The Odd Job (1978) – Film Review

Director: Peter Medak
Cast: Graham Chapman, David Jason, Diana Quick
Certificate: 15

By Sarah Morgan

Ahead of his forthcoming UK tour, Eric Idle has reignited the feud between himself and his former Monty Python colleagues. It’s something that has raised its ugly head over the past decade or so, with money seemingly at the centre of it all.

However, it’s nothing new; a rivalry existed between the sextet decades ago. For instance, after they went their separate ways following the filming of Life of Brian, Graham Chapman apparently became obsessed with being the first member of the team to launch a solo movie project.

“Fit of despair”

Chapman had, of course, taken the lead in both Brian and its forerunner, The Holy Grail, so it perhaps seemed natural that he would go on to have a big-screen career.

The project he embarked on to set the plan in motion was The Odd Job, a feature-length version of a 30-minute TV play written by Bernard McKenna in 1971. It featured an early collaboration between Ronnie Barker and David Jason, before they worked together more famously on Porridge and Open All Hours.

Chapman takes the role originally played by Barker, that of Arthur Harris, who returns home to his rather swanky flat overlooking Regent’s Park expecting to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife Fiona, but finds her in the process of leaving him.

In a fit of despair, Arthur decides to end it all, but then can’t bring himself to do it. Jason plays an odd job man who turns up at the flat asking for work. Arthur hires him to kill him, setting in motion a disastrous series of events in which the bodycount begins to rise, although Arthur continues to live.

It’s actually a rather ingenious premise, with some wonderful set pieces as the hapless odd job man manages to make a mess of his seemingly foolproof if outlandish murderous plans. The conclusion is, however, rather guessable, but it’s handled in such an affecting way that it doesn’t really matter.

Michael Elphick and Stewart Harwood pop up as gangster brothers clearly modelled on the Krays who, after Arthur and Fiona patch things up, agree to protect him and deal with his would-be assassin.

“Some gems”

Look out too for an eye-catching handful of scenes featuring Rocky Horror Show creator Richard O’Brien and Simon Williams in a typically suave supporting role.

Chapman achieved his dream of releasing a film before the rest of his Python mates, but cinematic success eluded him. He’s the weak link here, continually gurning in a fashion that worked well while playing bizarre characters in surreal sketches, but just looks ridiculous when he’s trying to be a ‘normal’ person.

It would certainly be interesting to contrast his performance with the Barker’s, but sadly the play isn’t among the special features. Nevertheless, there are some gems to be had, including interviews with pretty much every surviving member of the cast; Williams is a particular delight – I could listen to his stories all day.

But the highlight is a touching reunion via Zoom between Jason and director Peter Medak; the latter’s then-wife, Carolyn Seymour, who also has a role in the film, is on hand to discuss her memories.