Carol Reed’s last film for the legendary Alexander Korda and his first in colour is the whimsical tale of a young boy, Joe, who buys a small goat in the belief that it’s a magical unicorn that will grant him and his friends’ wishes. Counter-balancing this is the equally childlike romance of Sonia (Diana Dors) and her body-building boyfriend Sam (Joe Robinson), and the latter's misguided involvement with crooked wrestling promoter Blackie Isaacs (Lou Jacobi).
A very rare example of an Anglo-Jewish film, it was partly shot on location in Petticoat Lane in London's East End, at the heart of what was still a thriving Jewish community.
Extras
Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
Sales Pitches: London Street Markets in Archive Film: archive films of Petticoat Lane and London Bridge market
London After the War: the post-war period is evoked in archive films celebrating the city and its people
On the Ropes: a strenuous selection of archive films about wrestling and boxing
All in a Day’s Work: actress Vera Day recalls A Kid for Two Farthings and her 1950s film career in a new interview
Interview with Joe Robinson (2006, 17 mins, audio only): the actor recalls A Kid for Two Farthings in this archive interview recorded live on stage at BFI Southbank
Image gallery
***FIRST PRESSING ONLY*** Fully illustrated booklet with new writing by Matthew Coniam and Dr Josephine Botting. Also includes extensive notes on the included archive films by the BFI’s Vic Pratt and Ben Stoddart
