Jonathan Pryce nor did Jason Robards receive Oscar nominations for portraying Mr. Dark and Charles Halloway respectively in Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Something Wicked This Way Comes tells the story of a circus coming to a small town, which doesn't wish to entertain. The film is appropriately "spooky" and largely effective, though you do sense a bit of a compromised vision in parts.
Although a Disney film, which partly compromised what seemed to be the stronger vision of director Jack Clayton. The director of the masterful ghost film
The Innocents, this film isn't on that's level, however the mind behind that film's greatness can be seen here in parts. The easiest example to be seen in one Jason Robards, a noted dramatic performer who does not choose to phone in or in anyway sort of give a live action Disney turn of the more forgettable ilk. In fact Robards's performance, I won't beat around the bush here, seemed prepped for a masterpiece. Robards playing the father of one of the technical central characters of the two boys, Will and Jim. Robards's Halloway the town's librarian who we come across initially as an aging man, though Robards grants the brightness of someone more than willing to still show a nice warmth to his son. Robards reminding me of bit Gregory Peck in
To Kill a Mockingbird, as not an excessively loving father in terms of the specific presentation of that warmth, however that sense of love is still granted just by the way they internalize it in their work. It is just fact, and Robards realizing that in his performance is something special in itself, and essential for where the film goes. Robards's is typical no nonsense presence though is just a great choice for a supernatural horror film. This as we see him just seeing even the early signs of it, Robards brings a weight and reality to it, that establishes the horror quite effectively even before it begins.
Robards work in general though offers a remarkable depth here as we see the man pondering the eerie storm that predates the circus, and his own weak heart. In the former Robards is the film's greatest asset in creating a sense of dread. This in just his whole expression of observing the strange night sky, he grants the sense that this is something more than just a bad wind. Robards pondering the latter he finds a real nuance within the idea. This sense of a quiet regret in his eyes of a man who just has almost a slight shame of not being able to be what is wholly expected of being a father, in terms of what he is physically able to do with his son. Robards has an exceptional moment where he speaks to the time when people die. Robards is amazing in the moment as he expresses in his delivery the certain anxiety of his own fear of potentially dying, but built around the old man trying to comfort his son as he speaks. This as Robards finds such an effective complication as the man wishes to put his son at ease while also in his eyes showing the sense in the man that the concern is very much real. In Robards's performance the idea of the weak heart is not just a plot point. Robards rather develops within his work to create a real sense of how it places this almost shyness within the man, this certain repression of spirit, even as we at the same time still get a strong sense of a caring and loving father all the same.
Of course the storm but preludes the circus and Jonathan Pryce in a rather early role, as the aptly named Mr. Dark. Now having such a name you won't be surprised that he isn't just your average sinister circus owner, but rather someone far more sinister. Although Pryce would become I think better known for his authoritative villains later on, his knack for it was evident from the outset of his career as shown here. Pryce's whole manner is just about perfect in just having that fitting unnerving stature. This of a man who just seems a little bit off, even when simply handing out flyers for his circus or free tickets. Pryce though is particularly effective here in delivering that sort of graceful menace of his. This is as Pryce here doesn't really even raise his voice. He rather speaks with that refined voice of his, and in doing so creates that unique sort of menace. This as Pryce portrays his Mr. Dark as a man who has a particular ease in his state of being, and fittingly Pryce makes him more so a force of nature than an evil man so to speak. This as Pryce speaks each word with this nearly entrancing quality fitting a man who wishes to pull each of his victims in no through threats but rather temptation. This as Pryce couldn't be more inviting in his manner as he speaks with a slight smile and manner as though he he truly is an impresario bringing in the crowd. The different however though is that glint in Pryce's eyes though that grant that diabolical nature of the man, so evident in his name. Pryce's performance though properly owning the evil, as there is no reason to hide the nature of a man called Mr. Dark after all, and grants that Mr. Dark is as this unnerving character even before he has made a single legitimate threat.
Although the two boys accidentally uncover the sinister nature of the circus the real hero of the film is Robards's Holloway, and in a way becomes the man of heart versus the heartless, ironic given Holloway's heart condition. I love Robards's performance here is it is decidedly unexpected in this sense, since he is the hero, but an easy journey for him this is not. This as we see in an essential scene where Holloway recounts his scene where he wasn't the one who was able to save his son, because his father never taught him how to swim. Robards is amazing in the moment as his expression instantly recounts the anxiety of the original moment, and the pain of the certain type of failure as a father. Robards is powerful in the scene because he shows within it because as he describes the failure it is not just an idea, rather a real sense of experience as recounts. Robards making Holloway not a flawless hero, though even in this description we still again gain the sense that it is the regret as it is tied for the unquestioned love for his son. Nonetheless then we find Holloway as the man who must stand up against Pryce's Mr. Dark. The first scene between them showing the strength of each of their performances. This as Pryce again is so curiously, and effectively, insidious here. This as the slight shake in his voice, still so eloquent, though in that just that slight variation in his voice we sense an unnerving rage. Robards is great against him in portraying the blunt reaction to the strange man. This certainly a sense of resilience as he notes the importance reading, but more than anything, Robards eyes accentuate the man actively trying to decipher the strange, and clearly nefarious man. Love in particular though Robards's directed delivering of "boys, what the hell is going on", as he does so offering such a realistic honesty in the moment. The two naturally then are lead to a confrontation, really of spirit more than anything. Mr. Dark initially getting the upper hand, in a scene that Pryce brings a vile relish to the man just enjoying the pain he inflicts upon others, and importantly maintaining that certain omnipotence as he does so. Pryce playing the scene up beautifully of Mr. Dark fully in his element as he terrorizes the boys and the aging man. Robards is excellent though in showing that within this conflict Holloway's fears are very much genuine, as his physical wavering and anxiety are palatable. This with Robards granting a real honesty to the horror. Robards in turn makes the moment of the turn far more poignant and powerful though then finding the man capturing the spirit again. This again in bringing forth that sense of love that was always evident, but finally put forth in a more energetic and open manner within Robards's performance. This film works best when Robards and Pryce are applying their trade, this as both so well realize their characters within the scenario. Pryce making for appropriately fiendish yet magnetic devil as needed for such a tale, and Robards going even further perhaps in offering a real power in his portrait of a vulnerable yet honest man who stands against the evil that infects his town.
(For Pryce)
(For Robards)
