>>>>>>>>>>Based on Joseph Conrad's "The Duel" ("Point of Honor" in the US?). Others of his stories gone to film include:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>And don't forget Secret Agent ( Bob Hoskins and Robin Williams in a particulary good role as 'The Professor' who walks around at all times with his finger on the dead-man switch of the bomb he has strapped to his body. )
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>The Conrad tale?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Interesting how comedians make some of the best dramatic actors -
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>True. I've noticed the English commedian Lee Evans in quite a few straight roles lately (though he's a crap actor). Eddie Izzard has played a few good baddies, and some other English comic that you may not know, such as (and one of my grouchy favourites) Jack Dee
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>e.g. Jerry Lewis who isn't funny to anyone but the French but who does what should have been and Oscar turn in Scorcese's King of Comedy - which should also be on any list of truly great movies.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I thought that one was the DeNiro film, but maybe that was "Broadway Danny Rose". Anyway, I don't know if deNiro scored in that but to me the char he played was as funny as a dose of distemper in a dogs' home. The style, quality and delivery of the gags was abysmal.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>It was the Deniro film. He kidnapped Jerry Lewis.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>You mean he kidnapped Lewis (as a char in the film), or he kidnapped Lewis's act, or that he kidnapped Lewis's portrayal of teh King of Comedy, or it was like a remake thereof?
>>>>>
>>>>>He kidnapped him as a character int he film in order to force him to allow Deniro to perform. He kept trying to get on the Lewis' characters show, but kept getting turned down.
>>>>
>>>>I thought that was the case. Was Lewis playing Lewis? I don't quite remember all the plot as the film never had that much interest to me to keep me watching all the way through.
>>>
>>>Frankly, it's not one of my favourite movies either. I can't recall if Lewis played himself or not. In general, I have problems with movies in which the main character is a jerk.
>>
>>Except Steve Martin's "The Jerk" maybe?
>
>Anytime I see Steve Martin's name on a movie marquee, I cross the road, turn around three times and spit.

Sorta had a feeling you might say that. I'm ambivalent. he was fine in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "The man with 2 brains" and various others. The clown i can't stand is gurning Jim Carey!!!