The Scamp is a 1957 British drama film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Richard Attenborough, Terence Morgan, Colin Petersen and Dorothy Alison.[1] It was based on the play Uncertain Joy by Charlotte Hastings. It was released in the U.S. as Strange Affection.[2]

The Scamp
Original British quad poster
Directed byWolf Rilla
Written byWolf Rilla
Based onplay Uncertain Joy by Charlotte Hastings
Produced byJames Lawrie
StarringRichard Attenborough
Terence Morgan
Colin Petersen
Dorothy Alison
Jill Adams
CinematographyFreddie Francis
Edited byBernard Gribble
Music byFrancis Chagrin
Production
company
A James Lawrie Production
Distributed byRenown Pictures Corporation (UK)
Release dates
  • 7 October 1957 (1957-10-07) (London, England)
Running time
87 mins
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

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A schoolteacher and his wife take in the tempestuous child of an abusive drifter. When the father returns, their lives become complicated by issues of corporal punishment, physical abuse, strained relations and various crimes.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Having made his name in the Australian-set drama Smiley [1956], contemporary critics had high hopes for ten-year-old Colin Petersen. He tries hard in this well intentioned story of a delinquent given a second chance, but he never convinces either as the urchin son of alcoholic music-hall actor Terence Morgan or as the confused kid cajoled by teacher Richard Attenborough and his wife Dorothy Alison. Attenborough overdoes the bourgeois benevolence."[3]

TV Guide wrote, "Shaky direction and a cliche-ridden script mar any possibilities for this human interest story";[2] whereas Leonard Maltin called it a "Decent British drama."[4]

Box office

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According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was "in the money" at the British box office in 1957.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "The Scamp". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Strange Affection". TVGuide.com.
  3. ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 806. ISBN 9780992936440.
  4. ^ "Scamp, The (1957) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
  5. ^ Billings, Josh (12 December 1957). "Others in the money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
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