A Cry from the Streets
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Novel:
The Friend in Need
by Elizabeth Coxhead
Barbara Murray
| A Cry from the Streets | |
|---|---|
.png) 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 |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £50,000[1] |
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.
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)
- Dandy Nichols as Mrs. Jenks (uncredited)
- Gillian Vaughan as Sally Percival (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 was originally called A Friend in Need and was made for Gilbert's own company.[3]
The movie features two Australian child stars, Colin Petersen from Smiley and The Scamp and Dana Wilson from The Shiralee.[4]
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’.”[5]