This is a historical curiosity - a 1949 "Semi-documentary, focusing on the training young boys receive before they are sent down the mines on their first job". Apparently using all real life people acting themselves except for the lead, "Tinker", the only person named in the cast list, apparently aged about 12 years old playing (very well) a boy who had run away from life in a tinker's caravan. How a 12 year old was accepted without parental permission and with no identification to join 14-17 year olds training on all aspects of mining including using explosives, is unexplained. The first half patchy and stilted with only the cinematography indicating much professionalism (it turns out that the cinematographer was an extremely gifted German émigré). However the pace picks up in the second half reaching a very exciting and memorable climax, coincidentally filmed at the same coastal spot seen in "Get Carter". The writer/director Herbert Marshall (not the actor) had an unusual background, receiving film training in the Soviet Union and for a time being a National Theatre Director. The film's purpose is unclear - was it for recruitment? However what happened to young Tinker was a worst nightmare come true, perhaps intended to separate off youngsters of a nervous disposition as unsuitable recruits. What this nightmare was is edge of the seat stuff!
Seen today on TALKING PICTURES TV a new UK 24 hour old film channel, Freeview Ch81
Seen today on TALKING PICTURES TV a new UK 24 hour old film channel, Freeview Ch81