Once a Jolly Swagman
1949 British film by Jack Lee
- 2 January 1949 (1949-01-02) (London)
Running time
Once a Jolly Swagman (U.S. title: Maniacs on Wheels) is a 1949 British film starring Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano, Bill Owen, Thora Hird and Sid James.[1][2] It was written by William Rose and Jack Lee, based on the 1944 novel of the same title by Montagu Slater.[3]
It is centred on the sport of motorcycle speedway racing, which was at its peak of popularity at the time.
The title of the film refers to the first line of the Australian song "Waltzing Matilda".
Cast
- Dirk Bogarde as Bill Fox
- Bonar Colleano as Tommy Possey
- Renée Asherson as Pat Gibbon
- Bill Owen as Lag Gibbon
- Moira Lister as Dorothy 'Dotty' Liz
- Thora Hird as Ma Fox
- Cyril Cusack as Duggie Lewis
- Sidney James as Rowton
- James Hayter as Pa Fox
- Patric Doonan as Dick Fox
- Russell Waters as Mr Pusey
- Dudley Jones as Taffy
- Anthony Oliver as Derek Blake
- Pauline Jameson as Mrs Lewis
- Sandra Dorne as Kay Fox
- Stuart Lindsell as Christopher Yates
- Frederick Knight as Chick
- Michael Kent as solicitor
- Cyril Chamberlain as Jimmy, the reporter
- June Bardsley as WAAF Flight Sergeant
Production
Director Jack Lee later said he enjoyed making the film "because it was physical, there was action and I had good actors."[4]
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An authentic story of the dangers of a career based on skill and chance is vividly portrayed in this realistic film of speedway life. All the thrills and spills of speedway racing are conveyed in the excellent track photography. Dirk Bogarde as Bill gives depth to the character by some splendid acting. Bonar Colleano as Tommy provides comedy relief in his inimitable American way, and Bill Owen and Renee Asherson as Lag and Pat head a competent supporting cast. Many scenes are superfluous, and part of the plot irrelevant, but the film is original and entertaining, presenting the "back stage" side of track life with realism and sincerity."[5]
References
- ^ "Once a Jolly Swagman". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)". Archived from the original on 19 February 2017.
- ^ Robert Phillip (25 March 2002). "Speedway: Crump keen to savour the sweet smell of success". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ Brian MacFarlane, An Autobiography of British Cinema, Methueun 1997 p 357
- ^ "Once a Jolly Swagman". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 16 (181): 3. 1 January 1949 – via ProQuest.
External links
- Once a Jolly Swagman at IMDb
- Review of film at Variety
- Once a Jolly Swagman then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets
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Films directed by Jack Lee
- The Pilot is Safe (1941)
- By Sea and Land (1944)
- The Woman in the Hall (1947)
- Once a Jolly Swagman (1948)
- The Wooden Horse (1950)
- South of Algiers (1953)
- Turn the Key Softly (1953)
- A Town Like Alice (1956)
- Robbery Under Arms (1957)
- The Captain's Table (1959)
- Circle of Deception (1960)
- From the Tropics to the Snow (1964)
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