Sparrows Can't Sing
Encyclopedia
Sparrers Can't Sing is a 1962 British film. Based on a 1960 play, it was directed by Joan Littlewood
and was from a story by Stephen Lewis
. The producer was Don Taylor
and the incidental music was composed by Stanley Black
. The play, also by Stephen Lewis, was first performed at Joan Littlewood
's Theatre Workshop
in the Theatre Royal Stratford East
.
in 1960, using cast from the Theatre Workshop
, who later appeared in the film. While the script is by Stephen Lewis
, the play was developed using improvisational theatre
techniques during performance. In common with much of Joan Littlewood's direction, it was an ensemble piece.
The production made a successful transfer to the West End
at Wyndham's Theatre
in 1961.
, Isle of Dogs, Stepney
and around the theatre in Stratford
. Sets were occasionally visited by nearby Vallance Road residents The Krays
, who also made a cameo appearance towards the end of the film.
Sparrers Can't Sing is a comedy attempting to provide a representation of Cockney
life in the East End of London in the early 1960s. A collection of typical characters such as people at the local pub, local tarts, Jewish tradesmen, spiv
s and others are portrayed, (and possibly larger than life).
The dialogue is a mixture of Cockney
rhyming slang, London Yiddish, and thieves' cant
. The deliberate use of local dialect made the film difficult for even many Londoners to understand. The New York Times, in its review said "... this isn't a picture for anyone with a logical mind or an ear for language. The gabble of cockney spoken here is as incomprehensible as the reasoning of those who speak it." It was also the first "English language" film to be released in the United States with English language subtitles.
by the British Academy Film Awards
in 1963, for her performance as Maggie.
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
and was from a story by Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis (actor)
Stephen Lewis is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in the LWT Sitcom On the Buses, Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine and Harry Lambert in BBC Television's Oh, Doctor Beeching!.-Career:Lewis began his...
. The producer was Don Taylor
Don Taylor (director)
Donald Victor Taylor was an English writer, director and producer, active across theatre, radio and television for over forty years...
and the incidental music was composed by Stanley Black
Stanley Black
Stanley Black OBE was an English Bandleader, Composer, conductor, arranger and pianist. He wrote and arranged many film scores and recorded prolifically for the Decca label...
. The play, also by Stephen Lewis, was first performed at Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
's Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop is a theatre group noted for their director, Joan Littlewood. Many actors of the 1950s and 1960s received their training and first exposure with the company...
in the Theatre Royal Stratford East
Theatre Royal Stratford East
The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company.-History:...
.
Play
The play was first performed at Theatre Royal Stratford EastTheatre Royal Stratford East
The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company.-History:...
in 1960, using cast from the Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop is a theatre group noted for their director, Joan Littlewood. Many actors of the 1950s and 1960s received their training and first exposure with the company...
, who later appeared in the film. While the script is by Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis (actor)
Stephen Lewis is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in the LWT Sitcom On the Buses, Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine and Harry Lambert in BBC Television's Oh, Doctor Beeching!.-Career:Lewis began his...
, the play was developed using improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
techniques during performance. In common with much of Joan Littlewood's direction, it was an ensemble piece.
The production made a successful transfer to the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by the actor/manager Charles Wyndham . Located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, it was designed by W.G.R. Sprague about 1898, the architect of six other London theatres between then and 1916...
in 1961.
Film
The film was made on location, in LimehouseLimehouse
Limehouse is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is on the northern bank of the River Thames opposite Rotherhithe and between Ratcliff to the west and Millwall to the east....
, Isle of Dogs, Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
and around the theatre in Stratford
Stratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
. Sets were occasionally visited by nearby Vallance Road residents The Krays
Kray twins
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
, who also made a cameo appearance towards the end of the film.
Sparrers Can't Sing is a comedy attempting to provide a representation of Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
life in the East End of London in the early 1960s. A collection of typical characters such as people at the local pub, local tarts, Jewish tradesmen, spiv
Spiv
In the United Kingdom, a spiv is a particular type of petty criminal, who deals in stolen or black market goods of questionable authenticity, especially a slickly-dressed man offering goods at bargain prices...
s and others are portrayed, (and possibly larger than life).
The dialogue is a mixture of Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
rhyming slang, London Yiddish, and thieves' cant
Cant
Cant, canting, or canted may refer to:*Empty, uncritical thought or talk - see *The slope or angle at which something is set, such as the frames of a ship's hull - again, see *Cant , a secret language...
. The deliberate use of local dialect made the film difficult for even many Londoners to understand. The New York Times, in its review said "... this isn't a picture for anyone with a logical mind or an ear for language. The gabble of cockney spoken here is as incomprehensible as the reasoning of those who speak it." It was also the first "English language" film to be released in the United States with English language subtitles.
Plot
Charlie, a cockney sailor comes home from a long voyage to find his house razed. His wife, Maggie, is missing. Actually, Maggie is now living with a bus driver, Bert, and has a new baby, the parentage of which is in doubt. Charlie's friends will not tell him where to find Maggie because Charlie is known to have a bad temper. Finally Charlie meets up with Maggie and after a fierce row with Bert, they are reconciled.Cast
|
Stephen Lewis (actor) Stephen Lewis is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in the LWT Sitcom On the Buses, Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine and Harry Lambert in BBC Television's Oh, Doctor Beeching!.-Career:Lewis began his... • Caretaker Victor Spinetti Victor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who was said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner... • Arnold Yootha Joyce Yootha Joyce was an English actress, best known for playing Mildred Roper in Man About the House and George and Mildred.-Early life:... • Barmaid Queenie Watts Queenie Watts was an English actress and singer of film and television.... • Queenie Harry H. Corbett Harry H. Corbett OBE was an English actor.Corbett was best known for his starring role in the popular and long-running BBC Television sitcom Steptoe and Son in the 1960s and 70s... • Greengrocer Glynn Edwards Glynn Edwards is a British actor.Edwards was born in Malaya and trained as an actor at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He is probably best known for his role as Dave 'the barman' Harris, owner of the Winchester Club in the TV show Minder... • Charlie's Friend |
Award
Barbara Windsor was nominated for the award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role is a British Academy Film award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to recognise an actress who has delivered an outstanding leading performance in a film.- Winners and nominees :...
by the British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
The British Academy Film Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . It is the British counterpart of the Oscars. As of 2008, it has taken place in the Royal Opera House, having taken over from the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square...
in 1963, for her performance as Maggie.
External links
- James Booth tribute website: http://jamesboo.ipower.com/reviews/sparrows_cant_sing.htm