O Lucky Man! (1973)

Regisseur:

Lindsay Anderson

Drehbuchautor:

David Sherwin (writer)

Premierendatum:

20. Juni 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Komödie | Drama | Fantasy

Werbezeile:

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

Plot:

This sprawling, surrealist musical serves as an allegory for the pitfalls of capitalism, as it follows...

Plot Keywords:

Stag Film | Mad Scientist | Assault | Release From Prison | Homelessness

Filmpreise:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Nutzerkommentare:

Strange and Interesting; Surprisingly Compelling

Besetzung

Malcolm McDowell	...	Michael Arnold 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
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	...	Mrs. Ball / Salvationist / Vicar'w Wife
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
Michael Medwin	...	Army captain / Power station technician / Duke of Belminster
Vivian Pickles	...	Good lady
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Examination doctor / Basil Keyes
Geoffrey Chater	...	Bishop / Vicar
Anthony Nicholls	...	General / Judge
Brian Glover	...	Plantation foreman / Bassett (Power station guard)
Edward Judd	...	Oswald
Pearl Nunez	...	Mrs. Naidu
Jeremy Bulloch	...	Young man
David Daker	...	Policeman at accident / Man at stag party / Munda's manservant / Policeman at tenement
Edward Peel	...	Policeman at accident / Power station guard / Policeman in court
Alan Price	...	Himself
Colin Green	...	Guitar
Clive Thacker	...	Tolly (drums)
Dave Markee	...	Bass guitarist
Ian Leake	...	Streaky (roadie)
Bart Allison		(as Bart Alison)
Ben Aris	...	Mr. MacIntyre / Dr. Hyder / Flight Lt. Wallace
John Barrett	...	Bill
Margot Bennett	...	Coffee picker
James Bolam	...	Attenborough / Examination doctor
Sue Bond
Constance Chapman	...	Lady Burgess
Peter Childs
Frank Cousins
Brian Croucher
Allen Cullen
Paul Dawkins	...	Plantation judge / Man at stag party / Meths drinker
Anna Dawson	...	Becky
Michael Elphick
Eleanor Fazan
Paul Healey
Geoffrey Hinsliff		(as Geoff Hinsliff)
Jo Jeggo
Patricia Lawrence	...	Clinic receptionist / Miss Hunter
Stephanie Lawrence
Brian Lawson
Terence Maidment
Tuesday Miller
Christine Noonan	...	Coffee trainee / Mavis (girl at stag party)
Ken Oxtoby
Stuart Perry
Brian Pettifer	...	Laurence Biles
Bill Pilkington
Cyril Renison
Irene Richmond
Roy Scammell
Peter Schofield	...	Tax inspector / Club waiter
Frank Singuineau
Patsy Smart
David Sterne
Adele Strong	...	Elizabeth Valerie Stewart / Tenement neighbor
Hugh Thomas	...	Coffee salesman / Pickpocket
Betty Turner
Glenn Williams	...	Mr. Spalding / Doctor / Pickpocket / Meths Drinker
Catherine Willmer	...	Dr. Houston
übrige Besetzung in alphabetischer Reihenfolge:
Lindsay Anderson	...	Film director (uncredited)
Patricia Healey	...	Hotel receptionist (uncredited)
Rachelle Miller	...	(uncredited)

Regie
Lindsay Anderson

Buch (In alphabetischer Reihenfolge)
David Sherwin		writer

Produktion
Lindsay Anderson	....	producer
Basil Keys	....	associate producer
Michael Medwin	....	producer
Malcolm McDowell	....	producer (uncredited)
David Sherwin	....	producer (uncredited)

Originalmusik
Alan Price

Kamera
Miroslav Ondrícek

Schnitt
David Gladwell

Casting
Miriam Brickman

Szenenbild
Jocelyn Herbert

Bauten/Dekorationsbau (art directors)
Alan Withy

Bühnenbildner/Ausstatter (set decorators)
Harry Cordwell

Maske/Frisuren
Colin Jamison	....	hair stylist
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist

Produktionsleiter (production managers)
Donald Toms	....	production manager (as Don Toms)
Zelda Barron	....	production manager (uncredited)

Regieassistenten
Derek Cracknell	....	assistant director
Richard Jenkins	....	second assistant director

Ausstattung (Stab)
Jack Carter	....	construction
John Lanzer	....	buyer
Ted Marshall	....	associate art director
Harry Newman	....	property master
Yves Simard	....	graphic artist
Richard Rambaut	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Ton Stab
Alan Bell	....	sound editor
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer (as Doug Turner)
Christian Wangler	....	sound (as Chris Wangler)

Spezialeffekte
John Stears	....	special effects

Kamera und Elektrik (Stab)
Len Crowe	....	gaffer
Herbert Smith	....	camera operator
Dickie Lee	....	key grip (uncredited)
Roy Rodhouse	....	best boy (uncredited)

Kostüm und Garderobe (Stab)
Elsa Fennell	....	wardrober

Schnitt (Stab)
Michael Ellis	....	assistant editor
Tom Priestley	....	supervising editor
Neil Thompson	....	assistant editor

Musik (Stab)
John Lundsten	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Restlicher Stab
Valerie Booth	....	continuity
Malcolm McDowell	....	original idea
Roger Williams	....	assistant to director
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Anthony Sloman	....	insert director: "The Father Christmas" film (uncredited)

Produktionsfirmen

• Memorial Enterprises
• Sam

Verleihfirmen

• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Home Video (video)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1973) (Sweden) (theatrical)

Weitere Firmen

• Lee Electrics  electricals
• Lee Lighting  lighting

Alternativ:

Coffee Man (UK) (working title)
Erfolgreiche, Der (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) [de]

Länge:

183 Min | Sweden:168 Min

Produktionsland:

UK | USA

Sprache:

Englisch

Farbe:

Farbe (Eastmancolor)

Seitenverhältnis:

1.85 : 1

Tonverfahren:

Mono

Altersfreigabe:

Iceland:16 | UK:X (theatrical release) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Drehorte:

England, UK

Firma:

Memorial Enterprises

Dies und das:

The name Alexander de Large (Malcolm McDowell's character in A Clockwork Orange (1971)) can be seen on Mick's order book when he is working as a salesman.

Dialogzitate:

Monty: Beware of Mrs. Ball's treacle tart. There is many-a-fly that got stuck in that!

Bezüge zu anderen Titeln:

Verweis/Anspielung/Erwähnung in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Attack of the the Eye Creatures (#5.18)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

O Lucky Man!

Strange and Interesting; Surprisingly Compelling

To say the least, this is an odd movie. It has no real "plot" per se or at least not a continuous , cohesive storyline but, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of La Dolce Vita (and I mean pretty loosely), it follows one man as he drifts through various events and people, and how those experiences do or do not affect him. The events are also rather surreal, often very strange, brutal, or sexual, and at times a bit disturbing. The commonalities or unifying elements throughout, aside from the character, are constant social commentary, often rather harsh; the fact that the whole film is a series of apparently random experiences, each by happenstance leading to the next, and an ultimate conclusion; and the fact that in the end the events change the character.

I won't say that this is one of my top choices of films to watch on a regular basis, at least not if I just want to relax and have a good time, but it certainly is interesting and strangely compelling. Despite the often tense situations and some humour, etc., I douybt most people would find the film particularly fun or exciting, so one should certainly not expect that. Nevertheless, there is something about the film, perhaps a mixture of the oddness, the apparent randomness of it all, the impacts of the events and people, and McDowell's great portrayal of a seemingly clueless but sympathetic character, that draws the viewer in to care about the events. The result is that the viewer does want to keep watching throughout the roughly 3 hours to see what is going to happen next. There is something gripping about the lack of a particular story line so that the viewer wants to see what seemingly random, unconnected event will follow and whither it will lead. In the end, the viewer does see a progression and how the film ends up with essentially a counterpoint to the beginning.

In addition, everyone is enjoyable to watch. This is particularly true of McDowell, of course, since he is usually great and is the one constant person throughout. He wonderfully portrays his character Travis and Travis's transformations.

At the same time, the viewer also constantly encounters numerous points, images, events, etc., that work themselves into the viewer and make the viewer think, even if not right away.

The film also has a great soundtrack that I think really helps the film. The songs have a way of deeply embedding themselves in the viewer just as McDowell's character and the events themselves do. The lyrics are also quite telling and catchy.

This film is certainly not for everyone and I'd say that the average moviegoer would probably not like it or at least be confused or bored. But, for some, at least, this will be an enthralling and gripping film.

I also think that any thinking person who takes the time to sit through this film, even one who does not especially enjoy the movie while watching it, will at least appreciate, and be affected by, parts of the film. There is a lot here to ponder, some extremely obvious, some almost unnoticeable. Some of it is in the specific events or characters themselves, some in the apparent randomness of these haphazard events leading into each other and ultimately changing McDowell's character, Travis. This latter element is clearly seen in how he changes from the very beginning to the very end.

Ultimately, this is a movie that I doubt anyone can fully appreciate right after viewing it, much less while actually viewing it. I think that full appreciation requires at least some time to digest the film after wards and possibly another viewing later. I won't say one could ever fully understand all of this film, as I don't think anyone can, while there are probably many ways to interpret a lot in this film.

I recommend that anyone who likes "different" or thought-provoking films, etc., to try it, be patient, and aftewards just think about it or let it wander around in your mind for a while without actively trying to think about it. I think that the film will work itself into a viewer's mind and stay there, without any effort on such a viewer's part, and that even someone who wasn't sure about the film right after watching it will be affected and appreciate something from it.