West 11

This outstanding and gritty thriller depicts the seedier side of life in London’s Notting Hill of the early Sixties. With its colourful characters from very different backgrounds that are united by their feeling of alienation and loneliness, the depiction of bedsit land and sleazy jazz clubs adds to the strong atmosphere of social realism.

Central character is Joe Beckett (Alfred Lynch), a young misfit with too much time on his hands and no idea as to what he wants from life. He does know, however, that he won’t be staying in his duller than dull job as a shop assistant and walks out before he gets fired. Thus begins a series of mishaps and run-ins for him, starting with his amoral off-and-on ‘girlfriend’ Ilsa (Kathleen Breck), an attractive brunette who is used to getting her way and indecisive when it comes to love. Things are not much different for Joe, who describes himself as ‘an emotional leper’. In a coffee shop makes the acquaintance of ex-army veteran Richard Dyce (Eric Portman), an elderly gentleman who seems to take a specific interest in him for reasons Joe can’t figure out. All he knows is that Dyce has employed a man to follow him around wherever he goes. After quarrels with his mother who wants to see grandchildren one day, and a fight with his landlady Mrs. Hartley (Freda Jackson), Joe gets increasingly disillusioned and finds sympathy and understanding in the arms of Georgia (Diana Dors), an attractive and mature blonde who is just as lost as he is. After another run-in with his landlady, Joe finds himself on the street and encounters the eccentric and old Mr. Cash (Finley Currie), who – surrounded by tons of books in his ramshackle basement flat – is forever in search for the meaning of life.

Drifting from coffee shops to jazz cafes with no specific plan or aim, Joe is picked up again by Mr. Dyce, who now makes him an offer: he will pay him a generous amount of cash if he ‘disposes’ of Dyce’s rich aunt Mildred in the countryside, so Dyce can inherit her money and estate. At first Joe is outraged by the offer, but then has a change of mind for he could do with much needed cash! After having travelled to the South coast and ready to bump off the old lady, his nerves get the better of him and he is about to sneak out of the mansion when he suddenly gets confronted by Mildred. In the ensuing struggle he accidentally pushes her down the stairs and thus kills her without having carried out the murder as planned… and Joes troubles are far from being over!

The brilliantly gritty camerawork by Otto Heller perfectly matches the twilight world of Notting Hill’s free-living spirits juxtaposed against the fading grandeur of the area’s formerly magnificent buildings – postcode W11. Michael Winner directs his cast in a superb manner that brings out all the nuances from aggressive to vulnerable to disillusioned. In particular Alfred Lynch as the youngster who refuses to conform to society’s rules and Diana Dors as a lonely woman longing for love are convincing and ‘real’. Another fine performance is that of Scottish actor Finlay Currie in the role of Mr. Cash. Currie is probably best known for his portrayal as the convict Magwitch in the 1946 version of Dickens’ Great Expectations.
West 11 is based on the play ‘The Furnished Room’ by Laura del Rivo and the screenplay is by Keith Waterhouse (Billy Liar) and Willis Hall.

This DVD release – part of the British Film Collection – has the following EXTRAS:

* Original theatrical trailer
* Alternative scenes made for the overseas market
* Image gallery
* Promotional material PDFs