Whitewashing the walls and unintentionally the entire garden of a suburban home, mistaken identity causes the Optimist (Enn Reitel) to be hailed a new impressionist painter. His absurd abstracts sell for thousands and the art world flocks to this new master of the brush for his signature on sausages.
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When his muse, Mimi (Julie Peasgood), suddenly leaves, he is left in despair and attempts to paint his defining piece of art. Unveiled, the oil painting of three kittens is derided as a disaster. But back on the streets as a labourer, the Optimist unwittingly creates a true masterpiece.
ENN REITEL
the optimist
the optimist
JULIE PEASGOOD
Mimi
Mimi
BEVERLEY ISHERWOOD
MARINA LA ROCHE
models
MARINA LA ROCHE
models
KEVIN BRENNAN
Claude
director
ROBERT FUEST
production supervised by
ROBERT SIDAWAY
written by
ROBERT FUEST
ENN REITEL
devised by
RICHARD SPARKS
script associate
ROBERT SIDAWAY
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
location manager
KATHY FISHER
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
April 1984
our thanks to
Mazda Cars