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

The "Meths drinkers" are extreme alcoholics. They drink methylated spirit, also known as wood alcohol, a very cheap variety of alcohol used as lantern and stove fuel, and as a cleaning fluid and solvent. It is a nerve poison, it often causes blindness, and only people desperate for a drink will knowingly drink it.

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Goofs

When the crowd at the "orgy" starts calling for "Chocolate Sandwich" Travis' cigarette suddenly appears in his mouth, where it wasn't an instant before.

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Quotes

Sir James Burgess: Professor Stewart was too far in advance of his time, but his name will live long. We will stand in silence, in grateful memory for fifteen seconds.

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Alternate Versions

Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival with a running time of 192 mins. First released in the US at 166 minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005)

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Soundtracks

Arrival
Written by Alan Price

User Reviews

Everyone is going through changes - No one knows what's going on. -And everybody changes places-But the world still carries on. (Alan Price)

Lindsay Anderson + Malcolm McDowell + Alan Price = O, Lucky Me!

What films do we include in our top lists? The ones that affected us in some very personal way or changed something – not, maybe our lives but the way we watch movies.

"O Lucky Man!" (1973), directed by Lindsay Anderson (with Ralph Richardson, Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren) is a constant source of joy when I watch it again and again. Off I go with Mick Travis (McDowell) in his crazy surreal journey up and down, back and forth, "around the world in circles" along with the Alan Price's band that provide the music commentaries in the traditions of a Greek Chorus or Brecht's Theater (whichever you prefer). And in the end we find themselves in…. Well, can't tell you. You have to find out for yourself.

I saw it again yesterday, and it still stands as one of my favorite films. This time, though, I noticed that it was much darker than I remember. The good things and the bad things happen to our hero, Mick Travis, and I think that he really changed - he started to think more and smile less. The look on his face in the end of the move after asked to smile was not that charming, winning smile that he had in the beginning. It was pain, confusion, and anger.

Wonderful film - I am never tired of it. Even though, I know all the turns on the Mick's way to the top and back, it is still so interesting to watch him. I believe it was best McDowell's performance. I know that his most famous one was in Kubrick's Clockwork Orange but my favorite is the everyman Mick Travis who just wanted to succeed.

Young Helen Mirren was lovely as Patricia who traveled in her own crazy circles; the rest of the cast did great job, each of them playing more than one character.

Alan Price - I love his songs to the film very much. Possibly the best use of a rock soundtrack in a film. I am a proud CD owner and I listen to it constantly in my car. It is short, unfortunately.(sigh)

"O Lucky Man!" is one of the best unfairly forgotten films ever.

I remember when I saw it for the first time in the theater, I did not know anything about it – I just liked the title. The girl who was next in line to the box office said to me, "You will like it – it is a very cool movie, I saw it already." Where ever she is today – I want to thank her.