Themes: Death of a Partner, Unlikely Friendships, Starting Over
Main Cast: Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Joanna Lumley, John Light, Katie Carr
Release Year: 1998
Country: UK
Run Time: 104 minutes
Plot
A sort of mannered, British version of The Odd Couple (1970), this drama won four of the seven major BAFTA Awards for which it was nominated. Albert Finney stars as Reggie Cunningham-Jarvis, a former Royal Air Force squadron leader who is utterly debilitated by the death of his wife, allowing his estate to decay. At the suggestion of a social worker, Reggie is paired with Roy Southgate (Tom Courtenay), a retired milkman, orderly homebody, and fellow recent widower. Roy moves in and begins caring for Reggie's manor, and an unlikely friendship between the two men develops, although Reggie treats Roy more as a servant than a roommate. Their relationship becomes tested, however, with the arrival of Lizzie Franks (Joanna Lumley), a shop owner hoping to seduce Reggie for his riches. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Iain Jones - Younger Roy; Caroline Carver - Younger Grace; Ursula Howells - Mary; Mandy Hope - Adjoa Andoh; Jeremy Clyde - Vivian; Emily Morgan - Sabrina
Credit
Henry Harris - Art Director, Frances Tempest - Costume Designer, Cordelia Hardy - First Assistant Director, Paul Seed - Director, Dave King - Editor, David M. Thompson - Executive Producer, Alex Graham - Executive Producer, Jim Parker - Composer (Music Score), Michael Pickwoad - Production Designer, Gavin Finney - Cinematographer, Joanna Willett - Producer, Jim Greenhorn - Sound/Sound Designer, Andrew Davies - Screenwriter, Angela Carter - Book Author, Angela Lambert - Book Author
