As chief greenfly sprayer to both the Chinese and Indian Embassies, the Optimist (Enn Reitel) is ‘persuaded’ to smuggle messages into the Russian and American Embassies via roller towels. MI5 then persuades him to become a double agent.
In the mayhem of a poisoned cocktail party, he pulls off the job with the help of the bewitching Mata (Annette Lynton) but ends up in a Chinese takeaway, persuaded by a meat cleaver to work again for the Chinese.
ENN REITEL
the optimist
the optimist
ANNETTE LYNTON
Mata
Mata
ANTHONY CHINN
the Oriental
the Oriental
JAMES COYLE
Igor
LLOYD LAMBLE
M
M
director
ROBERT FUEST
production supervised by
ROBERT SIDAWAY
written by
ROBERT FUEST
ENN REITEL
devised by
RICHARD SPARKS
producers
ROBERT SIDAWAY
JOHN BRITTANY
photography
FRANCIS DE GROOTE
art director
MIKE PORTER
edited by
JOHN DANIELS
HILARY MAWDSLEY
music score by
JOHN CAMERON
Optimist theme by
DAVID SPEAR
title music arranged & conducted by
JOHN CAMERON
casting by
ALAN FOENANDER
executive producer
DAVID GIDEON THOMSON
assistant director
STEVE FINN
focus puller
JEREMY BRIGDEN
technical assistant
ASHLEY SIDAWAY
gaffer
JOHN PARSONS
sparks
RON HERSCHMAN
JIM KNIGHT
grip
JOHN LAKE
costume
JO KORER
JOHN HIBBS
continuity
CAROL SNOOK
make-up
MADELEINE MASTERS
production buyer
GWENDA FOORD
standby props
ANDY HAMILTON
runners
SIOBHAN MULHOLLAND
CHRIS MCWATTERS
STEVEN TYE
production manager
STEWART RICHARDS
production accountant
IRENE JAY
production assistant
SUE TONKINSON
assistant to producers
BEV LANGLEY
dubbing editor
JURIS EKSTS
dubbing mixer
TED RYAN
dialogue coach
CECIL KORER
production publicity
ALAN TREWEEKE
camera and lighting equipment
supplied by
CRYSTAL FILMS ASSOCIATES
laboratories
STUDIO FILM & VIDEO LAB
opticals and titles by
LES LATIMER OPTICALS
end credit stills by
JO KORER
TRISTRAM SHAPEERO
copying machine supplied by
NASHUA
The Optimist Company
for Channel Four
and Charisma Films
filmed on location in
London, England
March 1984
special sequences shot at
The Park Lane Hotel, London
our thanks to
Mazda Cars
