Mondo Digital wrote:Incidentally, fans of British comedies should keep their eyes peeled for two very prominent future cast members of the hilarious Vicar of Dibley among the regular diners
In addition to Liz Smith (who I thought did an excellent comic relief turn as a kooky next door neighbour in the Argentinian set political serial killer/Repulsion-esque film Apartment Zero starring Colin Firth, though perhaps she is better known these days not only for her role in Vicar of Dibley but also as the mother in The Royle Family) and Roger Lloyd-Pack (who, apart from Dibley is probably just as well known for his role in the long running sitcom Only Fools and Horses), we shouldn't forget Gary Olsen who after he played the awful Spangler in this film went on to play the archetypal early 90s sitcom dad in
2point4children, which I still think of as one of the better examples of the 'gentle, unthreatening light entertainment sitcom' that the BBC has been falteringly trying to recreate for a decade with My Family. Unfortunately Olson died far too early to build on that success.
Greenaway's films have always had a nice space for comic actors (from Jim Davidson in A Zed and Two Noughts through to Martin Freeman in Nightwatching) which likely only helps emphasise the thin line between comedy and tragedy I guess!
Plus don't forget in Cook, Thief, Wife and Lover that there is a very early appearance by Alex Kingston (later of E.R. and the new Doctor Who series) as well as a very amusing scene featuring the musician Ian Dury in an acting role.