by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Harold Pinter's theatrical piece The Birthday Party was committed to celluloid in 1968 by future Exorcist director William Friedkin. Robert Shaw plays a boarder in a sleazy British seaside-resort rooming house. The landlady (Dandy Nichols) holds a cheerless birthday party for Shaw, which is invaded by a couple of shady characters named Goldberg (Sidney Tafler) and McCann (Patrick Magee). No one knows why they're there except for Shaw, who after being repeatedly humiliated by the despicable duo is taken away by them to parts unknown. The Birthday Party ends with 30 seconds of a totally blank screen.
characteristics
- Boarder
- Boarding-house
- Landlady
- Birthday
- Haunted By The Past
- Seaside
- Comedy On The Edge
- British
- Resort
- Party
- Tenant
- Ridicule
- Demean
- Criminal
- Degradation
