O LUCKY MAN

UK, 1973, 167 minutes, Colour.
Malcolm Mc Dowell, Ralph Richardson, Rachel Roberts, Arthur Lowe, Helen Mirren, Graham Crowden.
Directed by Lindsay Anderson.

O Lucky Man is a film to see by those interested in the impact of modern cinema, styles and themes - British comedy, fine acting by hero Malcolm Mc Dowell, by Ralph Richardson, Arthur Lowe, Rachel Roberts and many others in several roles each, Alan Price's song commentary; the innocent young man on the verge of life, possessed, exploited and almost destroyed by business, science, warfare, scientific experimentation, high finance, justice, as well as by persons using him. Not entirely pessimistic, the film shows a resilient hero whom we leave on the verge of middle age, still going, and some pleasant characters amid the ugliness. Director Lindsay Anderson offers much in this film for discriminating audiences.

1. The significance and tone of the title? The luckiness and unluckiness as seen in the prologue and the prologue recapitulating the themes of the film? Lucky from whose point of view? Mick's, the world's, the audience's.

2. How impressive a film is this? Is it a classic? Is it original or is it derivative? Does this matter? How much basic insight into the human conditions does this film give?

3. Comment on the distancing techniques used by the director. How do they involve the audience as well as distance the audience and make it think? The coffee prologue and its reprisal during Mick's court sequence? The use of the songs and of our seeing the group's singing the songs? The editing in chapters? The 'once upon a time' technique, the satire, the allusions to other films like A Clockwork Orange and Birdman of Alcatraz, the introduction of the clapper board at various times, especially at the end, and the introduction of the director himself, the vaudeville techniques, the echoes of silent film techniques, the echoes of tourist films and documentaries?

4. How important is the performance of Malcolm McDowell? How well did he fit this role and give it conviction? The background of If and A Clockwork Orange? His skill as an actor? The impact that he makes on audiences?

5. How important was the technique of using the same actors and actresses in different roles? Comment on the differing roles taken by Ralph Richardson, Arthur Lowe, Rachel Roberts, Helen Mirren, Mona Ashbourne, Dandy Nicholls, Graham Crowden, Peter Jeffrey, Mary McLeod?. How were their personalities used? How were the roles so different? What effect did this have on the audience and give the film another dimension of richness?

6. Comment on the impact of the songs, their style and lyrics: '0 Lucky Man', 'Poor People', 'People In Their Place', 'The Song of Change'. The use of hymns and musical background in the film what dimension did these songs add to the film and for the complexities of its theme?

7. How pessimistic a film was this? How many people were evil? How many good? Was it a good world for a lucky man to be in? How much optimism, especially in the ending with Mick reaching out? The celebration of the ending - real or hollow?

8. How was Mick an 'everyman' figure? The prologue establishing him as everyman and the link-up with Mick's trial? The picaresque adventures of Mick and the presentation of him as a pilgrim, continually on the move? The fellowship that Mick found with people - the brothers' sequence at the end? What insight into the human condition was given through this everyman figure?

9. How well did the film establish Mick as a personality in himself? The initial sequences of training to be a salesman, his relationships, success in his work? What changed Mick? How did he move from an innocent to a person who was exploited? From a nice kind of person to a greedy person? How much had he learnt? How heroic was he and how unheroic? His bourgeois ambitions? Was he likeable? Could audiences identify with him? The disillusionment in prison, the aims of a better life, the poor people attacking him, a desperate looking for a new phase of life? How well explored was the character of Mick and how well did we know and understand him by the end? Was he a lucky man?

10. Comment on the differing film styles for each of the episodes: the satire in the coffee factory, the naturalism of various sequences, the vaudeville overtones at the Wakefield orgy, the formalism of the church sequences and of the interrogations, the unrealism of so many of the sequences?

11. Comment on each of the phases of the film and the films comment on the world and society: how was the world of the film a microcosm representing the wider world, its comment on society in general: the world of commerce and the coffee, the conmanship and the unreality? The sincerity of Mick on the road viewing the accident and the insincerity of the police, not wanting the facts, looting the truck? Mick's relationships with Mrs. Ball, with Monty? The role of Monty as a guide and the gift of the suit? The comment on the world of the provinces in England and the ordinary people in boarding houses? The world of Wakefield and selling, manipulating, exploiting, of external morality and behind-the-barn immorality? The satire on the world of the army, the army installations, the interrogations and fascism, (the irony of the morning tea coming in?) on the danger of explosions, the need for escape, torture? The contrast with the peacefulness of the church, worship, the nourishing of the mother? The guiding of the children? How was this a religious oasis in an insincere world? The world of the motorway and people hurtling past? The exploitation of science and the attack on science with the transplants and the commercialism? The impact of the man who had become a pig? The hurtling escape? The world of music and Allan Price - as phoney and as real, Patricia as phoney and as real? The satire and attack on relationships and Patricia's hypocrisy? Their discussions about religion etc.? The attack on the world of big business - Sir James and his unscrupulous methods, his ruthlessness, his using Mick, Professor Stewart's death and the impact on Mick, the attack on the inhumanity of big business? The attack on warmongering and the honey, and the quiet deals in the sedate clubs etc., the frauds? The satire on the court and the flagellation of the judge? The prison world and the homosexual tendencies of the governor? The satire on the poor. the undeserving poor in the street who attack their benefactors? The sincerity of the soup lady and Mick's chance to help others" The world of film and its artificiality. yet its possibility of joy? What lessons were to be learnt in this rather vast survey of different aspects of the modern world?

12. Comment on the impact of the pleasant characters for an optimistic view of the film: Mrs. Ball, Monty,, the people of the church and the mother and children. the tea lady in the army installation. the music group giving a lift. the warder in the jail. the prison governor, the soup lady, the director Lindsay Anderson himself? What did these contribute to the atmosphere of the film?

13. List the victims in the film and discuss the pressures on people and why they become victims?

14. How much hope was there at the end of the film? The request for Mick to smile? His inability to smile? The nature of the slap and its effect on him? How genuine a smile? The nature of the celebration and the reaching out?