The Dollar Bottom *** (1981, Robert Urquhart, Rikki Fulton, Jonathan McNeil) – Classic Movie Review 10,525

The entertaining 1981 British comedy short The Dollar Bottom is an amusing, light-hearted little film, which won the 1981 Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action, about an enterprising 50s Scottish schoolboy who promotes an insurance scheme for his mates against getting corporal punishment.

Among the familiar names are Rikki Fulton and Robert Urquhart as the headmaster. Luckily the thick Scots accents didn’t put the members of the Academy off! Shane Connaughton’s screenplay is based on a short story by James Kennaway.

The Oscar went to the producer, Lloyd Phillips.

Director Roger Christian went on to make The Sender the following year. That was the feature film directorial début of Christian, joint winner of the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Star Wars (1977) and a 1981 BAFTA Film Award nominee for Best Short Film for The Dollar Bottom. Unfortunately he is also the 2001 Razzie Award winner for Worst Director for Battlefield Earth (2000).

Also in the cast are Jonathan McNeil, James Gibb, David Bullion, Iain Andrew, Martin Thom, Angus Reid, Neil Crosnan, and David Mowatt.

The Dollar Bottom is directed by Roger Christian, runs 33 minutes, is made by Rocking Horse, is released by Paramount, is written by Shane Connaughton, based on a short story by James Kennaway, is shot in Eastmancolor by Roger Pratt, is produced by Ian Scorer (executive producer) and Lloyd Phillips, and is scored by Trevor Jones.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,525

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