A young Englishman dreams of escaping from his working class family and dead-end job as an undertaker's assistant. A number of indiscretions cause him to lie in order to avoid the penalties. His life turns into a mess and he has an opportunity to run away and leave it all behind.
Acting
Tom Courtenay's restless, twitchy brilliance.
Direction
Schlesinger's fantasy sequences that blur reality.
Writing
Witty, bitter dialogue from Keith Waterhouse's novel.
Director
John Schlesinger
Tom Courtenay
William Terrence 'Billy' Fisher
Julie Christie
Liz
Wilfred Pickles
Geoffrey Fisher
Mona Washbourne
Alice Fisher
Ethel Griffies
Grandma Florence
Finlay Currie
Duxbury
Gwendolyn Watts
Rita
Helen Fraser
Barbara
Leonard Rossiter
Emanuel Shadrack
Rodney Bewes
Arthur Crabtree
George Innes
Stamp
Leslie Randall
Danny Boon
Patrick Barr
Inspector MacDonald
Ernest Clark
Prison Governor
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Julie Christie's breakthrough role; she became the face of Swinging London months after this released.
The 'kitchen sink' movement's comedies aged better than its dramas — this is basically The 400 Blows but Yorkshire and funny.
GB
