Description
BRITISH FILM SPECIAL:
ONCE A JOLLY SWAGMAN
No of discs: 1
Black & White.
Running Time: approx 96 mins.
Year: 1948
Director: Jack Lee.
Cast: Dirk Bogarde, Cyril Cusack, Bonar Colleano, Renée Asherson, Bill Owen, Moira Lister, Thora Hird, Sidney James and James Hayter.
This British gem captures genuine speedway history. The race scenes were filmed at New Cross, home to speedway racing from 1934 to 1963, and highlight the popularity of the sport at the time. The street scenes were shot in various parts of South London. Dirk Bogarde plays Bill Fox, a factory worker who tires of his boring job and defies his parents’ wishes to take a new job as a novice at the local speedway. Helped by his manager, (Sid James), Bill quickly gains success, fame and attention at the track through his daring driving. Here he meets Dotty, a glamorous society woman. As he moves into a new and exciting social circle, Bill is quick to forget his roots and his girlfriend Pat. However, he faces a dilemma… carry on racing and lose the woman he truly loves, or marry Pat and leave racing behind.
