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Maniacs on Wheels

Original title: Once a Jolly Swagman
  • 19491949
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
248
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Sport
Factory worker Bill Fox (Sir Dirk Bogarde) is fired from a reliable job and becomes a successful motorbike racer, until his wife threatens to leave him unless he comes to his senses.Factory worker Bill Fox (Sir Dirk Bogarde) is fired from a reliable job and becomes a successful motorbike racer, until his wife threatens to leave him unless he comes to his senses.Factory worker Bill Fox (Sir Dirk Bogarde) is fired from a reliable job and becomes a successful motorbike racer, until his wife threatens to leave him unless he comes to his senses.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
248
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jack Lee
  • Writers
    • Montagu Slater(novel)
    • William Rose(script)
    • Jack Lee(script)
  • Stars
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Bonar Colleano
    • Bill Owen
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jack Lee
  • Writers
    • Montagu Slater(novel)
    • William Rose(script)
    • Jack Lee(script)
  • Stars
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Bonar Colleano
    • Bill Owen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos9

    Dirk Bogarde and Renée Asherson in Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Dirk Bogarde, Renée Asherson, and Bonar Colleano in Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Renée Asherson and Thora Hird in Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Dirk Bogarde, Bonar Colleano, and Sidney James in Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
    Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dirk Bogarde
    Dirk Bogarde
    • Bill Foxas Bill Fox
    Bonar Colleano
    Bonar Colleano
    • Tommy Posseyas Tommy Possey
    Bill Owen
    Bill Owen
    • Lag Gibbonas Lag Gibbon
    Renée Asherson
    Renée Asherson
    • Patas Pat
    Thora Hird
    Thora Hird
    • Ma Foxas Ma Fox
    James Hayter
    James Hayter
    • Pa Foxas Pa Fox
    Patric Doonan
    • Dickas Dick
    Moira Lister
    Moira Lister
    • Dotty Lizas Dotty Liz
    Sidney James
    Sidney James
    • Rowtonas Rowton
    Dudley Jones
    • Taffyas Taffy
    Cyril Cusack
    Cyril Cusack
    • Duggieas Duggie
    Anthony Oliver
    • Derekas Derek
    Pauline Jameson
    Pauline Jameson
    • Mrs. Lewisas Mrs. Lewis
    Russell Waters
    • Mr. Puseyas Mr. Pusey
    Sandra Dorne
    Sandra Dorne
    • Kay Foxas Kay Fox
    Stuart Lindsell
    • Mr. Yatesas Mr. Yates
    Frederick Knight
    • Chickas Chick
    Michael Kent
    • Solicitoras Solicitor
    • Director
      • Jack Lee
    • Writers
      • Montagu Slater(novel)
      • William Rose(script)
      • Jack Lee(script)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Factory worker Bill Fox (Sir Dirk Bogarde) is fired from a reliable job and becomes a successful motorbike racer, until his wife threatens to leave him unless he comes to his senses.
    • motorcycle
    • motorcycle speedway
    • title based on song
    • based on novel
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Dirk Bogarde didn't like motorbikes. New Cross stars Ron Johnson and Ron Howes acted as doubles for the action shots.
    • Quotes

      Bill Fox: Thinks she's Norma Shearer.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: 1937 LONDON
    • Connections
      Referenced in A Profile of 'A Town Like Alice' (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Waltzing Matilda
      (uncredited)

      Music by Christina McPherson

      Lyrics by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson

      Sung by unidentified performer on phonograph at military personnel party and played often in the score

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Not many swagmen to be seen
    Dirk Bogarde appears in this film as a young, working class lad who achieves fame and fortune (and a nasty little moustache) as a speedway bike rider during the 1940's. Of course, his career is interrupted by the war.

    It is a little laboured at times, but you have to admire the cameramen who created the footage of the races with such limited technology.

    I spent a lot of the film trying to work out where the swagman theme was supposed to come from - aside from using Waltzing Matilda as the theme. Later on I realised his faithful wife Pat, and her brother, were supposed to be Australian. The brother later retired to Australia to go 'sheep farming'.

    Strewth!
    helpful•22
    0
    • dj_kennett
    • May 25, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 9, 1949 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wettfahrt mit dem Tode
    • Filming locations
      • New Cross Speedway Stadium, New Cross, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Wessex Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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