Director: Peter Medak
Screenplay: Bernard McKenna and Graham Chapman
Based on an original play by: Bernard McKenna
Starring: Graham Chapman, David Jason, Simon Williams, Diana Quick, Edward Hardwicke, Bill Paterson, Michael Elphick, Stewart Harwood, Carolyn Seymour
Country: United Kingdom
Running Time: 88 min
Year: 1978
BBFC Certificate: 15
In the 1970s, it seemed as though any British sitcom would eventually make its way to the big screen. There were film versions of everything from On The Buses (three films), Love Thy Neighbour, and Are You Being Served to Man About the House, Bless This House and Dad’s Army, amongst numerous others.
Severin’s new release of The Odd Job shows it wasn’t just sitcoms that got the film treatment. The Odd Job started life as a play that was made into an episode of the 1971 Ronnie Barker series ‘Six Dates with Barker’, with Barker as Arthur Harris and David Jason as The Odd Job Man. Seven years later, the film version of that episode arrived, this time with Monty Python star Graham Chapman as happily married Arthur Harris, whose life collapses around him, leading to him becoming suicidal when his wife Fiona (Diana Quick) leaves him.
Arthur is unable to complete the act and enlists the help of a strange handyman, the odd job man of the title, played by Jason in a reprisal of the role he played in the TV episode, to do the job for him instead. Arthur’s wife unexpectedly returns to give their marriage another go, but the odd job man has no intention of giving up. Arthur and Fiona fear for their lives, which leads to some funny moments as they think the now contract killer is round every corner.
The very black comedy, co-written by Chapman with Bernard McKenna who had written the original play the film was based on, was directed by Peter Medak, famed at the time for 1972’s The Ruling Class and who would later direct ghost story classic The Changeling, gangster biopic The Krays and neo-noir Rome is Bleeding.
There are some very funny scenes in The Odd Job, particularly when Chapman and Jason share the screen. But before then, there’s an inspired sequence when Fiona leaves Arthur, who turns round in their living room and sees a man, played by Carl Andrews who would be best known for the soap Crossroads, sat in a chair. Arthur automatically assumes he’s the ‘other man’ and the reason his wife is leaving him, only to discover the man is actually the taxi driver who’ll drive her away.
Arthur’s attempts to end his life are frequently interrupted by other people, including the first appearance of the odd job man himself, who knocks on Arthur’s door and is very quickly enlisted to finish the job. He’s initially reticent, for about a minute, and then realises how much money he can make out of the deed. Chapman and Jason have some marvellous word play between each other, and it’s here where the script comes into its own. The dialogue is very funny at times, though not all of the jokes landed for me. When they do land, though, as they often do, they’re hilarious.
And what of those inspired scenes involving Chapman and Jason’s characters? Well, they don’t share the screen too often, but their first meeting is a hoot, as is one that starts at a zoo and becomes a chase back to the couple’s flat towards the end of the film. There’s also a very funny scene in a restaurant, where a head waiter, played by Joe Melia, is trying to get Arthur and Fiona to find fault in their meal, with Arthur in disguise to try to hide from the odd job man. It’s a standout sequence. I won’t spoil the end, but suffice to say it’s quite bizarre, very downbeat, particularly for a comedy, and yet feels quite perfect for the main character’s arc.
Chapman is in typically fine form, in a role that came shortly before Monty Python’s The Life of Brian would become a comedy masterpiece. But, for me, this is Jason’s film; he’s brilliant as the handyman contract killer; a very different, but still very funny, role to those he’d play in the likes of TV classics Open All Hours and Only Fools and Horses. He steals the film when he’s on screen and had me chuckling with laughter at times. His role was originally due to played by The Who drummer Keith Moon; how interesting that could have been.
Quick, perhaps best known for her role in the TV production of Brideshead Revisited, is great as Fiona. There are also some welcome small appearances by familiar faces from British TV and cinema, including Edward Hardwicke, who would play Dr Watson in the 1980s-1990s TV version of Sherlock Holmes, The Rocky Horror Picture Show creator Richard O’Brien, Scottish actor Bill Paterson, and Boon himself Michael Elphick. I particularly enjoyed every scene featuring George Innes as the very funny caretaker of the flats where Arthur and Fiona live.
There’s a neat score by Howard Blake, perhaps best known for his soundtrack for the animated Christmas family classic The Snowman, and some wonderful location filming in London.
In closing, I had a great time with The Odd Job. Not all of the jokes landed for me, but enough did, and the performances of Chapman and Jason in particular, supported by a wonderful supporting cast and evocative location filming, made for a very entertaining film. It’s frequently hilarious and a film that I feel should be better known.
Film: 
The Odd Job is released on 25 August 2025 on Region A, B and C Blu-ray by Severin, in a worldwide Blu-ray debut. The film was scanned in 2K from director Medak’s personal 35mm print, with the original negative missing. As a result, it understandably doesn’t look its best at times, including the soft and damaged opening credits. There’s fine detail throughout and some scenes look very good as a result, but it’s best to lower your expectations on the quality of the image when going in, as there’s frequent minor print damage, and it’s far from the best looking print around. The fact we have a Blu-ray release of the film at all, for a very funny film, and an important one given its director and cast, is cause for celebration. I had no issues with the audio.
Special features:
Introduction by director Peter Medak
Audio interview with Peter Medak
The Odd Job Men – Zoom reunion between star Sir David Jason and Peter Medak
The Unusual Work – Interview with writer Bernard McKenna
Producer, An Odd Job – Interview with co-producer Mark Forstater
The Odd Batch – Interview with actor Richard O’Brien
The Naughty Neighbor – Interview with actress Carolyn Seymour
Most Peculiar Craft – Interview with actor Simon Williams
The two-minute intro from director Medak sees him briefly explaining the context in which the film was made, including the part the band Pink Floyd played. It’s more of a brief interview than an intro.
The audio interview with Medak is outstanding. Playing like a commentary over the first 32 minutes of the film, the director shares so much background and insight into the making of the film, covering plenty of ground. Medak is a pleasure to listen to and clearly had a fond time making the film. I enjoyed all of the extras, as you’ll see below, but this was possibly the standout one for me, because of the amount you can glean from it.
The Zoom reunion with Medak and Jason is marvellous. Running for 26 minutes the pair are on inspired form, and clearly had a great time making the film. They share the conception of the film, memories of making it, including the locations, and some warm anecdotes about members of the cast. A joyful extra.
Co-writer Bernard McKenna’s interview runs for 20 minutes, and he is also on excellent form. He covers a lot of ground in an insightful and entertaining way, from the inception of the play and film, to working with Chapman, thoughts on Keith Moon, David Jason, Monty Python’s Life of Brian and being a writer. It’s another quality extra.
Producer Mark Forstater’s 19-minute interview begins with his first meeting with future Python Terry Gilliam, his involvement with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, funding for the film and memories of Chapman. Forstater touches on the original TV version of The Odd Job which is supported by a few short clips from it. The interviews continues the high quality of the extras.
The 14-minute interview with Richard O’Brien is really strong too, with the actor starting with a look at The Rocky Horror Show and Jubilee, before moving onto his thoughts on the Pythons and The Odd Job. He touches on the opening of the film The Ruling Class, directed by Medak, and recollections of whether he knew The Odd Job was based on a TV episode or not when making the film. O’Brien also shares his memories of some of those he worked with on the film and some of the scenes.
Carolyn Seymour provide her memories of the film in an eight-minute interview, which looks at her role as Arthur’s very naughty neighbour. She shares some lovely stories about the making of the film, and there’s a bonus of some brief behind the scenes footage playing in the background.
Actor Simon Williams talks about his career and thoughts on the film in a 14-minute interview. Williams plays the slimy Tony, who Fiona goes to after leaving her husband in the film. His recollections are mostly focused on the film and are another pleasure to hear.
So, Severin have provided a solid 2K transfer, despite the limitations of the print, and an excellent and insightful array of video interviews for a very funny 1970s British black comedy. The interviews total over two hours, including a fantastic 32-minute audio interview with Peter Medak that plays like a commentary over the first third of the film, and a warm Zoom reunion of the director and David Jason. Recommended for fans of classic British comedy.
Disc/Package: