O Lucky Man! (1973)

An apprentice coffee salesman has a series of improbable and ironic adventures that seem designed to challenge his naive idealism.

Director:

Lindsay Anderson

Writers:

David Sherwin (screenplay), Malcolm McDowell (based on an original idea by)

Stars:

Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Malcolm McDowell	...	Mick Travis / Plantation Thief
Ralph Richardson	...	Sir James Burgess / Monty
Rachel Roberts	...	Gloria Rowe / Madame Paillard / Mrs. Richards
Arthur Lowe	...	Mr. Duff / Charlie Johnson / Dr. Munda
Helen Mirren	...	Patricia Burgess / Casting Assistant
Graham Crowden	...	Stewart / Prof. Millar / Meths Drinker
Peter Jeffrey	...	Factory Chairman / Prison Governor
Dandy Nichols	...	Tea Lady / Neighbour
Mona Washbourne	...	Neighbour / Usher / Sister Hallett
Philip Stone	...	Jenkins / Interrogator / Salvation Army Major
Mary MacLeod	...	Mary Ball / Salvationist / Vicar's Wife (as Mary Macleod)
Michael Bangerter	...	William / Interrogator / Assistant / Released Prisoner
Wallas Eaton	...	John Stone (Coffee Factory) / Col. Steiger / Prison Warder / Meths Drinker / Film Executive
Warren Clarke	...	Master of Ceremonies (Nightspot) / Warner / Male Nurse
Bill Owen	...	Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding

Storyline

Follows the literal and associated life journey of middle class Brit, Mick Travis, representing the "everyman", as he tries to make his mark in his so far young life. He is able to make great strides in his traditional view of success by being what those in authority want him to be. As such, he achieves in a few weeks what it usually take years for others, namely having his own sales territory, the northeast and ultimately Scotland, for Imperial Coffee. He is also able to garner a plethora of fringe benefits from this job, including women throwing themselves at his feet. But he will ultimately face a struggle in class and authority warfare, which culminates with his encounter with the Burgess family, wealthy industrialist Sir James Burgess and his daughter Patricia, who Mick wants to marry, the former who is contemplating investing in the shady dealings in Zingara. Mick will also find that the class struggle not only applies in his case in an upward direction, but also in a downward ...

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Plot Keywords:

coffee | social satire | surrealism | traveling salesman | black comedy | 

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Taglines:

Smile while you're makin' it. Laugh while you're takin' it. Even though you're fakin' it. Nobody's gonna know...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un hombre de suerte

Filming Locations:

Bracknell, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Memorial Enterprises, Sam

Technical Specs

Runtime:

178 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (opening sequence) Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Virtually every member of the cast plays multiple roles.

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Goofs

A sign says 200 miles to London where Travis is picked up. He has reached there by walking for a while from the military establishment where the explosion took place. The distance even from London to the border of Scotland is 398 Miles.

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Quotes

Gloria Rowe: Remember the words of William Blake - "A sincere wish that anything is so, will make it so."

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Alternate Versions

The original US release was cut by twenty or more minutes, the entire sequence involving the suicidal woman, roughly from Mick's release from prison until he meets the charity tea-wagon lady was omitted. (This included one of Alan Price's songs)

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Connections

Referenced in Brief Film Reviews: My DVD/Blu-Ray Collection (2010)

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Soundtracks

Arrival
Written by Alan Price

User Reviews

The Test Of Time

It became my favorite film the day I saw it for the first time, 22 years ago! It still is. I saw it again on video a week ago and here it is, traveling through my brain as a familiar song with constant new messages. Malcolm McDowell and Lindsay Anderson had blown us away with "If..." a couple of years before. But if "If..." was the courting, marriage and honeymoon of two great artists, "O Lucky Man" is a confirmation of a great love story. I know there are a few other members of this menage, David Sherwin for instance or the amazing group of superb British character actors from Mona Washbourne to Helen Mirren but the incomparable presence of McDowell inhabiting Anderson's universe makes this "O Lucky Man" one of the happiest movie adventures of my movie going life. As you may have noticed, I haven't told you anything about the film, I just wanted to share my thoughts hoping to wet your appetite. If you haven't seen it, don't miss it.