The Optimists of Nine Elms

The Optimists
Directed by	Anthony Simmons
Written by	Anthony Simmons Tudor Gates
Starring	Peter Sellers Donna Mullane John Chaffey David Daker Marjorie Yates
Music by	Lionel Bart George Martin
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	1973
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Optimists of Nine Elms, also known as The Optimists, is a 1973 British drama film starring Peter Sellers and directed by Anthony Simmons, who also wrote the 1964 novel upon which the film is based. The film is about an old street musician (played by Sellers) who strikes up a friendship with two children - Liz, played by Donna Mullane, and her young brother Mark, played by John Chaffey. Neither of the child actors were featured in future films. A young Keith Chegwin also played a small role in the film.

The screenplay had originally been written several years earlier as a comeback vehicle for Buster Keaton.

Cast

• Peter Sellers as Sam
• Donna Mullane as Liz
• John Chaffey as Mark
• David Daker as Bob Ellis
• Marjorie Yates as Chrissie Ellis
• Patricia Brake as Dogs Home Secretary
• Don Crown as Busker
• Michael Graham Cox as Park Keeper
• Bruce Purchase as Policeman
• Pat Ashton as Woman at Nursery
• Keith Chegwin as Georgie (uncredited)
• Hilary Pritchard as Laundry lady (uncredited)

External links

• The Optimists at the Internet Movie Database