Once a Jolly Swagman | |
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Directed by | Jack Lee |
Written by | William Rose Jack Lee Cliff Gordon (additional dialogue) |
Based on | Once a Jolly Swagman by Montagu Slater |
Produced by | Ian Dalrymple |
Starring | Dirk Bogarde Bonar Colleano Bill Owen |
Cinematography | H.E. Fowle |
Edited by | Jack Harris John Ferris |
Music by | Bernard Stevens |
Production company | Wessex Film Productions |
Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Once a Jolly Swagman is a 1949 British film starring Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano, Bill Owen, Thora Hird and Sid James. [1] It is centred on the sport of motorcycle speedway racing, which was at its peak of popularity at the time. It was released in the U.S. as Maniacs on Wheels. [2] The film is based on the 1946 novel by Montagu Slater. [3]
The title of the film refers to the first line of the Australian song "Waltzing Matilda".
Director Jack Lee later said he enjoyed making the film "because it was physical, there was action and I had good actors." [4]
Dame Thora Hird was an English actress and comedian, presenter and writer. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 films, as well as many television roles, becoming a household name and a British institution.
Sir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as Doctor in the House (1954) for the Rank Organisation, he later acted in art house films, evolving from "heartthrob to icon of edginess".
The Sea Shall Not Have Them is a 1954 British war film starring Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde and Anthony Steel. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert and is based on the 1953 novel by John Harris, about a North Sea rescue during the Second World War. The musical soundtrack is by composer Malcolm Arnold.
Bonar Colleano was an American stage and film actor based in the United Kingdom.
Ian Dalrymple was a British screenwriter, film director, film editor and film producer.
Jennifer Jayne was an English film and television actress born in Yorkshire to theatrical parents. Born Jennifer Jayne Jones, she adopted her stage name of Jennifer Jayne to avoid confusion with the Hollywood actress Jennifer Jones.
Wilfred John Raymond Lee was a British film director, screenwriter, editor, and producer, who directed a number of postwar films on location in Asia and Australia for The Rank Organisation.
Charles Montagu Slater was an English poet, novelist, playwright, journalist, critic and librettist.
The New Cross Rangers were a motorcycle speedway team which operated from 1934 until their closure in 1953. They also rode as the New Cross Lambs from 1934 to 1935 and then the New Cross Tamers in 1936. The team were League Champions in 1938 and 1948.
New Cross Stadium, Hornshay Street, Old Kent Road, in South East London was opened in the early 1900s as an athletic stadium but was mainly used for greyhound racing and speedway. The ground was adjacent to The Old Den, the then home of Millwall F.C. and was used as a training ground by the club when they did not have facilities of their own. The track was often referred to as 'The Frying Pan'. It was built inside the greyhound track and had banking all the way round. At the time of its closure in 1969 the stadium had a capacity of 26,000. The stadium was demolished in 1975.
Susan Shaw was an English actress.
The Man Inside is a 1958 British crime adventure film brought to the screen by Warwick Film Productions. The screenplay by David Shaw was based on a novel by M. E. Chaber and the film was directed by John Gilling. Bonar Colleano played his last role in it before he died in a car accident.
Boys in Brown is a 1949 black and white British drama film directed by Montgomery Tully, which depicts life in a borstal for young offenders. It stars Jack Warner, Richard Attenborough, Dirk Bogarde and Jimmy Hanley. It is based on a 1940 play by the actor Reginald Beckwith.
Once a Sinner is a 1950 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Pat Kirkwood, Jack Watling and Joy Shelton.
For Better, for Worse is a 1954 British comedy film in Eastmancolor directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Dirk Bogarde, Susan Stephen and Cecil Parker. It was based on Arthur Watkyn's play of the same title.
Over the Odds is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Michael Forlong and starring Marjorie Rhodes, Glenn Melvyn, Cyril Smith, Esma Cannon and Thora Hird and Wilfrid Lawson. The screenplay concerns a bookmaker who struggles to cope with his two mothers-in-law. It was based on a play by Rex Arundel.
Blackmailed is a 1951 British drama film directed by Marc Allégret and starring Mai Zetterling, Dirk Bogarde, Fay Compton and Robert Flemyng. It was adapted from a novel by Elizabeth Myers.
One Night with You is a 1948 British musical comedy film directed by Terence Young and starring Nino Martini, Patricia Roc and Bonar Colleano.
A Boy, a Girl and a Bike is a 1949 British romantic comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring John McCallum, Honor Blackman and Patrick Holt. The film's art direction was by George Provis. The film concerns the romantic escapades and adventures of a Yorkshire cycling club.
Under the Hammer is a British comedy drama television series which originally aired on ITV from 10 January to 21 February 1994. Written by John Mortimer, it is set at a London auction house.