A Boy Ten Feet Tall (1963)
"Sammy Going South" (original title)

Ten year old Sammy travels 4500 miles on his own from the Suez Canal to Durban, South Africa.

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

W.H. Canaway (novel), Denis Cannan

Stars:

Edward G. Robinson, Fergus McClelland, Constance Cummings

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward G. Robinson	...	Cocky Wainwright
Fergus McClelland	...	Sammy
Constance Cummings	...	Gloria van Imhoff
Harry H. Corbett	...	Lem
Paul Stassino	...	Spyros Dracandopolous
Zia Mohyeddin	...	The Syrian
Orlando Martins	...	Abu Lubaba
John Turner	...	Heneker
Zena Walker	...	Aunt Jane
Jack Gwillim	...	District Commissioner
Patricia Donahue	...	Kathy
Jared Allen	...	Bob
Guy Deghy	...	Doctor
Marne Maitland	...	Hassan
Steven Scott	...	Egyptian Policeman

Storyline

A young boy living in Port Said, Egypt, narrowly escapes a bomb blast that destroys the apartment block where he lives. After discovering that both his parents were killed in the explosion, he decides to travel (on foot) to Durban, South Africa, to be with his only living relative, an aunt. During his 4500 mile journey across africa he has many adventures including a first hand experience with the slave trade and living for a time with a band of poachers and criminals. After several months of travel he finally arrives at his destination.

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Plot Keywords:

africa | journey | aunt | cardinal direction in title | cross continent trek | 

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Taglines:

Incredible Adventure in a Land That Knows a Thousand Dangers!

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Genres:

Adventure

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Boy Ten Feet Tall

Filming Locations:

Chobham Common, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Balcon Productions, Bryanston Films, Seven Arts Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The British Board of Film Censors asked for certain scenes between Sammy and the Syrian peddler to be either cut or toned down. The producers were after a "U" certificate for the film and so had to comply. In the original full length version, the Syrian, who comes across Sammy laying on a sand dune in the middle of the Egyptian desert, is sexually attracted to Sammy and was shown lusting after him and trying to have his way with him. However, two small parts of the supposedly cut scenes did make it to the final release print. In one, the Syrian is kneeling before the standing Sammy and feeling the boy's right leg, while quite plainly and excitedly ogling the front of Sammy's khaki bush shorts, before grabbing hold of Sammy's right wrist and trying to drag the boy down onto the sand with him, while Sammy tries to wriggle free from his grasp. Originally released at 129 minutes (all but five seconds) the film, after its initial release in 1963, was, for some unknown reason, trimmed of ten minutes of footage and the original full length release version is now believed lost.

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Connections

Referenced in Empire of the Sun (1987)

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Soundtracks

"Arromanches"
(uncredited)
Music by A.E. Kelly
Performed by The Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy
Chappell Recorded Music Library

User Reviews

Edward G.

My review is based on my one viewing of this movie. I saw it in 1967, two years after its release. I was seven years old. My elementary school was showing it after school. I went because the title intrigued me. The title in this country was A BOY TEN FEET TALL. There was a poster on the wall, made by a student (or a teacher) with the title in big letters next to a line drawing of an extremely tall boy. The actual movie was disappointingly realistic to me. I was expecting something like a Popeye cartoon. Ever since seeing it I've asked fellow movie buffs if they remember a movie in which Edward G. Robinson gives sage advice to a boy in the jungle. Nobody I know has ever heard of this. Maybe the fact that it is also called SAMMY GOING SOUTH has caused confusion, because I have always referred to it as A BOY TEN FEET TALL. In the half-a-lifetime since seeing this, I've come to realize that Edward G. Robinson gave it his all. Late-career Edward G. was truly a scene-stealer. He's the reason we remember SOYLENT GREEN. I'll give it 7 stars because I saw it when I was seven and seven is a lucky number. I was lucky to see what has become a rare performance by a great actor.