Sparrows Cant Sing

Play

The play was first performed at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1960, using cast from the Theatre Workshop, who later appeared in the film. While the script is by Stephen Lewis, the play was developed using improvisational theatre techniques during performance. In common with much of Joan Littlewood's direction, it was an ensemble piece.

The production made a successful transfer to the West End at Wyndham's Theatre in 1961.

Film

The film was made on location, in Limehouse, Isle of Dogs, Stepney and around the theatre in Stratford. Sets were occasionally visited by nearby Vallance Road residents The Krays, who also made a cameo appearance towards the end of the film.

Sparrows Can't Sing is a comedy attempting to provide a representation of Cockney life in the East End of London in the early 1960s. A collection of typical characters such as people at the local pub, local tarts, Jewish tradesmen, spivs and others are portrayed, (and possibly larger than life).

The dialogue is a mixture of Cockney rhyming slang, London Yiddish, and thieves' cant. The New York Times, in its review said "this isn't a picture for anyone with a logical mind or an ear for language. The gabble of cockney spoken here is as incomprehensible as the reasoning of those who speak it." It was also the first English language film to be released in the United States with subtitles.

Plot

Cockney sailor Charlie comes home from a long voyage to find his house razed and his wife Maggie missing. Actually, she's now living with bus driver Bert and has a new baby--whose parentage is in doubt. Charlie's friends won't tell him where Maggie is because he's well known to have a foul temper. But he finally finds her and, after a fierce row with Bert, they are reconciled.

Cast

James Booth as Charlie Gooding

Barbara Windsor as Maggie Gooding

Roy Kinnear as Fred Gooding

Avis Bunnage as Bridgie Gooding

Barbara Ferris as Nellie Gooding

Brian Murphy as Jack

George Sewell as Bert

Griffith Davies as Chunky

Murray Melvin as Georgie

Arthur Mullard as Ted

Peggy Ann Clifford as Ted's Wife

Wally Patch as Watchman

Bob Grant as Perce

Stephen Lewis as Caretaker

Victor Spinetti as Arnold

Jenny Sontag as Momma

May Scagnelli as Gran

Fanny Carby as Lil

Yootha Joyce as Barmaid

Janet Howse as Janet

Queenie Watts as Queenie

Harry H. Corbett as Greengrocer

Marjie Lawrence as Girl

Glynn Edwards as Charlie's Friend

Gerry Raffles as Lorry Driver

Award

Barbara Windsor was nominated for the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role by the British Academy Film Awards in 1963, for her performance as Maggie.

Home mmedia

A region B Blu-ray was released on October 12, 2015.