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Old 21-09-2008, 05:00 PM
  post #1
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Default A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)
Carol Reed paints Petticoat Lane with fantasy splendour.

Young Joe is constantly enthralled by tales of a Unicorn, told to him by Kadinsky the tailor, he is mesmerised by the notion that a Unicorn can make wishes come true. Whilst roaming the market he happens upon a seller who has a one horned Goat for sale, believing it to be a Unicorn, Joe barters for the Goat and begins to see little miracles happening to the folk around the area.

This is a positively delightful film, based on the novel by Wolf Mankowitz, this is the first colour film from acclaimed director Carol Reed. A Kid For Two Farthings plays out the innocence of youth amongst a backdrop of working class trades folk in London's Petticoat Lane, young Joe believing the Unicorn has mystical powers, starts asking for little miracles to happen to those around him, low and behold fortunes start to take an upturn. That the miracles are easily explained is of no importance in the picture, it's the belief system that this one horned Goat, via Joe's prompting, instills in everyone, a hark back to the time in us all when we believed in magic and miracles.

The cast list boasts Celia Johnson {sadly underused}, Diana Dors, David Kossoff, Brenda de Banzie, Primo Carnera {perfectly cast as a hulking bully of a wrestler} and Sid James. Reed should take a lot of credit for getting such a joyous performance from Jonathan Ashmore as Joe, it's a lovely turn that has sweet innocence seeping from every frame. The film culminates in a well staged wrestling match that ups the tempo considerably, and then the film closes with a truly wonderful final shot that left this particular viewer feeling all the more richer for having just watched this picture. 8/10


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Old 21-09-2008, 05:18 PM
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The film (which I haven't seen) has a lovely score, which I've heard on Radio 2 from time to time.
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Old 21-09-2008, 05:23 PM
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A wonderful film. I can also recommend the original novel.
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Old 22-09-2008, 02:19 PM
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yes, a nice little film by Reed,much different from 3rd Man and the Fallen Idol but highly enjoyable.
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Old 22-09-2008, 03:45 PM
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Is it out on DVD ?
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Old 22-09-2008, 04:17 PM
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It's part of the Diana Dors box set.

And has been released as a stand-alone disc.

A Kid For Two Farthings DVD

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Old 22-09-2008, 04:18 PM
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Cheers Nick, I shall get it for the family.
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Old 22-09-2008, 05:08 PM
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running on Film4 if you have access to that station?
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Old 23-09-2008, 10:02 PM
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The star of this film for me is David Kossoff. His gentle guiding of the boy through his disappointments and his unruffled laid back manner is perfectly played.

A great film that is one of my all time favourites.
"I want to be a sailor - sailing out to sea"
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Old 24-09-2008, 01:36 AM
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Just purchased Mankowitz book, me and my youngest boy are going to read it first, before seeing the flick.
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Old 24-09-2008, 07:15 PM
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Hi.

Hmmm couldnt get into this film which both disapointed and suprised me.

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We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 24-09-2008, 08:05 PM
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Interesting article here about the Jewish aspects of the film.
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Old 24-09-2008, 09:10 PM
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Joe and his Mum were played a bit too posh, but otherwise I thought it was a delightful film, with a good atmosphere.
"Trust me, I'm a doctor...!"
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Old 25-09-2008, 08:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett View Post
Interesting article here about the Jewish aspects of the film.
That Matthew Reisz is a barrel of laughs ins't he?
"I want to be a sailor - sailing out to sea"
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