Once a Jolly Swagman *** (1949, Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano, Bill Owen, Thora Hird, Moira Lister, Sidney James, James Hayter, Cyril Cusack, Sandra Dorne) – Classic Movie Review 10,712

Director Jack Lee’s 1949 black and white British film Once a Jolly Swagman [Maniacs on Wheels] stars the young Dirk Bogarde as Bill Fox, a jolly 1930s factory worker who quits his job to become a cocky daredevil speedway riding ace. He takes up with socialite Dotty Liz (Moira Lister) but returns to his true love Pat (Renée Asherson), the sister of his Aussie buddy Lag Gibbon (Bill Owen), and marries her, but she walks out on him when he won’t quit racing. It is only after tragedy strikes on the racetrack that Bogarde gets back on track and comes back to earth.

There is plenty of conviction in the acting of Bogarde and Asherson, backed up by the reliable turns of Thora Hird and James Hayter as his anxious parents, Ma and Pa Fox, as well as welcome appearances from much loved character actors like Sidney James, Cyril Cusack and Sandra Dorne.

The realism attained on the track is not matched by the studio-bound dramatic scenes, but it is still a useful, well-depicted sports movie with a warm-hearted soapy story, with drama and romance.

The screenplay by William Rose, Jack Lee and Cliff Gordon is based on the novel by Montagu Slater.

You can see why they would change the UK title of Once a Jolly Swagman for US release, but the hysterical Maniacs on Wheels is an odd choice.

The opening credits prologue declares ‘1937 London’.

Also in the cast are Pauline Jameson, Stuart Lindsell, Anthony Oliver, Dudley Jones, Russell Walters, Frederick Knight, Michael Kent, June Bardsley, Cyril Chamberlain, Jennifer Jayne, Graham Doody, Joyce Tyler, Patric Doonan, Jill Allan, Betty Cooper and Edward Judd.

Once a Jolly Swagman [Maniacs on Wheels] is directed by Jack Lee and R Q McNaughton (second unit director), runs 100 minutes, is made by Wessex Film Productions [Ian Dalrymple’s Wessex Film Productions], is released by General Film Distributors (1949) (UK) and International Releasing Organization (1951) (US), is written by William Rose (script), Jack Lee (script) and Cliff Gordon (additional dialogue), is shot in black and white by H E Fowle, is produced by Ian Dalrymple, is scored by Bernard Stevens and designed by Frederick Pusey.

New Cross Speedway motorbike stars Ron Johnson and Ron Howes acted as doubles for the action shots, though it is not true that Dirk Bogarde didn’t like motorbikes.

It premiered in London on 2 January 1949.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,712

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