Skid Kids

Having already won a medal at the Venice Film Festival for his debut feature for children, 'The Mysterious Poacher', Don Chaffey rolled up his sleeves and went from strength to strength with this brisk little period piece for the Children's Film Foundation shot entirely on location in a postwar Bermondsey populated by zoot-suited spivs, who conduct themselves flamboyantly considering the pettiness of their racket; which like the earlier film bears testimony to how little people had in those days, and that if it anything wasn't literally tied down it would be stolen and swiftly flogged on the black market.

A very enjoyable film from back in the days when the theft of bicycles was treated like the Great Train Robbery. Fortunately for the police the baddies were east to identify as they were the only men back then who wore wide loud ties and Zoot Suits.