Sparrers Can't Sing

Infobox Film
name = Sparrers Can't Sing


image_size =
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director = Joan Littlewood
producer = Donald Taylor
writer = Stephen Lewis
narrator =
starring = James Booth
Barbara Windsor
Roy Kinnear
Avis Bunnage
Brian Murphy

music = Stanley Black
cinematography = Desmond Dickinson
Mutz Greenbaum
editing = Oswald Hafenrichter
distributor = Elstree Distributors
released = flagicon|UK 26 March, 1963
flagicon|USA 6 May, 1963| released
runtime = 94 mins
country = British
language = Cockney English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0057521

"Sparrers Can't Sing" ("Sparrows Can't Sing" in the United States) is a 1962 British film. [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/51753?view=release BFI film database] ] 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.

Play

The play was first performed at 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.

Film

The film was made on location, in Limehouse, 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 [ [http://www.jamesbooth.org/reviews/sparrows_cant_sing.htm Sparrer's review] accessed 5 May 2007] .

"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 like; people at the local pub, Local tarts, Jewish tradesmen, Spivs and others are portrayed, (possibly larger than life)

The dialogue is a mixture of Cockney rhyming slang, London yiddish, and thieves' cant. The deliberate use of local dialect, making it 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." [New York Times of 7 May 1963, at IMBD database]

Plot

Charlie, a cockney sailor comes home from a long voyage to find his house razed to the ground. 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

Award

Barbara Windsor was nominated for the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role by the British Academy Film Awards in 1963, for her performance as Maggie.

References

* "Film Review" by Maurice Speed - Publisher: MacDonald, 1964

External links

*imdb title|id=0057521|title=Sparrows Can't Sing
*James Booth tribute website: http://jamesboo.ipower.com/reviews/sparrows_cant_sing.htm