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A Cry from the Streets
A Cry from the Streets
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Lewis Gilbert
Written by	Vernon Harris; Novel:; The Friend in Need; by Elizabeth Coxhead
Produced by	Ian Dalrymple
Starring	Max Bygraves; Barbara Murray
Cinematography	Harry Gillam
Edited by	Peter Hunt
Music by	Larry Adler
Distributed by	Eros Films (UK); Tudor Pictures (USA)
Release date	12 August 1958 (UK);
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£50,000

A Cry from the Streets is a 1958 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring Max Bygraves and Barbara Murray.^[2] It was written by Vernon Harris based on the 1957 novel The Friend in Need by Elizabeth Coxhead.

Plot

When a man is hanged for murdering his wife, their three small children go into social care. Bill is an electrician with the local care home, and is introduced to the children and their social worker, Ann. Growing ever fonder of the kids, he and Ann take them out on trips and picnics, to try to bring some happiness back into their lives. However, events spiral out of control when a child gets hold of a loaded gun.

Cast

Max Bygraves as Bill Lowther
Barbara Murray as Ann Fairlie
Colin Petersen as Georgie
Dana Wilson as Barbie
Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Farrer
Sean Barrett as Don Farrer
Mona Washbourne as Mrs. Daniels
Eleanor Summerfield as Gloria
Toke Townley as Mr. Daniels
Avice Landone as Rachel Seymour
Fred Griffiths as Mr. Hodges
John Moulder-Brown as Jacky (uncredited)

Production

Lewis Gilbert said he went to Eros asking to make a film with Max Bygraves for £60,000. They agreed if it could be made for £50,000, without reading the script, because they knew they would be able to see a Bygraves film profitably at that price.^[1]

The movie features two Australian child stars, Colin Petersen from Smiley and The Scamp and Dana Wilson from The Shiralee.^[3]

Bygraves wrote in his memoirs that Lewis Gilbert was the most sensitive director he worked with adding "I honestly believe that could I have had his direction for a few more movies, I could have been a good screen actor. He was the only director that would come up to me before a take and say things like: “In this next scene you are bloody well annoyed—you feel like telling the matron to get stuffed—but with the kids looking on you daren’t, so you bottle it up and just nod ‘Yes’.”^[4]

Reception

Box office

Kinematograph Weekly listed it as being "in the money" at the British box office in 1958.^[5] It was one of the twelve most popular films of the year.^[6]

Critical reception

Variety called it "a refreshing little film with the golden ingredient of heart."^[7]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This film's heart is so firmly in the right place that it seems ungracious to carp. Yet it never really faces the problems it poses. What, for instance, does one tell a child whose father has killed her mother, or a small boy whose mother has just committed suicide? Elizabeth Coxhead's book may have attempted an answer, but the film does not. Interest is spread among so many groups of people that there is no time for real character development, and the melodramatic climax is out of key with the rest of the story. Nevertheless, there is a warmly human atmosphere in this film and the superficially happy ending is not allowed to obscure the fact that there are still deprived children in need of help. ...Max Bygraves has a relaxed style and genuine charm, and it is pleasant to see an ordinary young working man believably played. But his integrity serves only to emphasize the theatrical posturing of Barabara Murray, who gives a cold and artificial performance in a part that calls for generous impulsiveness."^[8]

The New York Times wrote "this inquiry into the lives of some of the orphaned and homeless youngsters in a municipal children's shelter is realistic, bittersweet drama played with compassion and insight. Although it sometimes waxes melodramatic, it gently tugs at the heartstrings and, now and again, tickles the funnybone only as guileless kids can."^[9]

Leslie Halliwell wrote: "Mildly pleasing but unconvincing semi-documentary, with children competing with the star at scene-stealing"^[10]

Filmink wrote "it’s skilfully made by Gilbert, Bygraves is charming, and Petersen and Wilson are terrific."^[3]

Accolades

The film was entered into the 1st Moscow International Film Festival, and Vernon Harris's screenplay received a BAFTA nomination.^[11]^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b Fowler, Roy (1996). "Lewis Gilbert Side 6". British Entertainment History Project.
^ "A Cry from the Streets". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Vagg, Stephen (26 November 2024). "The Brief Movie Stardom of Colin (Smiley) Petersen". Filmink. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ Bygraves, Max (1976). "I wanna tell you a story!". p. 122.
^ Billings, Josh (18 December 1958). "Others in the Money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
^ "Britain's Money Pacers 1958". Variety. 15 April 1959. p. 60.
^ Review of film at Variety
^ "A Cry from the Streets". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 25 (288): 110. 1 January 1958 – via ProQuest.
^ Weiler, A. H. (24 February 1959). "Screen: Children in London's Slums; ' Cry From the Streets' Opens at the Guild" – via NYTimes.com.
^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 236. ISBN 0-586-08894-6.
^ "1st Moscow International Film Festival (1959)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
^ "Film in 1959 | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.