Vous voulez voir cette page en français ? Cliquez ici.


or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Kid for Two Farthings

Celia Johnson (Actor), Diana Dors (Actor), Carol Reed (Director) | Rated: NR (Not Rated) | Format: DVD
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 23.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 4 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Monday, May 27? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.

Product Details

Product Description

Amazon.ca

This dreamy, quirky film, directed by Sir Carol Reed (The Third Man), combines elements of British "kitchen sink" realism with Fellini-esque fantasy and the Jewish fables of Isaac Bashevis Singer. A spunky little boy, Joe, lives with his mother in old Mr. Kandinsky's tailor shop in the midst of a bustling London bazaar a few years after the Blitz. Kandinsky fills Joe's head with stories of the magical power of unicorns and their ability to grant wishes. Eager to help his extended family attain their dreams, Joe buys a unicorn--actually a one-horned baby goat--from a vagrant. For himself and his mother, Joe requests his father's return from South Africa; for neighborhood beauty Sonia (Diana Dors, "the English Marilyn Monroe"), he wishes an engagement ring. Joe also wishes for Sonia's boyfriend, Body Beautiful magazine cover boy Sam, to beat the evil giant Python Macklin (Primo Carnera, a.k.a. "the Ambling Alp") at wrestling, and for Kandinsky to get a steam presser.

The story is sweet but the movie has overtones both serious and surreal: discordant jazz plays on the soundtrack and Joe's pets keep dying on him. The tale Kandinsky tells Joe about how unicorns became extinct is an obvious metaphor for the extermination of the Jews by the Nazis. Joe's neighborhood is a true cultural melting pot: one doesn't see many 1950s British movies with settings like this. The film might have been too eccentric to become a family staple, but it's quite fascinating today. --Laura Mirsky

Product Description

From legendary filmmaker Carol Reed (The Third Man, Odd Man Out, Oliver!) comes this charming fantasy about the power of childhood imagination. Joe is a young boy who lives in a poor section in London. He becomes convinced that through the mythical powers of a unicorn, he can grant the wishes of his mother and friends. Joe searches endlessly and finally discovers his unicorn—which turns out to be just a goat with a misshapen horn. Or is it? A Kid For Two Farthings is a touching film about the power of make believe.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Customer Reviews

5 star
4
4 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
5.0 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you Carol Reed! Mar 21 2012
By S. Simms
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The poor section of London referred to in the movie is Petticoat Lane. If you visit London be sure to check it out. Sunday is best for what is known as "Sunday Fun".

I saw this movie years ago as a teenager in the U.K. where I was born. I was impressed then as I am now with its captivating qualities and glad to have an opportunity to see this magical movie again after so many years. Jonathan Ashmore, who played young Joe, is the son of the late Rosalie Crutchley and is now an academic. The other lead actors are now deceased so it also left strong feelings of nostalgia remembering them in their heyday.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Magic, Realism Nov 13 2003
By Randy Buck
Format:DVD
I approached this DVD with some trepidation; I'd loved this film as a child, from black-and-white tv viewings, and was afraid I'd be disappointed seeing it as an adult. Happily, I still loved it! KID stands alone in the works of Carol Reed, an intriguing mix of fantasy and kitchen-sink realism, and it's received a nice transfer here. The Technicolor is luscious in that 50's way that makes you want to crawl up into the screen and live for a while. Very touching, nicely judged performance from Diana Dors, and fine work from favorites like Celia Johnson, Brenda de Banzie and Lou Jacobi. My only caveat is that this disc is apparently being marketed as a children's movie (I found it in the kid's section of three different stores in NYC), and, despite my childhood affection for it, KID's not really aimed at children. The Cockney dialect and different world of 50's Jewish London will probably be difficult, if not off-putting, for many active moppets. But for adults, and the kind of child who's reflective, dreamy, and curious about the world, the picture's still magic. Take a chance and see it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars A Kid For Two Farthings Oct 18 2002
By Amanda Bradley
Format:VHS Tape
I am now 53 years old and I still remember this movie from my childhood in 50's England. I so loved this movie, it was wonderful. I am about to order it. Of course, as an adult, I may have a different perspective now but I can hardly think I will like it any less. I can't even remember one other movie I saw as a kid, but I sure remember this one! Diana Dors was great. ...she really did an excellent job in this movie and it was sweet and touching as a story can get without being sappy. If you are curious about this film, I'd say, go for it. It will at least be an interesting look at British movie making in the fifties and you'll see what a different world it was back then. At best, you'll want to share it with your friends and as many kids as you can find that will sit still for a black and white movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Want to see more reviews on this item?

    Your Shopping Cart is empty.

    Give it purpose—fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics, and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    View Cart (0 items)

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback

      Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

      Amazon.ca Privacy Statement Amazon.ca Shipping Information Amazon.ca Returns & Exchanges