THE COMEDIAN (1957) Pint-sized führer fomates constant furor

THE COMEDIAN, written by Rod Serling and directed by John Frankenheimer for Playhouse 90, is a searing, behind-the-camera look at the grubby side of TV. Exhilarating to both eye and ear, it's a testament to the power and creativity television had in the '50s to tell stories as forcefully as theatrical films – a capability which commercialism has steadily chipped away over the years. NETWORK (1976), which tells that story, was also scripted in blood by Serling). Mickey Rooney, quite possibly giving the best performance of his long and still extant career, plays Sammy Hogarth, short of statue, long of wind – an egomaniacal TV comedian who demands perfection from everyone who knows or works for him. His main targets are his spineless brother (singer Mel Torme), indentured for life as Sammy's personal toady; and his head writer (Edmond O'Brien), who in desperation to please his ravenous boss has plagiarized material from a dead comic. The story is told mainly from O'Brien's point of view, and we honestly feel for him as he digs himself into an ever-deeper hole trying to hold on to his job and his self-respect. Rooney portrays Sammy in grand, scenery-chewing style as a pitiless powerhouse so frantic to win the undying love of his fans that he'll do anything to achieve that end. Yet, s.o.b. that he is, he still manages to come off as a three-dimensional human being, thanks to the brilliance of Serling's writing and Rooney's acting. The entire cast is remarkable, including Torme, O’Brien, Kim Hunter and King Donovan, all obviously so well tuned to their roles that they seem to move past mere acting and create gestures and expressions that make you feel you're watching real people, not just great line-readers. And get this: they were filmed live – no retakes. This is drama as good as it gets. (Trivia note: Rooney, a famously fanatical philanderer, purportedly brought many ladies to the casting sessions and had them cast as dancers and extras. Sammy would approved.) Available at Netflix.