Lucky Jim. James Dixon (Ian Carmichael)
Lucky Jim

Lucky Jim

  • 1957 film

Ian Carmichael stars in a humorous romp based on the novel by Kingsley Amis about an unlucky lecturer. Also features Terry-Thomas, Hugh Griffith, Sharon Acker, Jean Anderson, Maureen Connell and more.

Lucky Jim. James Dixon (Ian Carmichael)

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1957
Stars
Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Hugh Griffith, Sharon Acker, Jean Anderson, Maureen Connell, Clive Morton, John Welsh and more
Writers
Kingsley Amis, Patrick Campbell and Jeffrey Dell
Director
John Boulting
Producer
Roy Boulting
Company

24-year old history lecturer James Dixon is nearing the end of his first year's employment at a red brick university as it prepares to welcome its first chancellor, businessman Sir Hector Gore-Urquhart.

Having found himself ill at ease with teaching, Dixon has grown frustrated - particularly at the methods and outlook promoted by his department head, the esteemed Professor Welch: glamourising the past rather than being, as Jim sees it, honest about the toil, drudgery and hardship people faced every day.

Seemingly naturally unlucky, Jim faces a consistent succession of missteps, which only prove to grow further when he attends a function in honour of Sir Hector at Welch's home. But his innocent, blundering manner catches the eye of sweet Canadian Christine, the young girlfriend of Welch's snooty novelist son, Bertrand - and James too is instantly taken with her kindness and beauty.

Meanwhile university colleague Margaret has her sights set on becoming Mrs. Dixon, and Jim's drunkenness at the end of a rather difficult evening only succeeds in making matters worse!

Back at work, there is still the investiture of the new Chancellor to arrange, whilst Jim also finds himself delegated to give 'Merrie England', Welch's prized lecture - and Bertrand is none too happy that his girlfriend's eyes have been opened to qualities beyond his own "charms"...

Additional details

UK certificate
U
Duration
94 minutes
Distributors

British Lion

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Black and white

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 30th October 2022 at 12:00pm on BBC2
  • Friday 28th January 2022 at 1:00pm on BBC2
  • Friday 11th December 2020 at 3:00pm on BBC2

Recording details

  • MGM-British Studios