We Are the Lambeth Boys

1959 0h 53m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 13

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Seminal piece of documentary filmmaking by New Wave director Karel Reisz following the daily activities of members of the Lambeth Youth club in late-1950s London.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jon Rollason
Commentator (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Karel Reisz
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 53-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

67 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Karel Reisz, shot by Walter Lassally. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Dankworth. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John Fletcher shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0052380 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 13 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Karel Reisz directs. Walter Lassally behind the camera. John Dankworth scores. John Fletcher cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 53-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
267 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Karel Reisz, shot by Walter Lassally. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by John Dankworth. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor John Fletcher shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7IMDB entry: tt0052380 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 13 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Walter Lassally
Original score: John Dankworth
Editing: John Fletcher
Runtime: 53 min · 0h 53m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: We Are the Lambeth Boys (1959)

Also by

Karel Reisz

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-02-18
★ 7/10
What's really clear from early on in this documentary, is the sense of community these lads exude. Their daily jobs - from the lively to the mundane, or their schooling, all just a means to an end. An end to an evening where they will congregate with the girls - who just as hard as them - and dance (often to live music), chat and generally have a good time. Many look like the archetypal "Teddy Boys". Skinny ties, hair slicked back and dapper: jackets and shirts and never far from a cigarette. There's a playful respect for the opposite sex and Tony's fish bar does a rare trade when they emerge from the Alford House club before going home to a variety of family circumstances. Their chat is interesting too - sometimes just banter, others more substantial topics - like the relative merits of the abolition of the death penalty! Their team spirit is also evident on a trip (in the back of what looked like an army surplus lorry) to the posh Mill Hill school for a game of cricket and a tea. What's also remarkable is just how their whole environment is respected too. Their Kennington housing estate is clean, well maintained and the residents seem to care about where they live and how they relate to their neighbours. Sure, these lads push the envelope at times - a slight degree of chauvinism creeps in when they do some wolf-whistling, but somehow there is never any menace in their intent. It's high jinx and given many would have been conceived as the blitz was in full swing, their attitudes seem optimistic and positive. The fly-on-the-wall nature of the filming comes across as authentic, though maybe a little staged at times, and it evokes memories of when you could get a fish supper for 3 shillings and 4 pence!

Production companies