The Luck of Ginger Coffey

The author Brian Moore once said he preferred to write about life's failures since like Tolstoy's happy families successes tend to resemble each while failures are always failures in specific ways.

Robert Shaw in the title role as a garrulous Gaelic dreamer definitely qualifies in this adaptation by Moore of his own novel, in which the black & white photography of Manny Wynn vividly evokes the setting of a wintry Montreal.

Providing a good reminder of the time when director Irving Kershner occupied a niche making eclectic independent features long before he ultimately joined the 'A' list, it also has a haunting score by Bernardo Segal who would work with Kershner again on 'Loving'.

Robert Shaw is an Irish immigrant to Canada who's at a low point. Wife Mary Ure (his wife in real life) has had enough. He blarneys his way into an ill-paying job as a proof reader on a newspaper, and blarneys his wife into staying a little longer. But eventually she gives up and leaves. He holds onto his daughter, and gets a job as a delivery man for a diaper service, but his grandiose self-worth keeps getting in his own way.

It's a kitchen-sink drama with fine performances by the leads, and a first opportunity as a leading man for Shaw. He makes the most of it, and director Irvin Kershner gets some fine compositions out of the snowy Quebec location shooting. The story is a constant barrage of low-key misery that it soon becomes wearisome. With Liam Redmond, Tom Haarvey, and Leslie Yeo.

If I had not known the director's name, I could have thought it was a Tony Richardson, Lindsay Anderson or Karel Reisz, or even John Schlesinger's film, the lead film makers of the kitchen sink drama period of the UK film industry, typical of this period, kind of Ken Loach before ts time. But that takes place in Canada instead of Great Britain. Social and depressing dramas of course. And it's so interesting to watch Bob Shaw in one of his earliest performances. So delightful. A movie whoch the topic is so close to reality.

Based on the book by Brian Moore, The Luck Of Ginger Coffey, tells the story of a down on his luck Irish immigrant named James Francis "Ginger" Coffey, who has moved, with his family, to Montreal after he was let go from the army back home.

Ginger is a loveable, typically Canadian, anti-hero, who's always willing to help out someone who needs a hand, but is perpetually unemployed as a result of his lofty aspirations .

He tries to get a job in public relations or sales, but can't manage to convince anyone to hire him in those fields.

And anything less just won't do it for him.

The fact that he has little experience and no education doesn't help...so he effectively remains unemployed.

Because of this, his family faces financial difficulties, which really puts a strain on his marriage.

His wife, Veronica, wants to move back to Ireland, but Ginger gives the money he is supposed to use for the boat tickets to his daughter so she can spend a day skating with her friends.

His heart's in the right place, but his lofty ideals prevent him from having much success.

He'd be totally f***ed if it wasn't for a friend who's always willing to bail him out with loans, to keep the family afloat.

To his credit, he does make an effort to find employment, but is only able to secure jobs that he doesn't find fulfilling.

Eventually he gets a job as a proofreader at a local paper, after applying for an editorial position.

It's not what he had his sights set on, but he believes he can move up the chain to become a reporter.

But the pay is low, which only acts to further upset his wife, who is already angry at him for squandering the boat ticket money.

Thus, one day, upon returning from work, he finds that both she and their daughter have moved out.

This causes him to lose his apartment, forcing him to move into the YMCA.

And to make matters worse, he discovers that his wife and daughter have moved in with his best friend, Joe.

He tries to woo her back, but to no avail.

She is still too upset with him, but he does manage to convince his daughter to move back in with him...and takes a second job with a diaper delivery service, to cover the cost.

His hard work starts to pay off when one of his ideas get's him a bonus at the diaper company, and he's been promised a reporter position at the paper.

But, because he's always working, he's starting to lose control of his daughter.

If it's not one thing, it's another.

The problem is that he becomes blinded by his little victories.

As he squanders a promising advancement at the diaper company, out of the hope of being promoted to reporter.

But this never comes to fruition, and he's left without any job at all.

Having also lost and his wife and daughter.

To dull the pain, he goes drinking...and this ends up landing him in jail for public urination.

When it rains, it pours.

Having hit rock bottom, it's only fair that a little luck comes his way.

The judge overseeing his case let's him off because the corrupt police department tried charging him with a more serious crime than he was guilty of.

Worried about him, his wife also comes to see that he's ok.

In the end, he manages to make amends with the woman he loves so dearly, and show that he truly does love her.

Which, despite being a tearjerking moment, is actually quite a happy note.

The redemption of the anti-hero.

This film offers us a glimpse, not only into Montreal of the 1960's, but also into what it was like for an Irish immigrant trying to make it a new country like Canada...particularly in a place like Montreal, where the Scots and Francophones hold most of the positions of power and prestige.

Since the days of Redpath and the building of the Lachine Canal, the Irish were always considered second class citizens.

This is expertly portrayed in the court scene, where he becomes the laughing stock of, even the other criminals.

The film's conclusion (which remains true to Moore's portrayal of Coffey in the book) is particularly moving, as it remains sort of ambiguous, as to whether it's happy or sad.

In reality, it's a little bit of both...reflecting how life's little lessons are not always black and white...rather tending towards gray.

A wonderful story with an immigrant protagonist who's about as Canadian as they come.

8.5 out 10.

I'm writing this review as one of Mr. Robert Shaw's biggest fans. He utterly shines in this movie. This is one of his early, largely overlooked classics. When I need an overdose of RS, I put this one on. This film comes off raw, realistic and almost agonizing. Halfway through the movie, I feel so bad for Ginger and his impossible dreams. Shaw emotes Ginger's frustration and optimism with equal ease. Great location shooting, and Mary Ure always makes my heart wince. Excellent vehicle for the couple; Mr. and Mrs. Shaw shine in this one, folks! Simple Shaw before Quint, Treece and Kabakov came along.