over the years, given that Cockeye never loses his patience with Billy.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Billy's story borrows elements from the lives and careers of such real-life silent comics as Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel, Harold Lloyd, and Harry Langdon.
- Posthumous Narration: The film begins with the funeral of Billy Bright, who proceeds to narrate the story of his career from his triumphant arrival in Hollywood to his undignified later years.
- Protagonist Title: The Comic refers to its protagonist, Billy Bright.
- Retraux: The clips from Billy Bright's fictional silent comedy shorts are presented this way.
- Riches to Rags: Billy's career reaches its peak at the premiere of his film "Forget Me Not"; after that he is Forced to Watch as his career and personal life spiral into oblivion.
- Show Within a Show: There are many fictitious silent films that showcase the talents of the film's fictional star.
- Tagline: "A funny new motion picture that tells Hollywood like it was!"
- Ungrateful Bastard: Billy's manager Al Schilling works very hard to persuade studio executives to cast Billy in a film. But when Billy discovers that it means having to act in a talking picture instead of the silents to which he's accustomed, he abruptly cancels the deal and leaves the restaurant in disgust.
- Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist: Billy Bright fills this role to a T.
- Villain Protagonist: The film focuses on silent film comedian Billy Bright, a talented performer who drinks heavily, cheats on his wife, bullies his best (and eventually his only) friend, and always finds a way to blame someone else for anything bad that ever happened to him.