Charlie Bubbles (1968)

A married writer has an affair with his secretary.

Director:

Albert Finney

Writer:

Shelagh Delaney

Stars:

Albert Finney, Colin Blakely, Billie Whitelaw

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Finney	...	Charlie Bubbles
Colin Blakely	...	Smokey Pickles
Billie Whitelaw	...	Lottie Bubbles
Liza Minnelli	...	Eliza
Timothy Garland	...	Jack Bubbles
Richard Pearson	...	Accountant
Nicholas Phipps	...	Agent
Peter Sallis	...	Solicitor
Charles Hill	...	Head Waiter
Charles Lamb	...	Mr. Noseworthy
Margery Mason	...	Mrs. Noseworthy
Diana Coupland	...	Maud
George Innes	...	Garage Attendant
Arthur Pentelow	...	Man With Car
Alan Lake	...	Airman

Storyline

Charlie Bubbles, a writer, up from the working class of Manchester, England, who, in the course of becoming prematurely rich and famous, has mislaid a writer's basic tool - the capacity to feel and to respond. Now he must visit his estranged wife and son, whom he has set up on a farm outside his native city. His journey accidentally becomes an attempt to reestablish his connections with life, people, and his own history.

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Taglines:

If You Think You're Old Enough

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 February 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Berømmelsens pris

Filming Locations:

Admiralty Arch, The Mall, St. James's, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Memorial Enterprises,Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was a very personal project for Albert Finney, who made his debut as director with it and made it for his own company, Memorial Enterprises. He got fairly lavish backing from an American company, Universal, who were trying to set up a system for making films in England, but then had the greatest difficulty in getting the finished film shown. He made the film in 1966, but, although advance word on it was very positive, and the film eventually won awards as well as rave reviews, it was not shown in either the US or Britain until 1968; its American opening was well over six months in advance of its British one. Finney did his best to promote the film in several countries, but it was written off as a box-office failure. He hoped to direct in films again, and announced a film to be called "The Girl In Melanie Klein" in the early 1970s; but he never made it and never directed another film.

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Quotes

Charlie Bubbles: The back door was wide open. Anybody could have walked in instead of me. You might have got a sex maniac.
Lottie Bubbles: Not with my luck.

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Soundtracks

Fenesta che lucive
(uncredited)
Music by Vincenzo Bellini
Arranged by Albert Marland

User Reviews

The distinction of the British classes...

Interesting but ultimately unmoving drama (with quirks) has the title-named character, a rich writer who lives in plushy comfort, unable to get over his guilt of having money. When Charlie visits his Northern haunts, where the streets are filled with potholes and the surroundings match the sky--all in gray--we wonder, "Why is he so obsessed with his early poverty?" and "Why can't he get on with his life?" Director-star Albert Finney doesn't give us much to go on (or maybe you have to be British to understand the symbols inherent in British society) and most of his film feels like a put-on. Liza Minnelli has a small part as an American secretary, and she occasionally pushes her kooky "Americanisms" too far; however, though the role isn't much, Minnelli has a strange, slightly zonked/slightly exotic presence, and when she performs in a low-key she's appealing. As Mrs. Bubbles, Billie Whitelaw got most of the acclaim, but it's Liza we remember. As for the much-talked about finale, I thought it profound in its fantastic way, but, like the rest of "Charlie Bubbles", it exists to please and understand itself, leaving the rest of us on the outside looking in. ** from ****