|
|
List Price: $19.95Amazon.com's Price: $17.99 You Save: $1.96 (10%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Now!
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780780027107
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
ISBN: 0780027108
Label: Homevision
Manufacturer: Homevision
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Homevision
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 21, 2003
Running Time: 90 minutes
Sales Rank: 71890
Studio: Homevision
Theatrical Release Date: 1955
Editorial Review:
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.
Amazon.com:
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
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - In Living Color!
Does anybody actually watch these films before reviewing them? One reviewer, basing comments on childhood memories, says this movie is in black and white. In fact, it's in wonderful color (using an old process that makes every scene look beautifully hand-tinted)! As for the movie, this is a sentimental tale of the very best kind, a story about caring and sharing and childhood innocence made by a first-rate director (Oscar-winner Carol Reed). It's a largely forgotten treasure that richly deserves ... Read More
Rating:  - Not ba-a-a-ad for
Joe (Jonathan Ashmore)is a six-year-old slum boy who believes in the magical power of unicorns. A perverse old man convinces Joe that if he could only come upon the legendary unicorn, he could grant all the wishes of his poor neighbors. Joe finds a unicorn, but it is a single-horned goat - will it have magical powers after all?
This movie holds some magic for nostalgic fans and little kids, but the rest might want to save their farthings.
Staci Layne Wilson
Rating:  - Magic, Realism
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 ... Read More
Rating: - A Kid For Two Farthings
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 ... Read More
Rating: - It has become a lasting movie
I had seen this movie when I was in 13. I was so touched, I've never forgotten this film since I ever had It made me think about "truth life" even though I was too young. After all, It comes to the best infleuential movie of my childhood. Recently, I found it by my contry websites that related movie. I'm so surprised. 'cuz ..I thought that mostly people in my country(I'm a korean) didn't watch. but A few remember it. They almost said "It's really good one"
I absolutely agree..! I wish ... Read More
|
|
