a position of honor

the expression, 'the show must go on', was surely coined from a situation such as this. during ww11, a troupe of traveling shakespearian actors are putting on the play, 'king lear.' bombs are falling, the backstage backstabbing is relentless, 'cordelia' is too heavy and the ever intoxicated lead actor, known as 'sir', playing 'lear' has applied the makeup required to play a moor. 'wrong play! wrong play!' 

tom courtnay has the thankless job of 'dresser', making sure the main attraction is performance ready each night. it is not an easy task. aside from the drinking, 'sir's' mind is going. 

actor albert finney deserved an oscar for the role of 'sir.' he is just perfect as an impossibly helpless and hapless person. tom courtnay deserved an oscar for his beautiful portrayal of the opposite. finney was awarded the silver berlin bear. courtnay recieved a golden globe.