ONCE A JOLLY SWAGMAN
UK, 1948, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Dirk Bogarde, Renee Asherson, Bonar Colleano, Bill Owen.
Directed by Jack Lee.
Once a Jolly Swagman is a strange title for a British film about the speedway in England 1937-47. However, `Waltzing Matilda' is played at one stage during the film. The film was directed by Jack Lee, who was to direct such films in Australia as A Town Like Alice and Robbery Under Arms. Lee was later to move to Australia where he worked in documentary film-making from the '60s.
The film was a star vehicle for Dirk Bogarde at the beginning of his career, after his war service. The supporting cast includes a range of familiar faces and voices from British movies including Sid James as the boss of the speedway, Thora Hird as Bogarde's mother, Bill Owen as a rider and Rennie Asherson as Bogarde's girlfriend.
There are a lot of speedway sequences for those who enjoy them. However, the film also shows the average British family trying to cope in the years before the war, a son going to fight in the Spanish civil war, war service in World War II, the difficulties of soldiers settling back in England and finding jobs after the war. To this extent, the film is a film of its times, mirroring society as it was.
1. The focus of the title? Its meaning? `Waltzing Matilda'?
2. Black and white photography, the period of the '30s and '40s? The speedway sequences? War sequences? Ordinary living in London? Musical score?
3. The focus on the speedway, its early developments, skills, excitement, competitiveness, rivalries, the crowds and admiration, the fan clubs? Not seen as a career by the ordinary family? The talents and success of the stars? The dangers?
4. The focus on Bill Fox, his family background, Dick going to fight in the civil war, the family at home, the need for money? His losing his job in the factory? His interest in the speedway, the boss, getting a chance to ride, his being accepted? His career and success, the fans? His meeting Pat? The accident with Lag and her blaming him? His visit, the reconciliation, in love? Bill and his success, the parties, meeting Dottie, the society woman, the relationship, the party, his clash with her and her rejection of him? His friendship with Tommy and Tommy's support? Success going to his head? His manner at home? Enlisting, the experience of training, riding the bike? On the ship, friendship with Duggie, listening to his story? The end of the war, the return home, visiting Duggie's wife and listening to her story? The alienation from Pat, the meeting? Going back to the speedway, testing himself, the young man and the rivalry? Trying to get a job, the interviews, the comparisons with the past? His ride and his being able to give up speedway, relationship with Pat, his future?
5. Tommy and his work at the speedway, friendliness, support of Bill? Friendship with Dottie? The war, active service, welcoming Bill back to the speedway? The boss, entrepreneur, shrewd, making money? His putting his faith in Bill? His detachment about injuries and dangers?
6. Lag, the veteran, rivalry with Bill? The injury? His getting too old, drinking? His breakdown, in the institution? Pat and her support?
7. Pat, the chance encounter with Bill, attraction, going out? Lag's sister? The hostility towards Bill after the injury? In love with him, Bill's visit to the hospital? Commitment, alienation during the war? Meeting him again, talking through things and being able to reconcile?
8. The background of the family, the thrifty mother, the genial father, the brother and his going to the civil war, the apprehension at his not being in the procession afterwards? His death in World War II?
9. Dottie and high society, meeting Bill in the pub, the parties, her moving on the fringes of the speedway?
10. A picture of England during the pre-war years (with the glimpses of Hitler)? The background of Spanish civil war and its issues? The working-class ethic? Service in the war? Trying to find their place in post-war Britain?
