The Comedians (M21)

Richard Burton. Liz Taylor. Alec Guiness. Peter Ustinov. James Earl Jones.
Haiti. Burton owns a hotel that he wishes to sell, but can't. He's in love with Liz Taylor, Peter Ustinov (a diplomat's) wife. He returns from a trip to New York. Also on the plane were Alex Guiness, plus an old American couple. The old American couple stay at Burton's hotel. Unfortunately there is a corpse in his empty pool. Luckily they arrive when there is a blackout, so they don't see the corpse. (put there by the Tonton Macoutes, Papa doc's thug police). Eventually the old couple go to the beach to see a procession, which is a group of kids taken to watch a firing squad kill some rebels. When the wife screams, they get kicked out. they were trying to sell granola or some sort of vegetarian product. Guiness is an arms dealer. At first he is placed under arrest because the man whom he made the deal with has been killed. but then he is released and lives high (visits the local whorehouse). But then they discover that his partner has been less than honest with the guns that they bought and so he hides. Burton has him dress in a dress and black face and hide at Ustinov's. Burton is convinced that Liz slept with alec. The rebels try to recruit Burton, but he's a cynic. but then James earl jones, a doctor, is killed in the middle of surgery. He was supposed to deliver Guiness to the rebels in the hills, but Burton goes in his place. when the car breaks down they walk the last part of the way. Guiness, supposedly an army sort, in fact is a novice. The touton macoute kill Guiness, but the rebels kill the thugs. Burton has no choice but to join the rebels. Burton gives a rousing speech to a rabble. Ustinov and Liz are kicked out of the country for giving refuge to Alec.

C