A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)

In a lower-class London community of small shops, open-air vendors and flea-marketers, Joe, a small boy, lives with his mother, Joanne, who works in and rooms above the Kandinsky tailor ... See full summary »

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

Wolf Mankowitz (based on the book by), Wolf Mankowitz (screenplay)

Stars:

Celia Johnson, Diana Dors, David Kossoff

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Celia Johnson	...	Joanna
Diana Dors	...	Sonia
David Kossoff	...	Avrom Kandinsky
Joe Robinson	...	Sam Heppner
Jonathan Ashmore	...	Joe
Brenda de Banzie	...	'Lady' Ruby (as Brenda De Banzie)
Primo Carnera	...	Python Macklin
Lou Jacobi	...	Blackie Isaacs
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Abramowitz
Danny Green	...	Bully Bason
Sydney Tafler	...	Madam Rita
Sidney James	...	Ice Berg
Vera Day	...	Mimi
Daphne Anderson	...	Dora
Joseph Tomelty	...	Vagrant

Storyline

In a lower-class London community of small shops, open-air vendors and flea-marketers, Joe, a small boy, lives with his mother, Joanne, who works in and rooms above the Kandinsky tailor shop. Joe is innocently and earnestly determined to help realize the wishes of his poor, hard-working neighbours. Hearing from Mr. Kandinsky the tale that a captured unicorn will grant any wish, Joe uses his accumulated pocket change to buy a kid with an emerging horn, believing it to be a unicorn. His subsequent efforts to make dreams come true exemplify the power of hope and will amidst hardship.

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Plot Keywords:

cobbler the shoemaker | shoe | unicorn | tailor | horn | 

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Taglines:

CAROL REED, the master of The Unexpected, brings you a motion picture of mood and emotion that surpasses all your expectations!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Carol Reed's first colour film.

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Goofs

Python Macklin is clearly meant to be a British wrestler, yet he speaks in a foreign accent.

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Quotes

Madam Rita: You heard of Christian Dior? Well, I'm Yiddishe Dior.

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Connections

Featured in Talkies: Memories of Diana Dors (2017)

User Reviews

A gentle look at the innocence of childhood

A nostalgic film which works on many levels. It is as gentle a look at the innocent magic of childhood as Stephen Spielberg's E.T. It is also a look at the indomitable spirit of London's east enders only 10 years after the end of WWII. Another level is a look back at the 50's, which seem chaste by comparison with today. As one who grew up in the 50's, I can remember that it was exactly like that. Wrestling matches were gritty affairs which took place on Friday night's at the local drill hall, and attracted all the small town gamblers, crooks, bookmakers and "fast Eddies" in town.

The film captures the cockney humor and sharp wit of the polyglot community practically living on top of each other. People lived close to the small shops and businesses. Everyone knew everyone else and saw them all day. Their lives were lived openly, with the neighbors sharing in each others joys, sorrows, gossip, romances, and whatever. The most shining performance is that of the wonderful character actor, David Kossof, as the elderly tailor who strives to keep the child's dream alive.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1955 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Rua da Esperança

Filming Locations:

Aldgate, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Colour by) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.65 : 1