Snowball

Like Pat Jackson's earlier film 'The Birthday Present', behind the apparently light-hearted title lies not a fluffy little comedy but a stark drama reminiscent of 'The Children's Hour', 'Le Corbeau', 'Panique' and 'The Wrong Man' which could have been called 'The Tangled Web'.

Sixty years on the tensions between bus drivers and their passengers are still a feature of daily life; as well as the malign influence of the tabloid press. Ironically only two years earlier Kenneth Griffith had already played a fare dodger in 'Chain of Events'; but this time the poacher is the gamekeeper.

A good film to show young people!

This film concentrates on a young boy who has a tendency to tell fibs. There are serious issues contained in this movie, not only child lies, but the way the press and a person's peers can treat an innocent person, going only on the word of a child.

Basically, this film is about how a childs simple lie can have repercussions beyond the mis-spending of a sixpence, and lead to things no one wanted, or expected.

Waterman and Jackson are great and show the acting skills that would later make them both excellent TV actors.

The film could do with an upgrade, as it still carries an important message.

8 out of 10.

Very much of its time, this film explores several issues including the power of the press, the damage a simple lie can do and and how an interfering busybody can cause such upset and tragedy. The story is simple on the surface - did an otherwise good boy (Dennis Waterman in an early role) tell a lie to cover up his mis-spending of a sixpence? But events snowball, gossip grows and an innocent man is accused of something of which he has no recollection. Strangely gripping and quite moving in parts.

Shows very well how "a little white lie" can have far reaching consequences which has happened in real life thousands of times and this will continue. Politicians are of course well practiced in this especially in 2022, no examples are required I'm sure. Interesting so see a 12 year old Dennis Waterman in action.

One shouldn't be surprised that this film should be so good bearing in mind that it was directed by Pay Jackson. A great performance from Kenneth Griffith's,not his usual mannered villain. Three couples all adversely affected by the complaining letter written by an unthinking neighbour.