The Comedians

The Comedians is a 1967 political drama about a Haitian hotel owner, Brown (Richard Burton), who reluctantly gets involved in the turmoil surrounding the dictatorial rule of Papa Doc Duvalier. Brown contemplates leaving the country entirely but feels trapped because he is having a clandestine affair with the British Ambassador's wife (Elizabeth Taylor). Major Jones (Alec Guinness) is a British businessman staying at the hotel with official papers to do business with the corrupt government despite their blatant human rights violations. Apparently there is a cache of arms located in a port in Florida that the Haitian regime would like to get its hands on and Jones is the connection. The government is not sure if Jones is on the level, however, and prevents him from leaving the country until they are sure the arms actually exist. Brown reluctantly gets caught up in the political intrigues when he befriends an opponent of the regime, Dr. Magiot (James Earl Jones). The Comedians is directed by Peter Glenville and based on a novel by Graham Greene.