phyllisbrookss

This must be an excellent movie -- after all, I've been thinking of it from time to time over 50 years! I saw it when it was first released in the 50's and it's stuck in my memory. A gentle, wistful tale of life in a black township, with the hero a small-time thief who plays a penny whistle. I looked for it on line when search engines were less efficient and databases smaller. Now I've found it. I'm eager to see it again.

The cast are non-professionals, but the pacing and visuals are certainly of high quality. High point: When the local police lift a garbage can lid and see the thief inside, one looks at the other and says, "Man, the housing shortage is worse than I thought." Dumb, but endearing. Especially since they carefully put the lid back on, and go on their way.

It sits in my memory beside the original Theodore Bikel "Little Kidnappers." A keeper.

Another of the older generation chiming in! I saw this on its first release and have never forgotten it. I can still recite whole sections: "Granddaddy, granddaddy, don't eat the babby!" or the two little boys deciding what to call the baby girl: "We'll call it Edward, after the king"; "I still think Rover's a very nice name." And the scene as the Scottish girl washes her hair by the fire under the loving eye of the Dutchman, Theodore Bikel.

The black and white photography is magical. The view of the tall grandfather striding along with his flying beard, seen from the level of the littlest boy, is still tattooed behind my eyes!

Definitely a must-see.

I pair it with another long-time favorite, the South African "Pennywhistle Blues," as a cherished treasure.