The Knowledge

Nigel Hawthorne - Mr. Burgess
Mick Ford - Chris Matthews
Kim Taylforth - Janet
Jonathan Lynn - Ted Margolies
David Ryall - Titanic
Michael Elphick - Gordon Weller
Maureen Lipman - Brenda Weller
Lesley Joseph - Val
June Watson - Lilian
Philippa Howell - Miss Stavely
Gary Holton - Eddie Hairstyle

The Knowledge was produced by Euston Films and written by award-winning playwright Jack Rosenthal from an original idea by director Bob Brooks. As part of his research, Rosenthal accompanied London cab drivers round the capital. They were so impressed that they awarded him an honorary taxi driver’s licence in his own name. The well-observed comedy drama features a cast of well rounded individuals and gives depth to their characters by depicting their disparate home lives.

The story charts the trials and tribulations of four men attempting to learn ‘The Knowledge’ and become London cabbies. Languid Chris (Mick Ford) is the youngest of the four and one of millions on the dole, Gordon (Michael Elphick) is a serial womaniser and has spent years working as a cowboy handyman, Ted Margolies (Jonathan Lynn) comes from a long line of cabbies and feels compelled to follow in his relatives footsteps, and lastly the elderly Walters (David Ryall), one of life’s losers nicknamed ‘Titanic’ who just wants to talk to people as an escape from his uncommunicative wife. All four start their prospective careers by visiting the Metropolitan Police Public Carriage Office to meet their examiner, Mr. Burgess (Nigel Hawthorne), a man with a fearsome reputation and nickname of The Vampire.

Mr Burgess explains that The Knowledge was laid down by the Hackney Carriage Act of 1843 and involves learning 468 runs within a six mile radius of Charing Cross; starting with Manor House Station to Gibson Square. Chris’ girlfriend Janet contributes to buying him a moped and initially is his driving force until she tires of the task’s intrusion into their private life. Gordon leaves behind an irate and frustrated wife (Maureen Lipman) and uses half of his time learning London’s road routes as an excuse to carry on an extra-marital affair. Margolies is the most confident of the quartet and is quickly pages ahead of his fellow Knowledge boys in memorising the routes. Finally there is Titanic, who attempts to learn all the runs on a bicycle and farcically wobbles all around London in an effort to do so – frequently falling from his bike. At intervals they are called in to see Mr Burgess for an appearance, which involves the learner attempting to detail one of the runs whilst Burgess endeavours to put them off with a series of diversions often involving throwing water, laughing loudly or putting Vicks nasal inhalers up his nose. Eventually, after twelve months or more, each learns whether he has failed or earned the prestigious green badge.