The Scamp is a 1957 British drama film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Richard Attenborough, Terence Morgan, Colin Petersen and Dorothy Alison.[1] It was based on the play Uncertain Joy by Charlotte Hastings. It was released in the U.S. as Strange Affection.[2]
| The Scamp | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Original British quad poster | |
| Directed by | Wolf Rilla |
| Written by | Wolf Rilla |
| Based on | play Uncertain Joy by Charlotte Hastings |
| Produced by | James Lawrie |
| Starring | Richard Attenborough Terence Morgan Colin Petersen Dorothy Alison Jill Adams |
| Cinematography | Freddie Francis |
| Edited by | Bernard Gribble |
| Music by | Francis Chagrin |
Production company | A James Lawrie Production |
| Distributed by | Renown Pictures Corporation (UK) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 mins |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
editA schoolteacher and his wife take in the tempestuous child of an abusive drifter. When the father returns, their lives become complicated by issues of corporal punishment, physical abuse, strained relations and various crimes.
Cast
edit- Richard Attenborough as Stephen Leigh
- Dorothy Alison as Barbara Leigh
- Colin Petersen as Tod Dawson
- Terence Morgan as Mike Dawson
- Jill Adams as Julie Dawson
- Maureen Delany as Mrs. Perryman
- Margaretta Scott as Mrs. Blundell
- David Franks as Eddie
- Geoffrey Keen as headmaster
- Charles Lloyd-Pack as Beamish
- June Cunningham as Annette
- Sam Kydd as shopkeeper
- Victor Brooks as Inspector Birch
Critical reception
editThe Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Having made his name in the Australian-set drama Smiley [1956], contemporary critics had high hopes for ten-year-old Colin Petersen. He tries hard in this well intentioned story of a delinquent given a second chance, but he never convinces either as the urchin son of alcoholic music-hall actor Terence Morgan or as the confused kid cajoled by teacher Richard Attenborough and his wife Dorothy Alison. Attenborough overdoes the bourgeois benevolence."[3]
TV Guide wrote, "Shaky direction and a cliche-ridden script mar any possibilities for this human interest story";[2] whereas Leonard Maltin called it a "Decent British drama."[4]
Box office
editAccording to Kinematograph Weekly the film was "in the money" at the British box office in 1957.[5]
References
edit- ^ "The Scamp". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Strange Affection". TVGuide.com.
- ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 806. ISBN 9780992936440.
- ^ "Scamp, The (1957) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ Billings, Josh (12 December 1957). "Others in the money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
External links
edit- The Scamp at IMDb
- The Scamp at ReelStreets
