Dirk Bogarde

Bonar Colleano

Bill Owen

Renée Asherson

Thora Hird

James Hayter

Patric Doonan

Moira Lister

Sid James

Dudley Jones

Pauline Jameson

Cyril Cusack

Anthony Oliver

Russell Waters

Sandra Dorne

Stuart Lindsell

Frederick Knight

Michael Kent

Cyril Chamberlain

June Bardsley

Jennifer Jayne

Edward Judd

Sam Kydd

Andrea Lea

Miriam Lehmann-Haupt

William Rose

Jack Lee

Montagu Slater

Cliff Gordon

Max Rosher

Bernard Stevens

Romance

Drama

Once a Jolly Swagman

Wessex Film Productions

J. Arthur Rank Organisation

United Kingdom

CinemaSerf

Aside from the odd rendition of "Waltzing Matilda" - I am unsure as to the reason for the title, but don't be put off - it's about speedway not swag (or sheep). Dirk Bogarde is at his most alluring as "Bill", a man who gets laid off from his job testing lightbulbs and who takes up the sport of dirt-track speedway. Discovering he has a bit of a penchant for it, he is soon earning £90-a week and but for the intervention of WWII could have been a true champion. After the war, though, his wife "Pat" (Renée Asherson) gives him an ultimatum despite him struggling to get so much as a milk round to make ends meet. Which path will he choose? It's got a strong supporting cast this - James Hayter, Moira Lister, Bill Owen, Sid James, Thora Hird and Bonar Colleano - and there is just enough race action to give us an indication that this was an hugely popular, and pretty dangerous sport that saw crowds of tens of thousands turn up in the hope of some excitement. The romantic shenanigans clutter it up a bit, especially his "Lister" period, but it's predominately quite a well made, fast moving, drama that touches subtly on the lack of opportunities for many a soldier after demobilisation.

English