O Lucky Man! (1973)

VHS COVER/SIDE

Length of film:  178 Minutes 

Rated: R   

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Director: Lindsay Anderson

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, Authur Lowe, Helen Mirren, Graham Crowden

IMDB Rank: 7.8/10

Part 1 Time: 89 Minutes 

Part 2 Time: 89 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) is picked up in a van by a group of musicians. The van drives towards London, England.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “About an hour maybe less” Van driver speaks to Mick. Screen goes to black with the word South.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “On and on, on and on we go.” Musicians sing in another room. Mick awakes in bed the following morning.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, Mick is lucky in the sense that he is able to get out of unpleasant situations. However once out, he is presented with an opportunity. Will these opportunities ultimately lead to Mick becoming successful?

Which part is better? The film documents the literal and associated life journey of everyday Brit man Mick Travis. Both parts have memorable comedic scenes and are equal in that regard. The pacing at the beginning of the film takes time to adjust to, but once into the film, audience members will appreciate the deliverance of this film’s material. Part two is given a small advantage as the audience is able to see not only the various social classes present within Britain but also fully appreciate the various film techniques used in displaying the comedic style of many scenes.

Academy Awards: None