Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his poems, but poverty soon comes to him.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Helena Bonham CarterRosemary | Rosemary |
 Richard E. GrantGordon Comstock | Gordon Comstock |
 Julian WadhamRavelston | Ravelston |
 Jim CarterErskine | Erskine |
 Harriet WalterJulia Comstock | Julia Comstock |
 Lesley VickerageHermione | Hermione |
 Barbara Leigh-HuntMrs. Wisbeach | Mrs. Wisbeach |
 Liz SmithMrs Meakin | Mrs Meakin |
 John CleggMcKechnie | McKechnie |
 Malcolm SinclairPaul Doring | Paul Doring |
 Ben MilesRavenscroft Waiter | Ravenscroft Waiter |
 Dorothy AtkinsonDora | Dora |
 Mark ChapmanCourt Room Journalist (uncredited) | Court Room Journalist (uncredited) |
 Lucy SpeedFactory Worker | Factory Worker |