Carol Reed's A KID FOR TWO FARTHINGS offers a broad mix of filmmaking techniques and different kinds of genre intermingling into one successful whole. It mixes together a bunch of different sub-plots in its portrayal of life in London's bustling East End, and most of them are very successful. It helps that a seasoned cast of performers are around to bring their characters to life in a realistic way.
The title refers to a child character and his quest to buy a unicorn to bring his family and friends luck. He ends up with a goat instead. The kid's performance and dialogue are a bit annoying at times, but there are fun moments like the bit where he chases his new pet through the bustling market. The goat is endearing and the small tragedy of the climax really hits home. Elsewhere, we get a realistic romance between Diana Dors and her beau, the underrated wrestler-turned-actor Joe Robinson, who gives the best performance I've seen from him.
Another plot strand has David Kossoff's hard-pressed worker struggling to make ends meet, while the larger-than-life Primo Carnera is a delight as the hulking villain of the piece. This film's wrestling scenes are well staged and there's always a familiar face, like Sid James or Irene Handl, to bring colour to the background. I thought it was a great little film overall, one that brims with life and character.
The title refers to a child character and his quest to buy a unicorn to bring his family and friends luck. He ends up with a goat instead. The kid's performance and dialogue are a bit annoying at times, but there are fun moments like the bit where he chases his new pet through the bustling market. The goat is endearing and the small tragedy of the climax really hits home. Elsewhere, we get a realistic romance between Diana Dors and her beau, the underrated wrestler-turned-actor Joe Robinson, who gives the best performance I've seen from him.
Another plot strand has David Kossoff's hard-pressed worker struggling to make ends meet, while the larger-than-life Primo Carnera is a delight as the hulking villain of the piece. This film's wrestling scenes are well staged and there's always a familiar face, like Sid James or Irene Handl, to bring colour to the background. I thought it was a great little film overall, one that brims with life and character.