Review of The Small World of Sammy Lee

Anthony Newley is perfectly cast as Sammy Lee in this forgotten gem of a movie. Sammy is one of those downtrodden characters that inhabit Film Noir and many crime dramas of the period. He's smart, but not quite clever enough to overcome the obstacles he encounters over and over. Although it's mostly his own fault--Sammy is a bit more of a taker than a giver--we can feel sympathy for his human plight thanks to Newley's finely wrought performance. The beautifully photographed film makes use of West End locations, showing us real streets and facades (some of which surely no longer exist), to create Sammy's world. The title was probably not an advantage when it was released, but it does suggest the way the film is conceived. We never see anything outside Sammy's neighborhood: he lives across from the Peepshow Club, where he works as a comic emcee. This is Sammy's world (the tawdry, downbeat atmosphere of the club and its denizens is a major factor) a purgatory in which he thinks he can win the constant game he has going with richer, smarter and tougher players. The main plot concerns Sammy's attempt to raise 300 pounds to pay off a debt to a mysterious unseen entity called "Connor". Connor has henchmen, and they are quickly dispatched when Sammy admits he doesn't have the money that's coming due. Surprisingly, the main henchman is sympathetic to Sammy's pleadings and gives him several hours to scrape up the cash. It's great fun to watch Sammy's machinations as he works towards this end. There is suspense, high drama and heartbreak in this story, all excellently played out. Among the cast are Wilfrid Brambell (later, Paul's grandfather in A HARD DAY'S NIGHT), Robert Stephens, Julia Foster and a host of marvelous character actors. A melancholy, jazz-flavored score by Kenny Graham seems a perfect complement to the mood and the visuals.