Maniacs on Wheels (1949)
"Once a Jolly Swagman" (original title)

Director:

Jack Lee

Writers:

Montagu Slater (novel), William Rose (script),

Stars:

Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano, Bill Owen

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dirk Bogarde	...	Bill Fox
Bonar Colleano	...	Tommy Possey
Bill Owen	...	Lag Gibbon
Renée Asherson	...	Pat Gibbon
Thora Hird	...	Ma Fox
James Hayter	...	Pa Fox
Patric Doonan	...	Dick
Moira Lister	...	Dotty Liz
Sid James	...	Rowton (as Sidney James)
Dudley Jones	...	Taffy
Cyril Cusack	...	Duggie Lewis
Anthony Oliver	...	Derek Blake
Pauline Jameson	...	Mrs. Lewis
Russell Waters	...	Mr. Pusey
Sandra Dorne	...	Kay Fox

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

title based on song | motorcycle speedway | motorcycle | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1949 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Maniacs on Wheels

Filming Locations:

New Cross Speedway Stadium, New Cross, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wessex Film Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film focuses on the sport of speedway racing which was hugely popular at the time of making.

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Connections

Referenced in A Profile of 'A Town Like Alice' (2001)

User Reviews

One of very few, if not the only Speedway Movie!

Once a Jolly Swagman was, for its time, a rather unusual film. Why? Because it featured Speedway Racing. Speedway in the pre-war days of the 1930s was brought over from Australia, a type of Dirt track racing. Stadiums used for greyhound races were adapted, shale put down and the sport took off in a big way. Wembley Stadium had over 100,000 people there to watch the England team against the Australians in the years following the war. So, the film was made, and was a success. Up and coming young actor Dirk Bogarde, and the wily young Bill Owen ( who went on to become famous in the British TV programme, The Last Of The Summer Wine) starred in it. The title? Well to answer Mr Kennett ( the only other person to comment wryly on this film) is because the sport originated down under, although I suspect Mr Kennett to be one of the famous Kennett brothers; Speedway Riders Themselves in the 1950s and 60s. Comment: Excellent British attempt to bring the sport to the film going public. 10 out of 10. August 2004.