Bojan Scores
Cameraman
Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
Posts: 448
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Post by Bojan Scores on Dec 15, 2016 12:09:59 GMT
I originally heard about this film in the 1990s as it was supposed to be the inspiration for Guy Ritchie's 'Lock, Stock..'. It recently surfaced on a London film box set in an unsatisfactory form, however the current release is a much superior version. The premise of this 1963 film is that a Soho nightclub compere owes a bookie a large debt and spends the film setting up shadey deals to earn enough cash to pay the debt and avoid a beating/slashing. The lead actor Anthony Newley was somebody I was only aware of as a musician-singer and as Mr Joan Collins. So it was an absolute delight to see his performance as the squirming, trapped, but likeable Sammy. Viewers will recognise many of the cast, and Wolfgang Suschitzy and Ken Hughes are just the kind of guys you want behind the camera. I'm not sure where this fits in, in the post war Brit gangster genre (if at all), all I know is it's beautifully put together by cast and crew alike, with a typical jazz type score to add to the overall flavour. I think if you enjoyed Minder, Budgie, The Long Firm, and the Soho sequences from Our Friends In The North, then you'll enjoy this.
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Post by Steve Austin on Dec 15, 2016 14:06:43 GMT
Thanks for posting, I'll certainly try to get this and give it a watch I've seen some great TV/film from recommendations on this forum.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Dec 15, 2016 14:50:21 GMT
I had the DVD of this film in my hands whilst browsing in the BFI shop on the South Bank during a day trip to London on Tuesday. I didn't buy it at the time though. I've never seen it myself, nor am I aware or it ever being shown on TV. I would like to see it sometime though, if it's any good.
I think Anthony Newley was an actor before he became a popular singer. He played the Artful Doger in the 1948 version of Oliver Twist.
Charles.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 15, 2016 16:08:01 GMT
I saw it a few years ago, it is quite like a prototype 'Budgie', the small time ducker & diver with crim associates, except Newley's character is more of a kind hearted loser. Thinking about it, there are a few 'Minder' episodes it reminds me of, 'What Makes Shamy Run?' in particular, also the Sweeney episode 'May'.
Several similar films of this type in the 60's with lone antihero characters, up against the odds & heading for a fall. I think it began with 'Look Back In Anger' then similar films such as 'Room At The Top', 'Saturday Night And Sunday Morning' & 'This Sporting Life'. All seem to be about the dissatisfied young man, striving for something better than their parents had & wanting to escape but always doomed to fail, though the theme of the hounded down on his luck character is age old.
'West 11' with Alfred Lynch is another in the Sammy Lee vein, although directed by Michael Winner it's actually a very good film.
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Post by Steve Austin on Dec 30, 2016 23:41:05 GMT
Bought this on the strength of this thread, it arrived today. Really looking forward to watching this. Love this forum for, been some great recommendations so far
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Post by Steve Austin on Jan 1, 2017 12:28:02 GMT
I can recommend this film to anyone else who has not seen it. Beautifully shot in crisp black and white and without giving too much away, perfectly captures Sammy's growing desperation as he wheels and deals to save his skin. There's even an appearance by our favourite Sweeney drunk, Fred Wood from Bad Apple and Messenger Of The Gods, propositioning Julia Foster. Toni Palmer (Edi in Ringer) features too. Bill Owen has an un-credited part in the audience at Sammys' last show. The special feature showing the film locations was great and has whetted my appetite even more for this spring's Squad Meet. Thanks for the recommendation Bojan Scores.
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