It’s the final part of The Daily
Constitutional Film Festival – programmed by London Walks Guides and
London Walkers aiming to find the greatest London movies of them all! Thanks to everyone who took part!
For the last word on great London movies, Andy Rashleigh is brooking no argument. Here he is with…
No.40: A Kid For Two Farthings
Let’s stop faffing about, the film which for all its faults gives the finest picture of 1950s East London and, for all its sentimentality deeply evokes my childhood.
Carol Reed’s ‘A Kid for Two Farthings’.
Wolf Mankowitz, like Arnold Wesker born in Fashion Street, Spitalfields, adapted his own story of a little boy who finds a one-horned kid and believes it to be a unicorn which will find enough treasure to buy his grandfather, Mr Kandinsky, a new steam press. At the same time Sam (Shmule in the novel, Sam in the film) Kandinsky’s assistant is prepares for a wrestling bout against ‘The Python’ to raise money for an engagement ring.
There are faults. Joe, the little boy, has been parachuted in from a prep school and, Kandinsky’s assistant, Sam is played by an inauthentic talent free hunk of Aussie beefcake. But Petticoat Lane and above all Fashion Street are thrillingly brought to life by the 1950s East End repertory company of – Sidney Tafler (‘You’ve heard of Christian Dior, well I’m Yiddische Dior’), Alfie Bass, Irene Handl, Sid James, Barbara Windsor et al. Celia Johnson revives her earth mother performance from ‘This Happy Breed’ – another great London film, and David Kossoff of course plays wise old tailor, Mr Kandinsky. Gloriously transcending them all is Swindon’s greatest export, Diana Dors, once described as a 'knowing, carnal, British Marilyn Monroe’. The Python is the genuine physical threat, former World Heavyweight Champion, Primo Carnera, ‘The Ambling Alp’.
But it’s the bustling life of the market that stirs the memories and I defy you, in the words of Sid Waddell, not to shed salt tears, when Mr Kandinsky cradles the dead kid in his arms and explains to Joe that ‘a unicorn can’t grow up in Fashion Street, but little boys have to.’
And here’s a clip of that London classic…
Andy
Andy crewed yachts in the Caribbean, was held at gunpoint in Haiti and delivered cars across the USA. He's a grizzled old actor/playwright with a wealth of experience, knowledge, unbeatable London stories and a deep love of his native city.
Forthcoming Film Walks with London Walks… Alfred Hitchcock's London on September 22, from Holborn underground, both at 10.45; and London on Film on August 25, Bank underground exit 3 at 10.45.
You can also book a private London Film Locations walk by calling London Walks on 020 7624 3978 or emailing [email protected].
A London Walk costs £9 – £7 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
