Mark Netter suggests that Tony Soprano is an "evil hero," and he is right.
However, Tony Soprano also borders on the comic at times. The very idea of a
criminal leader whose actions cause depression, for example, has comic
overtones.

With only a slightly different emphasis. the Sopranos would be largely
comedic.

On the other hand,Alec Guiness, Peter Sellers, and Herbert Lom in THE
LADYKILLERS (1956) are figures of comedy, but with slight changes they would
become "evil heroes."


My question then is, where is the boundary between an evil hero and a
comedic protagonist?


Peter Latham

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Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the
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