Never Apologize

Bearing in mind that Malcolm McDowell knew Lindsay Anderson for nearly 30 years, I was amazed when watching his one-man show that he couldn't come up with better anecdotes than the ones he shares here with a courteous but hardly riveted audience.

Lindsay Anderson was a respected but relatively obscure figure in cinema, he only directed seven feature films and none of them achieved sufficient commercial success to put him on the map. As Anderson's fame and recognition could never be the justifications for this project, you would imagine that there must have been a wealth of fascinating detail that got this the green light.

But there isn't any. This is just a dull affair performed in front of an American theatre audience who most probably came to see Alex from A Clockwork Orange and didn't mind the fact that they would be listening to reflections on someone they knew little about and whose work was barely acknowledged in the United States.

Unfortunately, there is little of interest, the stories aren't worth recounting, they're not funny and polite laughter is the most powerful reaction that comes from an audience whose lack of rapport with McDowell makes for awkward viewing.

Worst of all, McDowell leaves a very bad taste in the mouth with his decision to end the chapter about the late Rachel Roberts with a truly vulgar, demeaning story from the 1973 Cannes Film Festival that mocks the mental illness and despair that would eventually culminate in her suicide.

This is nothing more than a tedious scrapbook of unmemorable memories.

The other reviewer describes the film in detail with accuracy so I will dispense with the description. I was mesmerized with McDowell's presence and loving portrait of his prickly friend. It was a tour de force. His impersonations were outstanding. He has great stage presence and this tribute to the prolific talented amazing Lindsay Anderson with warts and all, is so touching. I suppose knowing the British film scene of the era is necessary, not sure if it would be so enlightening if one didn't know the films and actors. His unique anecdotes involving such marvels as Bates, Gielgud, Harris and Roberts were enlightening. The sound footage of Anderson singing during the credits was priceless. I enjoyed this one man's tribute immensely and highly recommend it.

This is a film of a one-man-show in which Malcolm McDowell talks about Lindsey Anderson. He's backed up by a few props (a lectern a chair and a table, a reading lamp) and clips from some of Lindsay Anderson's films including (extensively) _If_ and _O Lucky Man_. McDowell, of course, was the star of both these, which were Anderson's second and third feature films. _If_ was also McDowell's first film and _O Lucky Man_ (according to McDowell here) was his original idea. McDowell says he enjoyed making _If_ so much, and enjoyed so much working with Anderson, that he suggested they make another film together. OK, says Anderson, but only if you write it.

I note that the IMDb credits David Storey as sole writer on _O Lucky Man_. McDowell acknowledges that Storey re-wrote his original script (which McDowell has Anderson describe as "Awful!") This film is fun if you like Malcolm McDowell (as I do, very much), probably more fun if you know more about the British film scene in the 1960s and 70s and about Lindsay Anderson. It's a very affectionate portrait, funny in places, moving in others. McDowell does voices very well (John Gielgud, Alan Price, Christine Noonan), he reads from diary entries and letters and he tells a good story, but it is best when he himself is involved. The film sags somewhere in the middle, unfortunately just where the whole point of the title is explained. But it picks up again and Anderson's own description (read by McDowell) of his last meeting with John Ford, dying of cancer and McDowell's own description of Anderson's death are gripping.

Not a great movie (though the cutting is good especially when McDowell is doing his voices), but probably a true record of McDonald's show. Interesting for movie buffs and anyone drawn to the British independent movie scene.

I saw this film on the evening of the 25th January as part of the Gothenburg International Film Festival.