Lord knows that over the past several years now I have watched countless things on TV, always attempting to dig up something different or interesting or otherwise captivating. Often, I come up short and move on. Other times, I discover something totally unexpected, such as with the 1955 British film
A Kid for Two Farthings, directed by Carol Reed. It's a gentle tale of city life as seen through the eyes of a sweet-hearted young boy (who believes that his one-horned baby goat - the kid of the title - is a unicorn that can bring people luck!) And while I can recommend it as a bit of warm and charming entertainment on that score alone, there was an unexpected benefit that came from viewing it.
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The boy (Jonathan Ashmore) lives with his mother above a tailor's shop where she works. Also on hand is a stitcher played by Joe Robinson who spends much of his free time bodybuilding and dreams of becoming a professional wrestler.
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Robinson (a real-life wrestler-turned-actor) is idolized by the young boy.
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He doesn't exactly escape the notice of nearby shopgirls either!
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He's about to catch a break in the wrestling ring and a photographer shows up (with a tacky backdrop) to capture some promotional pictures.
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And there's more to come as he's shucked down to some leopard-print briefs over at the training ring.
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Robinson has also caught the eye of voluptuous Diana Dors, who dreams of living as his wife in a newly-furnished home and who doesn't want to see him beaten up.
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While this post concerns Robinson and his physique, it must be said that Dors is also always worth watching and is another benefit that comes from watching the film. This was one of her early roles that revealed she could be more than a frothy Marilyn Monroe type.
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She and Robinson make an appealing couple to root for.
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The day of the big wrestling match arrives and so we're treated to even more 1950s beefcake.
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It's not exactly and easy day on the job!
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At one point he's hurled all the way out into the crowd.
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The camera gets up close and personal at times.
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As do the wrestlers.
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I wasn't expecting to see so much burly bicep and so on when I turned on this vintage movie. It certainly helped to perk up the proceedings, charming as they were. Robinson was busy, but only acted for about 15 years or so, ultimately appearing in several foreign adventure flicks (including an unauthorized rendition of Tarzan called Taur, il re della forza bruta, 1963.)
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Looks like a lot more desert than jungle in this approach to the part.
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| His final role came when he fought Sean Connery in an elevator in Diamonds Are Forever (1971.) |
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Robinson did generate a latter-day headline in 1998 when the 70 year-old was attacked by eight thugs after exiting a bus in Cape Town, South Africa. Though they were armed with knives and bats, he beat the shit out of half of them while the other half fled...! Mr. Robinson passed away in 2017 at age 90 from undisclosed causes, leaving behind four grown children.
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The End!
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