Other meanings of Black comedy
Film
Black Comedy is a 1965 British comedy film directed by James Hill, based on the one-act play of the same name by Peter Shaffer. The film is a farce that centers on a sculptor, Brindsley Miller, who has secretly borrowed expensive furniture from his absent neighbor to impress his girlfriend's wealthy father. The comedy derives from a sudden power failure that plunges the room into darkness, forcing the characters to stumble around in the dark while the audience sees the stage lit as if it were daylight. The film is notable for its innovative use of lighting and its adaptation of a stage play that was originally written for the National Theatre.
The film follows Brindsley Miller, a struggling sculptor, who has borrowed his neighbor's antique furniture to impress his fiancée Carol's wealthy father, Colonel Melkett. When the power fails, the characters are plunged into darkness, but the audience sees them clearly, while the characters grope and stumble. The comedy escalates as Brindsley tries to hide the borrowed furniture and his mistress, Clea, from the returning neighbor and the colonel. The play's famous device—light representing darkness—was retained in the film, with the actors performing as if blind while the camera captures their movements in full light.1
Peter Shaffer wrote the play in 1965, and it premiered at the National Theatre in London, directed by John Dexter. The film adaptation, produced by Hal E. Chester, was shot at Shepperton Studios. The screenplay was adapted by Shaffer himself, ensuring fidelity to the stage original. The film's lighting design was a key challenge, as the camera had to simulate the effect of darkness while maintaining visibility for the audience. The film was released in the UK in 1965 and later in the US under the title 'Black Comedy' as well.
Upon release, the film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the performances and the clever staging but noting the difficulty of translating a stage farce to the screen. The play itself became a classic of modern farce, often revived in theatres. The film is less well-known than the play, but it is appreciated by enthusiasts of British comedy. The play's influence can be seen in later works that use similar lighting devices, such as the film 'Blind Date' (1987).
The film features a young actor, Derek Godfrey, in the role of the neighbor, and it was one of the few film roles for the stage actor. The play was originally written as a companion piece to Shaffer's 'The Royal Hunt of the Sun', and it was performed in repertory with that play. The film's title was changed to 'Black Comedy' in the US to avoid confusion with the genre term 'black comedy', which refers to dark humor. The film's set design used a special lighting rig that allowed the actors to see each other while the audience perceived darkness. The film is now in the public domain in some territories due to copyright lapses.2
This article is about the 1965 film. For the genre, see Black comedy.
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