A rollicking adaptation of Kingsley Amis's first novel, Lucky Jim stars Stephen Tompkinson as Jim Dixon, a luckless lecturer at a provincial British university, trying to make a splash with his pompous boss, Professor Neddy Welch. Jim is also trying to make it with the woman of his dreams, Christine Callaghan, while simultaneously being pursued by the woman of his nightmares, fellow lecturer Margaret Peel.
One (of many) complications is that Christine is the girlfriend of Professor Welch's egotistical artist son, Bertrand. Another is that Margaret keeps attempting suicide to get Jim's attention. But despite his misadventures, Jim keeps his eyes on the prize: a leg up on the ladder to a professorship in medieval history.
Published in 1954, Lucky Jim had something never before seen in fiction: a working-class hero, well educated but unabashedly middlebrow. Amis's innovation came as a breath of fresh air to a literary scene subdued by philosophical protagonists and alienated artists. This satiric and farcical story leads merrily through scenes of virtuoso comic catastrophe.
Directed by
Robin Shepperd (as Robin Sheppard)
Written by
Kingsley Amis novel
Jack Rosenthal adaptation
Cast
Stephen Tompkinson ... Jim Dixon
Robert Hardy ... Professor Neddy Welch
David Ryall ... Stanley
Helen McCrory ... Margaret Peel
Anthony Calf ... Cecil Goldsmith
Hugh Parker ... Alfred Beesley
Robert Wilfort ... Evan Johns
Tim Wylton ... Mr. Wilson
Ursula Jones ... Mrs. Cutler
Penelope Wilton ... Celia Welch
Stephen Mangan ... Bertrand Welch
Keeley Hawes ... Christine Callaghan
Hermione Norris ... Carol Goldsmith
Anthony Smee ... Mr. Pringle
Denis Lawson ... Julius Gore-Urqhart
Ian Lindsay ... Bus Conductor
Dorian Lough ... Taxi Driver
Rick Warden ... Mr. Catchpole
This all-region DVD set has been transfered from VHS to DVD
