The Small World of Sammy Lee

I saw this upon its original release in 1963 and loved. Never having being able to see it again I was sorry to miss it at a rare BFI Southbank showing last year and now here it is on DVD. To be honest, I remember enjoying it despite its gambling debt theme but now find this an annoyance. The b/w cinematography is still wonderful and this is a great portrayal of early 60s Soho, when it was more Jewish and Italian than Chinese and gay as it is now. Later in the 60s I was old enough to visit pubs and music venues and recall that older prostitutes still stood on the corners, though not anymore. There is still a buzz to the place and the street layout is unchanged but it doesn't have quite that jump and dare accurately depicted here. Newley is excellent in the central role and is well supported by Wilfred Brambell and Julia Foster.

I was engaged by the U.S. Distributor, Seven Arts Films, to produce a trailer for the film. Notwithstanding that both the film and my trailer were quite good, it did not enjoy good box office. Seven arts changed the title to "The Small VIOLENT World of Sammy Lee", had me do a new, more action oriented trailer, and they rereleased it under that title. It did somewhat better in that incarnation, but was still not the blockbuster they had hoped it would be.

As an additional aside, in addition to the BBC t.v. play, there was a U.S. version of the television show, as well. If memory serves, it starred Mickey Rooney.

I recently watched this movie in a newly made print with German subtitles during an Austrian film festival which showed a retrospective of the work of Wolf Suschitzky, the D.O.P. of this movie. Though 95 years old, he was present and I asked him afterward about the superb quality of the picture with "the blacks as real blacks and the whites glaringly white". It was probably shot with English Ilford stock of low sensitivity. Suschitzky pointed out that the most important thing is the quality of the print material and how experienced labs can handle this. I recommend this movie for anyone seriously interested in black and white film work and for getting moody, well-lit images in a real naturalistic location. Suschitzky tried to avoid bare grays so the grain won't show and even under night conditions there are parts overexposed and therefore white. Overall this movie has a great speed made-up of daring images, a superb jazz soundtrack and fast editing. Fortunately, it doesn't have a hand-held look, every image is carefully lit and composed. It is an enjoyable journey into the live of a very nervous and hasty man who doesn't seem to get anything right and instead is digging into trouble deeper and deeper. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available on DVD right now so watch out for the cinema experience.

This is definitely worth a look if it comes your way. Tony Newly is gives an uncharacteristicly understated but perfectly judged performance in this evocation of 60s Soho low life. The cast is littered with top quality British acting talent in all the minor roles. A sleazy Robert Stephens as clubbowner; Warren Mitchell and Miriam Karlin a jewish deli owner and his wife give what might seem charicature jewish performances in 21stC but no less endearing for that. Plus Wilfred Bramble, Alfred Burke and Roy Kinnear and a host of others including a very young and delicate Julia Foster If you knew Soho in the 60s there's a huge amount of gorgeous b&w location photography to bring a smile. Spot the landmarks including the famous '2 I's' coffee bar! The acting great and pretty authentic for the period. The plot - seedy entertainer owes gambling debts and needs to raise cash to pay off hoods - is low key and the violence gentle by modern standards but the device keep the momentum going nicely Don't miss it

I remember the Soho shown here so well.I used to walk through Soho on the way to the cinema.It has changed so much since this film was made.Newley gives a marvellous performance as the huckster trying to raise what would now be £5500 to pay his gambling debt or face a beating.Soho was in the grip of gangsters at this time and Could be a violent place The camerawork was superb.You get the impression that Newley is being filmed from a hidden camera.Probably his best role.