A Kid For Two Farthings

Beautifully restored on Blu-ray format, A KID FOR TWO FARTHINGS is more about a slice of life in 1950’s London’s East End rather than a film with a solid plot, although it could be described as a comedy-drama, with a script by Wolf Mankowitz, who himself grew up in the Spitalfields area of London.

The film’s unusual title is a reference to the traditional Jewish Passover song ‘Chad Gadya’ in which a father buys a little goat (referred to as a ‘Kid’) for two zuzim. The main film follows six-year old protagonist Joe (Jonathan Ashmore) on his daily outings around the Petticoat Lane area and most of the story unfolding is seen through his eyes. Right at the start, Joe is enamoured by the large unicorn bust he espies outside a pub in said Lane, although with an impossible St Paul's Cathedral Dome just beyond it, realistically speaking it is a geographical impossibility (it looks good though).

He asks the kindly tailor Avrom Kandinsky (David Kossoff), for whom his mother Joanna (Celia Johnson) works, about unicorns and Kandinsky spins him a wonderful yarn, namely that such a legendary creature will bring everyone good luck and fortune. Living with his Mum above the rather down at heel tailoring shop, Joe – always eager to see his neighbours and friends in this mainly Jewish working class community doing well, Joe embarks on an expedition to find such a unicorn, initially without much success. The young boy’s world is comprised of small shops, open air-vendors and flea-marketers where everyone works hard to carve out a meagre living. Among these regulars is wrestler Sam Heppner (Joe Robinson), whose long-suffering girlfriend Sonia (a sullen Diana Dors) dreams of getting married and purchasing a luxurious bed, though there isn’t a lot of money about to fulfil her dream. Sam, who is in the employ of Kandinsky, eventually is forced into a wresting match with Python Macklin (the actual ex-world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Carnera) and this is where the big money is as opposed to body building. He also has a preliminary match with Bully Bason (Danny Green), the owner of the local gym, who becomes his trainer. Meanwhile, Mimi (Vera Day), another glamorous blonde who, just like Sonia, works as a seamstress at Madame Rita's Ladies Fashion Emporium, likes flirting, especially with Sam - who is in fact not initially keen on wrestling matches as it might damage his immaculate physique… but he needs the money! These are just some of the characters little Joe encounters on a daily basis. How he wishes he could make them all happy – and yes, in particular tailor Kandinsky who has to make do with an old steam iron - in contrast to ‘rival’ ‘Madam Rita’ (Sidney Tafler in full spiv mode), who runs his clothes emporium just down the road and is the proud owner of a state of the art steam press. We also have the other Sidney (Sidney James) as the spiv Ice Berg.

Lo and behold – Joe’s wish might just come true when one day, he encounters an old vagrant (Joseph Tomelty) shuffling along the street, dragging along with him the ‘kid’ in question (a baby goat), albeit with only one horn! Of course, Joe thinks it IS a unicorn and acquires it for a few shillings. Minutes later, the goat who, unbeknownst to Joe, is sickly, breaks away from the tatty rope lead - with Joe causing havoc chasing after the animal through the market. Arriving at Kandinsky’s shop and proudly presenting his ‘unicorn’ to everyone, the kindly tailor would be the last to tell Joe that his 'kid' is not a unicorn and everyone plays along. Joe is especially fond of Mr. Kandinsky and of Sam, who usually takes the little chap 'piggy back’ style through the crowded market. However, while Joe is made to believe his unicorn did bring luck to everyone, the film ends on a sombre and plaintive note.

Regarded by many as top writer Wolf Mankowitz's opus, it is only too obvious to see why. Born and raised in Whitechapel, the subject matter would indeed have been close to his heart! The film provides a loving and nostalgic look at the area as it was in the early 1950's - little of which exists today. It was then and had been a home for thousands of Jews - that is to say, those who were fortunate enough to escape the horrors of the pogroms. These days, it is no longer ‘Kosher’ but ‘Halal’ - fruit and vegetable stalls have been replaced by stalls selling clothes and tourist tack. Jonathan Ashmore (son of actress Rosalie Crutchley) is far too posh for an East End lad of that time – it was his only film role and he went on to become an acclaimed Professor of Biophysics. Plenty of un-credited cameos, for example from Spike Milligan (as a bearded Indian!) and Alfie Bass, who btw plays a ghost in the excellent Bonus short film ‘The Bespoke Overcoat’, filmed in the same year and with David Kossoff once again as a tailor. Atmospherically captured by cinematographer Edward Scaife, you can almost smell the gefilte fish and the salt beef sandwiches!

Bonus Material includes: ‘Memory Lane’ – a video essay by film critic Ella Taylor, interviews with Jonathan Ashmore and Vera Day, audio interview with Joe Robinson from 2006, Lobby Cards gallery and Behind Scenes gallery, plus the haunting short film ‘The Bespoke Overcoat’.