O Lucky Man! ***** (1973, Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts) – Classic Movie Review 474

Malcolm McDowell, who played the hero of If…, stars in Lindsay Anderson’s superb 1973 satirical life allegory about Mick Travis, now involved in the shady work of big business. The 1973 film O Lucky Man! is a dazzling one-off.

Malcolm McDowell, who played the hero of If… in 1968, stars in director Lindsay Anderson’s superb 1973 surreal, satirical life allegory about Mick Travis, who has left public school and is now involved in the shady work of being a grown up and embroiled in big business. A kind of Pilgrim’s Progress, or Rake’s Progress, the 1973 film O Lucky Man! is a dazzling one-off, based on an idea by McDowell himself, as a kind of sequel to If…

In the free-wheeling, semi-autobiographical story, which plays like a series of review sketches, Mick is now supposedly a tyro coffee salesman, who rises to become a financial wizard, falls, ends up in jail, then rises again as a Salvation Army worker, and finally becomes a movie star.

These are scenes from the life of the young Malcolm McDowell, you imagine, but fictionalised to the point of satire and non-recognition as reality. As an allegory on the sickness of life in a capitalist society, it has a Bethold Brecht theatre feel to it, but fresh and updated.

The film began as a script written by McDowell about his experiences as a coffee salesman in his late teens and early 20s, but Anderson was unsatisfied and got David Sherwin to work on it. Sherwin was having personal problems, so Anderson reluctantly ended up writing some scenes. The screenplay is credited to David Sherwin, based on a story by Malcolm McDowell.

It’s a great tribute to Anderson that he has no trouble at all balancing the elements of comedy, drama, music and fantasy through an epic three-hour running time (184 minutes). It’s a tricky juggling act and Anderson makes sure he doesn’t drop any balls. He’s always been great with his actors but here he encourages the most wonderful playing from his stock company of actors, a dozen of them in several different parts, all at the top of their very considerable games.

A bold, unqualified success, O Lucky Man! is one of Anderson’s greatest achievements, without question, and one of the great British movies of the 1970s.

Alan Price’s toe-tappingly chirpy music (‘Smile While You’re Makin’ It’) jollies along David Sherwin’s clever, witty screenplay. Price’s score won the 1974 BAFTA Award for Best Film Music.

Helen Mirren took over the role of Patricia from Fiona Lewis during production.

The vintage cast include Arthur Lowe, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, a young Helen Mirren, Mona Washbourne, Dandy Nichols, Alan Price, Lindsay Anderson, Graham Crowden, Peter Jeffrey, Philip Stone, Wallas Eaton, Anthony Nicholls, Jeremy Bulloch, Warren Clarke, Geoffrey Palmer, Geoffrey Chater, Christine Noonan, Bill Owen, Edward Judd, Brian Glover, David Daker, Edward Peel, and James Bolam.

Britannia Hospital (1982) completes the Mick Travis film trilogy. Graham Crowden’s Dr Millar also returns.

British film, theatre and documentary director, and film critic Lindsay Gordon Anderson (17 April 1923 – 30 August 1994) is remembered for This Sporting Life, his 1968 film If..,, O Lucky Man!, In Celebration, Look Back in Anger, Britannia Hospital, Glory! Glory! and Is That All There Is?.

Film appearances of Alan Price (born 19 April 1942): Get Yourself A College Girl (1964), Himself, Don’t Look Back (1967), Himself, O Lucky Man! (1973), Alan, soundtrack, Alfie Darling (1975), Alfie Elkins, soundtrack, Britannia Hospital (1982), soundtrack, The Plague Dogs (1982), soundtrack, and s That All There Is? (1993), Himself

The cast are Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travis / Plantation thief, Ralph Richardson as Monty / Sir James Burgess, Rachel Roberts as Gloria Rowe / Madame Paillard / Mrs. Richards, Arthur Lowe as Mr. Duff / Charlie Johnson / Dr Munda, Helen Mirren as Patricia / casting call receptionist, Graham Crowden as Dr Millar / Professor Stewart / Meth drinker, Dandy Nichols as Tea lady in military installation, Peter Jeffrey as Factory chairman / Prison governor, Mona Washbourne as Neighbour / Usher / Sister Hallett, Philip Stone as Jenkins / Interrogator / Salvation Army major, Mary MacLeod as Mrs. Ball / Salvationist / Vicar’s wife, Wallas Eaton as John Stone (Coffee Factory) / Col. Steiger / Prison warder / Meths drinker / Film executive, Warren Clarke as MC at Wakefield Club / Warner / Male nurse, Bill Owen as Superintendent Barlow / Inspector Carding, Michael Medwin as Army captain / Power station technician / Duke of Belminster, Vivian Pickles as Good lady, Geoffrey Palmer as Examination doctor / Basil Keyes, Christine Noonan as Imperial Coffee assembly line worker / Mavis at Wakefield Club, Geoffrey Chater as Bishop / Vicar, Anthony Nicholls as General / Judge, James Bolam as Attenborough / Examination Doctor, Brian Glover as Plantation foreman / Bassett (Power Station Guard), Brian Pettifer as Biles, Edward Judd as Oswald, Alan Price as himself, Jeremy Bulloch as Crash victim / Experimental patient / Sign guy, Ben Aris as Mr. MacIntyre / Dr. Hyder / Flight Lt. Wallace, Margot Bennett as Coffee picker, Anna Dawson as Becky, and Lindsay Anderson as film director.

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