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Sparrows Can't Sing

  • 1963
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
618
YOUR RATING
Sparrows Can't Sing (1963)
Charlie returns to the East End after two years at sea to find his house demolished and wife Maggie gone. Everyone else knows she is now shacked up with married bus driver Bert and a toddler, and they all watch with more than a little interest at the trail of mayhem Charlie leaves as he goes about sorting things out.
Play trailer3:01
1 Video
15 Photos
ComedyDrama

After 2 years at sea, Charlie comes home to find his house demolished, wife Maggie gone, living with married Bert and their toddler. Charlie leaves a trail of mayhem as he tries to sort thin... Read allAfter 2 years at sea, Charlie comes home to find his house demolished, wife Maggie gone, living with married Bert and their toddler. Charlie leaves a trail of mayhem as he tries to sort things out.After 2 years at sea, Charlie comes home to find his house demolished, wife Maggie gone, living with married Bert and their toddler. Charlie leaves a trail of mayhem as he tries to sort things out.

  • Director
    • Joan Littlewood
  • Writers
    • Stephen Lewis
    • Joan Littlewood
  • Stars
    • James Booth
    • Barbara Windsor
    • Roy Kinnear
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    618
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joan Littlewood
    • Writers
      • Stephen Lewis
      • Joan Littlewood
    • Stars
      • James Booth
      • Barbara Windsor
      • Roy Kinnear
    • 12User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:01
    Trailer

    Photos15

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    + 9
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    Top Cast54

    James Booth
    James Booth
    • Charlie
    Barbara Windsor
    Barbara Windsor
    • Maggie
    Roy Kinnear
    Roy Kinnear
    • Fred
    Avis Bunnage
    Avis Bunnage
    • Bridgie
    Brian Murphy
    Brian Murphy
    • Jack
    George Sewell
    George Sewell
    • Bert
    Barbara Ferris
    Barbara Ferris
    • Nellie
    Griffith Davies
    • Chunky
    Murray Melvin
    Murray Melvin
    • Georgie
    Arthur Mullard
    Arthur Mullard
    • Ted
    Peggy Ann Clifford
    Peggy Ann Clifford
    • Ted's Wife
    Wally Patch
    • Watchman
    Bob Grant
    Bob Grant
    • Perce
    Stephen Lewis
    Stephen Lewis
    • Caretaker
    Victor Spinetti
    Victor Spinetti
    • Arnold
    Jenny Sontag
    • Momma
    May Scagnelli
    • Gran
    Fanny Carby
    • Lil
    • Director
      • Joan Littlewood
    • Writers
      • Stephen Lewis
      • Joan Littlewood
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    6.2618
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    10

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      When Charlie (James Booth) sees Maggie's (Barbara Windsor) baby in the pram he says "Look at that expression, that is definitely my baby". He's telling the truth as it is his own daughter Sarah (Sarah Booth).
    • Goofs
      Barbara, pushing a baby in a pram is bare headed, she leaves the baby with friends and dashes off to see a boyfriend and now has a headscarf over her head.

      Correction - The headscarf isn't a goof. See when she leaves the flat, she takes the scarf with her and when she leaves the pram with her niece, she takes the headscarf with her - then she puts it on.
    • Quotes
      • Nellie: 'Scuse me. I'm looking for some people by the name of Briggs. I just want to know their address.
      • [caretaker points to a flat about half-way up the tower block]
      • Caretaker: You see that flat up their with the Venetian blinds up? Well they're down. That's the one. If the blinds are up and the lights are out, they're out. When the blinds are down and the lights are on, they're in. Course if the blinds are down and the lights are out, they might be out.
      • Chunky: Might just be a blind.
    • Crazy credits
      Closing credits epilogue: . . . . and so on
    • Connections
      Featured in Flesh and Blood: The story of the Krays (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Sparrows Can't Sing
      Written and Composed by Lionel Bart
      Sung by Barbara Windsor

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    Details

    • Release date
      • October 30, 1964 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vrapci ne znaju pevati
    • Filming locations
      • Cowley Gardens - now Oyster Row, Shadwell, London, England, UK(Fred and Bridgie's house; railway arch where Fred chases Lil, Yootha and Janice as he is carrying his window-cleaning ladder)
    • Production company
      • Carthage Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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