Main Cast: Peter Sellers, Donna Mullane, John Chaffey, David Daker, Marjorie Yates
Release Year: 1973
Country: UK
Run Time: 110 minutes
Plot
Peter Sellers gives a splendid, understated performance in this gentle comedy-drama. Liz (Donna Mullane) and Mark (John Chaffey) are a pair of poor children trying to get by on the streets of London. In their travels, Liz and Mark get to know Sam (Sellers), a one-time music hall performer who these days performs for change with his dog on streetcorners. Sam takes the youngsters under his wing and helps remind them of the simply joys of living that they've forgotten in their hardscrabble lives. Also released as The Optimists of Nine Elms, The Optimists features several original songs by Lionel Bart and an incidental score by George Martin, best known as the man who produced The Beatles' recordings. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Bruce Purchase - Park Policeman; Bernie Searl; Katyana Kass - Ellis Baby; Michael Graham Cox - Park Keeper; Hilary Pritchard - Laundry Ladies; Pat Ashton - Mrs. Bonini; Tommy Wright - Dustman
Credit
Robert Cartwright - Art Director, Anthony Simmons - Director, John Jympson - Editor, Ronald S. Kass - Executive Producer, Lionel Bart - Composer (Music Score), George Martin - Composer (Music Score), George Martin - Musical Arrangement, George Martin - Musical Direction/Supervision, Lionel Bart - Songwriter, Larry Pizer - Cinematographer, Victor Lyndon - Producer, Adrian Gaye - Producer, Ronald S. Kass - Producer, Ivan Sharrock - Sound/Sound Designer, Gerry Humphreys - Sound/Sound Designer, Tudor Gates - Screenwriter, Anthony Simmons - Screenwriter, Anthony Simmons - Book Author
