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Second Best
- Director: Chris Menges
- Writer: David Cook
- Producer: Judy Freeman; Dixie Linder
CGiii Comment
A simple tale of a complex boy - now that's an oxymoron.
As for CGiii, it depends how you interpret it.
Hurt plays a 42 year old bachelor who has never been kissed – insinuations about his sexuality aren’t made...but, reading between the lines...subtext.
It’s a well thought out drama – although it does become a little fuzzy in the second half – but, it is worthwhile for the performances and the soundtrack.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Graham Holt is a lonely middle-aged man who runs a postal substation in a small village in England. He decides to adopt a son. James is the troubled youth he gets with the assistance of social worker Debbie. James has been in an orphanage for years since his mother committed suicide. He adores his outlaw father John, sent to prison not long after the mother's death. Can James learn to love Graham? Can Graham settle for being second best?
Cast & Characters
William Hurt as Graham Holt;
Nathan Yapp as Jimmy;
Keith Allen as John;
Chris Cleary Miles as James;
Doris Irving as Adoption Shop Volunteer;
James Warrior as Senior Social Worker;
Jane Horrocks as Debbie;
Alfred Lynch as Edward;
Rachel Freeman as Elsie;
Gus Troakes as Jeffo;
Mossie Smith as Lynn;
Martin Troakes as Colin;
Shaun Dingwall as Graham, age 20;
Paul Wilson as Colin, age 20;
Alan Cumming as Bernard