Carol Reed was one of Britain’s most successful directors. He is especially remembered for ‘The Fallen Idol’ and ‘The Third Man’, as well as for ‘Oliver!’ which won him the Academy Award for best director in 1968.
‘A Kid for Two Farthings’ appeared in 1955, and was his first film shot in colour. Like ‘The Fallen Idol’ and ‘Oliver!’, it has a young protagonist and captures childhood innocence in its storytelling.
Young boy Joe (Jonathan Ashmore) lives with his mother Joanna (Celia Johnson) in London’s East End, with elderly Jewish tailor Mr Kandinsky (David Kossoff). Kandinsky’s assistant is the muscular Sam (Joe Robinson), whose low wages mean that he is unable to marry the beautiful Sonia (Diana Dors), though the two are dating. Told about the good luck that unicorns can bring by Mr Kandinsky, young Joe spends his savings on a baby goat with a single horn in the middle of its head, believing it to be a unicorn. The boy is determined that his pet will turn around everybody’s fortunes, despite the reality of the tough life in urban poverty that they all face.
Overall, ‘A Kid for Two Farthings’ is an uneven film. It is in parts both sentimental and brutal. It is simultaneously about childhood innocence but also spends a lot of screen time on Joe Robinson’s drawn out wrestling matches. The story is Jewish in origin, yet the faith-based elements are removed almost entirely from the screen adaptation. Under the direction of a lesser talent than Carol Reed, the film would be an incoherent mess. As it is, it’s more of a curate’s egg. It is not Reed’s best work, but nor does it deserve to be ignored. There are some beautiful moments, not least the affection the juvenile lead has for his pet goat, as well as the recurring motif of a Rabbi with a gramophone.
The best thing about ‘A Kid for Two Farthings’ is the performances. As always, Reed coaxes a magnificent performance out of his juvenile lead – Jonathan Ashmore on this occasion, in his only film credit. The boy sounds too middle class to be believably a poverty-stricken East Ender, but his sweet and youthful optimism translates plausibly and movingly to the screen. Celia Johnson, perhaps best-remembered as the female lead in Noel Coward’s ‘Brief Encounter’, directed by David Lean, is perfectly cast as the boy’s dour but affectionate mother. Britain’s answer to Marilyn Monroe, Diana Dors, is well-cast as the blonde beauty for whose attentions several men fight (literally).
The best performance is David Kossoff as the loveable tailor Kandinsky, who is the only leading character who is obviously Jewish. His scenes with Jonathan Ashmore are the highlight of the movie. It is touching that an older man who has never had much luck wishes to raise up the spirits of a young boy and help him to hold on to his youthful optimism and belief in magic. If the film had concentrated on their relationship, it would have been stronger.
Look out for supporting performances by Sid James and Irene Handl, who demonstrate the calibre of ensemble cast Reed was always able to secure for his pictures.
The 4K restoration ensures that the picture and sound quality is fantastic. The colour patina gives away the period in which it was made, which is welcome or not, depending upon taste. There are several extra features on the disc, including a new video essay by film critic Ella Taylor called ‘Memory Lane’. Jonathan Ashmore, who was the juvenile lead for the film and is perhaps the only surviving cast member, give his recollections of his time making the film. You can also see a restoration of 1955’s ‘The Bespoke Overcoat’ directed by Jack Clayton. The Academy Award-winning short film is written by Wolf Mankowitz and stars David Kossoff (the two would be reunited for ‘A Kid for Two Farthings’) as well as the legendary Alfie Bass. There’s also an audio interview from 2006 with the late Joe Robinson, who plays the wrestler Sam.
Cast: Celia Johnson, Diana Dors, David Kossoff, Joe Robinson, Jonathan Ashmore, Sid James, Irene Handl Director: Carol Reed Writer: Wolf Mankowitz Released by: Studiocanal Certificate: PG Duration: 91 mins Release date: 26th February 2024 Buy ‘A Kid for Two Farthings’
