The Odd Job (1978)

 

Director Peter Medak's late 1970s British comedy starring Graham Chapman and David Jason is getting a Blu-ray release in both the UK and the US from Severin Films. 

Arthur (Chapman) comes home on the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary to discover his wife (Diana Quick) in the midst of leaving him. Distraught, Arthur gets drunk and tries to kill himself. The problems encountered in his attempt to do this by electrocution are possibly solved with the arrival of an Odd Job Man (David Jason) and after some discussion they decide the Man will kill Arthur at a random time when he least expects it. 

Then Arthur's wife returns and Arthur changes his mind. Unfortunately he has told the Odd Job Man that whatever he subsequently says his request should be carried out, which the Man attempts to do. Repeatedly. Killing a number of others in the process. 

A black comedy with suicide as its central theme, it's possible that modern audiences may find things to get upset about in THE ODD JOB, but we're essentially in 'comedy giallo' territory here. Arthur and his wife live in a lovely apartment, and the only major differences between this and the flamboyant Italian murder mysteries of the same decade is that Arthur knows exactly who is trying to kill him and that the other deaths are all by accident.

A cast of familiar faces includes Simon Williams, Carolyn Seymour (Medak's wife at the time), Richard O'Brien, Michael Elphick, Bill Paterson and George Innes. Severin's transfer is a 2K scan taken from Medak's own 35mm print and there's a note at the beginning warning that the quality isn't perfect. For those who may remember THE ODD JOB from its original cinema release (and from its mid-week afternoon 1980s screenings on ITV) it looks absolutely fine for a late 1970s British film, and the parts that are a bit faded won't impair your enjoyment. 

Extras include a two minute introduction from the director which segues nicely into the audio interview with the director which plays as a commentary track for 33 minutes of the movie, culminating in Medak's opinion that on a recent screening he found he now loved the film. David Jason and Peter Medak talk for the first time since the film was made in a 16 minute piece that is as nostalgic as it is touching. 

Writer Bernard McKenna is interviewed in a 20 minute piece about his work, including the Ronnie Barker half hour TV special that was the origin of the movie. Richard O'Brien delivers an excellent 14 minute interview, contextualising 1978 not just in terms of ROCKY HORROR but also Derek Jarman's JUBILEE and what else he was doing at the time. Other interviews include producer Mark Fortstater (19 minutes), and stars Carolyn Seymour (8 minutes) and Simon Williams (14 minutes).

        For an obscure late 1970s British comedy like THE ODD JOB Severin have to be highly praised for going the extra mile in getting perhaps every extra they possibly could about this little slice of 1978 British comedy culture. Well done, chaps.

Peter Medak's THE ODD JOB is out on Blu-ray from Severin Films on Monday 25th August 2025