julian_craster

Betting shops in British films

Can anybody think of a scene set in such an establishment that does not feature low-lifes, criminals, police informers et al ?

I am thinking of scenes in GET CARTER, THE SWEENEY and the like ....

batman

Not a film, but didn't Paul Nicholas play a betting shop manager in Just Good Friends.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Steve Crook

Almost every episode of Big Deal with Ray Brooks & Sharon Duce. His main game was poker but he was often seen in the betting shop as well.

Steve

stevie boy

at a slight tangent, Des Barnes the bookie who used to be in Coronation Street opened his shop and had a busy good Friday. There is never racing on Good Friday and the other night I think that I am right in saying that Jack had a yankee(4 horses 11 bets) but only named 3 horses. The best however was Pat Wickes running a shop single handed with no experience. There is a poster on here who is a bookie(works for Corals) may have some more examples.

stevie boy

very good programme, Ray & Sharon are real life fulham fans

penfold

And I'm never far away.....

Indeed; All the depictions of Betting Shops (That's Post '61 in the UK, post-'30ish in Eire) and their customers that I have ever seen are negative stereotypes. Seen always as filthy (cf. Trainspotting, The Most Disgusting Toilet in Scotland sequence) and hangouts of crooks and informers (Man In A Suitcase, being my favourite as a genuine and still-existing-from '68 Corals, The Sweeney, The Professionals, Drop The Dead Donkey, a short-lived Scots series called Bookie, Strangers, Hustle from last year )and where people go to get degraded, mostly in Fitz, but Josh in Casualty too (Another Corals, here in Bristol, although he may just have been attempting CPR in that episode), and I see you already have the laughable examples in our national soaps mentioned.
Pre '61 this was all illegal, of course, so by definition all illegal street-corner bookies had to be scum; from silent examples as in the Squibs series, an episode of the Bonzo series; Frank Cellier in Love on the Dole, trying to buy young Deborah Kerr (Did I mention an exquisite taste in women? No?).....The gang in Brighton Rock (The Book ) were explicitly a protection racket gang who victimised Racecourse Bookies...but it's unusual to be seen as likely to be on the receiving end of 'Sending The Boys Round'.
In all the films where I've seen Bookies portrayed, I can only think of one positive example; from about 1943, step forward the Patron Saint of Bookies Everywhere, Mr Gordon Harker, in Saloon Bar. He's the avuncular good guy who sorts everything out; in the sterotype loud checks and strange hat (You didn't think McCririck was an original did you?) he wins the day for the young couple in need of help.
Does anyone have a copy??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

penfold

Hi Julian, just an idle thought, or are you working on something??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

julian_craster

I was prompted on this thread by seeing Eric Portman in THE WHISPERERS....Eric visits a local Manchester betting shop (which appears to be owned by the local gangster, played by Max Bacon) to place a bet, and is offered a one-off driving job for some crooks !

I think there might be an interesting article on this thread somewhere.....

Remember 'Lonely', the smelly informer in the CALLAN series. who used to hang around betting shops ?

penfold

I haven't seen The Whisperers, thanks for the tip....and while I remember Callan, It's been years. We have, of course, neglected that other doyen of street bookies, later betting shops, Mr Flash Harry...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

CaptainWaggett

I've got another postive example for you, penfold. In The Captive Heart, Basil Radford sets up a bookmaking business, presumably on the various sporting activities going on in the camp, and he even pays out promptly, though it's pointed out that he doesn't have much opportunity for welshing on his clients. He wears a silly hat too.

penfold

Another one I've always missed....thanks!! Keep them coming, people...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Windthrop

Carry On At Your Convenience - A sanitaryware factory is saved from ruin because a budgie can pick winning horses. A sad comment on British industry.

The great Davy Kaye plays the bookmaker.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

faginsgirl

Not a film, but back to Corri, those two new guys who run the betting shop now? I dont see the point of them really, I know there is a storyline with Jack right now but apart from that they are in it with no storyline or acting abilities as far as I can see. Des Barnes WAS better.

We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CaptainWaggett

I've not actually seen The Galloping Major, also with Basil Radford, but since it's a 1951 film about horse-racing, there no prizes for guessing who plays the bookie

batman

The track bookies in The Blue Lamp helped the police catch Bogarde.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"