Magic Christian, The (Grand Film 1969, Peter Sellers, Raquel Welch)

In surreal movie The Magic Christian a homeless man (Ringo Starr) is adopted by the world’s richest man, Sir Guy Grand (Peter Sellers). When they set sail on Grand’s luxury boat, the hobo discovers a world of avarice and greed, where people will do anything just to get their hands on a little bit of money. Around him, famous celebrities as well as little people” indulge in embarrassing acts as Grand proves to his “son” that wealth is not everything. Roman Polanski, Yul Brynner and John Cleese appear in small cameo roles.

The song Come and Get It featured in the movie and was written and produced by Paul McCartney and was the first international hit from the pop group Badfinger. Signed to the Beatles’ own label Apple, Badfinger was conceived as the heir to the Beatle’s throne and scored quite a few hits in the first part of the 1970’s.

production details
UK | A Grand Film | 92 minutes | 1969

Director: Joseph McGrath
Script: Joseph McGrath, Terry Southern,

cast
Frank Thornton as Police Inspector
Wilfrid Hyde-White as Captain Reginald K. Klaus
Dennis Price as Winthrop
Richard Attenborough as Oxford Coach
Isabel Jeans as Dame Agnes Grand
Leonard Frey as Laurence Faggot
Christopher Lee as Ship’s Vampire
Yul Brynner as Transvestite Cabaret Singer
Graham Chapman as Oxford Crew
Laurence Harvey as Hamlet
Peter Sellers as Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE
Ringo Starr as Youngman Grand, Esq.
Caroline Blakiston as Hon. Esther Grand
Spike Milligan as Traffic Warden
John Cleese as Director in Sotheby’s
John Le Mesurier as Sir John
Raquel Welch as Priestess of the Whip
Roman Polański as solitary drinker
Clive Dunn as Sommelier
Patrick Holt as Duke in Sotheby’s
Ferdy Mayne as Edouard
James Laurenson as Oxford Crew

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