Paul Eddington makes reserve funny: the frozen smile, the injured dignity, the patience to let someone else have the joke. We rate him highly because his put-upon men remain people, even when the comedy needs them outmanoeuvred.
Fi1m perspective
In The Good Life (1975), Paul Eddington's Jerry Leadbetter can be reserved without disappearing beside Penelope Keith's Margo. He gives her room to finish a joke, and she gives him the same consideration. We laughed hardest at their disagreements, because the timing suggests that both have been preparing their replies for some time. Eddington keeps Jerry's personality clear without needing to make every line an occasion. It is the sort of supporting work we recommend watching for itself, particularly when Keith gives him so much to respond to.
The familiar television manner came late in a career that had remained primarily on stage until his late forties. Cobb in The Prisoner (1967) was one of the earlier supporting television parts; the series is worth seeing, but it is not where we would send someone to understand Eddington's comedy. His stage appearance in Absurd Person Singular (1974) led directly to his casting in The Good Life. He continued working in the theatre alongside his later television roles, so the sitcoms should not be mistaken for the whole actor.
Jim Hacker in Yes Minister (1980) gave his gift for looking put upon a leading role. Opposite Nigel Hawthorne's Sir Humphrey, he could suggest decency and bewilderment while remaining believable as a man with authority. The frozen smile works because Hacker cannot see why he is funny, and Eddington does not ask us to applaud him for knowing better. The role continued in Yes, Prime Minister (1986); the pleasure is still in seeing how long he can maintain his dignity.
Our reservation about The Good Life is with its writing. It is too ready to forgive Tom Good. Jerry's reserve remains funny without reducing him to a blank for the louder characters to talk at. With Keith, Eddington makes a disagreement matter to both people, however much we enjoy their handling of it. Start there, and give the quieter half of the exchange your attention.
Biography
Paul Eddington was an English actor. He played Cobb in the 1967 series The Prisoner and Jim Hacker in the BBC sitcoms Yes Minister (1980–1984) and Yes, Prime Minister (1986–1988). He was also known for the role of Jerry Leadbetter in The Good Life (1975–1978).
Eddington began his career in theatre and repertory productions before appearing on television in the 1950s, with roles in series including The Adventures of Robin Hood. He received the CBE in 1987 for services to drama. He died in London on 4 November 1995.
