Cliff Williamson
You can view Joan Littlewood's Sparrow's Can't Sing in two ways. First you can see it as a vital chronicle of a fast disappearing London. It is a half demolished and half rebuilt city. Some of the characters are playing out the last few weeks in the 2up 2down homes that had been the basic living space for London's working peoples for most of the century. Others are making the transition to the demands and lifestyles of high rise living, where 'no ball games' signs proliferate, where lawns are clipped and lifts fail.The other way is to see it as the future of British comedy especially that on TV.
We see Barbara Windsor, Roy Kennear, Harry H. Corbett just about to star in Steptoe, Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce well before George and Mildred. Stephen Lewis (who wrote the film) before Blakey, watch out for Bob Grant who will be the randy clippie Jack, alongside Lewis in 'On the buses'. Arthur Millard is also there and according to legend the Kray twins make a cameo appearance.With the exception of Corbett a lot of talent will find itself squandered as the radical possibilities of the Theatre Workshop is turned into substandard sit-com fodder.But the movie deserves to be lauded in the same way that contemporary kitchen sink comedies such as Billy Liar are.
The plot is a bit episodic but as a chance to see a disappearing world and some of our favourite TV stars in early roles it is worth investing in.
