Cosh Boy (1953)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Lewis Gilbert (writer)
Vernon Harris (writer)

Release Date:

29 May 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

WILD... WAYWARD... HELL-BENT!

Plot:

Amongst the bomb-sites and dark alleys of postwar London Roy Walsh and his gang of juvenile delinquents waylay and rob old ladies...

Plot Keywords:

British Noir | Beautiful Woman | Based On Play

Cast

James Kenney	...	Roy Walsh
Joan Collins	...	Rene Collins
Betty Ann Davies	...	Elsie Walsh
Robert Ayres	...	Bob Stevens
Hermione Baddeley	...	Mrs. Collins
Hermione Gingold	...	Queenie
Nancy Roberts	...	Gran Walsh
Laurence Naismith	...	Inspector Donaldson
Ian Whittaker	...	Alfie Collins
Stanley Escane	...	Pete
Michael McKeag	...	Brian
Sean Lynch	...	Darky
Johnny Briggs	...	Skinny (as John Briggs)
Edward Evans	...	Sgt. Woods
Cameron Hall	...	Mr. Beverley

Also Known As:

The Slasher (USA)
The Tough Guy

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 (1953) | UK:X (original rating) | Sweden:(Banned) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Company:

Angel Productions

Trivia:

Usually reckoned to be the first British film to get an "X" certificate. There were other films before this one that had similar levels of content, and some of those were passed for general viewing. But Cosh Boy was presented for certification just as they introduced the new "X" certificate in 1951. The "X" certificate has since been replaced by the "18" certificate.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Walshy and one of his gang go to play draughts (checkers), the positions of the different coloured pieces seem to swap sides from when they approach the board (black on the left) to when they are seated (red on the left) to when they leave (black on the left).

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mike Baldwin & Me (2001) (TV)

Risible

Couldn't agree more with the previous review. I caught the last 15 minutes on cable. I have yet to see more wooden acting -- just standing there and saying the lines!

If I had been the Cosh Boy I would have just slugged my stepfather on the jaw and run away. Or, if American, shot him with my handy revolver.