The Small World of Sammy Lee
Snappy, jazzy and cynical: A film long overdue for reappraisal.
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Thu 24 Apr 20:00 NFT1
A gripping race against the clock around the streets of Soho ensues as small-time wideboy Sammy tries to escape the heavies with the girl who loves him, before his luck runs out…
Introduced by Vic Pratt and Will Fowler, Curators, BFI National Archive. We welcome actress Julia Foster, co-star of Sammy Lee, for a post-screening Q&A.
The Small World of Sammy Lee
Strip club compere and small-time wideboy Sammy (superbly played by cockney crooner Anthony Newley) loses his shirt at an all-night card game, and the heavies are looking to collect. Cue a gripping race against the clock around the streets of Soho as Sammy tries to raise the readies, and escape with the girl who loves him, before his luck runs out. Snappy, jazzy, cynical, this is a film long overdue for reappraisal.
Strip
A woman caught in a spider's web? Just one of the great vintage burlesque routines presented in this record of the notorious Phoenix Club, Old Compton Street. Meanwhile, the girls backstage talk about life, have a cup of tea, and warm-up the baked beans.
Big Shots (2min extract)
See rare footage of wartime Soho shot by Sammy Lee director, Ken Hughes, as his widow discusses his influences and ideas for the film.
The Small World of Sammy Lee
- Directed by:
- Ken Hughes
- Country:
- UK
- Year:
- 1962
- Running time:
- 107min
Strip
- Directed by:
- Don DeFina, Peter Davis & Staffan Lamm
- Country:
- UK
- Year:
- 1966
- Running time:
- 24min
Big Shots (2min extract)
- Directed by:
- Nigel Algar
- Country:
- UK
- Year:
- 2001
- Running time:
- 2min extract
