Sparrows Can't Sing

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Sparrows Can't Sing is the name on US release in 1963 of a British film released in 1962[1] called Sparrers Can't Sing. It was directed by Joan Greenwood and was from a story by Stephen Lewis. The producer was Donald Taylor & the incidental music was composed by Stanley Black. It is based on the eponymous 1960 play, also by Stephem Lewis, performed at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Contents

[edit] 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 Wyndham's Theatre in 1961.

[edit] Film

The film was made on location, in Stepney. Sets were occasionally visited by nearby Vallance Road, boys, The Krays.

Sparrows 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[2]."

[edit] 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.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Award

Barbara Windsor was awarded the Best Actress of 1963, by the British Academy Film Awards, for her performance of Maggie

[edit] References

  1. ^ BFI film database
  2. ^ New York Times of 7 May 1963, at IMBD database
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