Cosh Boy (1953, James Kenney, Joan Collins)

Cosh Boy (1953, James Kenney, Joan Collins)

Gritty crime drama Cosh Boy, the first British-made film to receive an ‘X’ certificate, was heavily criticized at the time for what was regarded as its ‘sensationalist’ slant. Its forceful dramatic impact is still evident but its content is mild now in comparison with the more ‘realistic’ approach to violence in contemporary cinema.

What is the movie about

Roy Walsh (James Kenney) is the leader of a vicious gang of teenage hoodlums who, with his right-hand man Alfie Collins (Ian Whittaker), beats up and robs an elderly drunken woman. They are brought before a juvenile court and placed on probation. Walsh uses the Youth Centre he has to join as a cover while he continues to direct the criminal activities of his gang.

They beat up prostitute Queenie (Hermione Gingold) but the police are unable to pin the crime on them as the Youth Centre serves as their alibi. Walsh is attracted to Whittaker’s sister Rene (Joan Collins), who he meets at the club, and he seduces her one night on a bomb site while his gang waylay and cosh her regular boyfriend. Before long, however, he tires of her. Rene, now pregnant, attempts to commit suicide after Walsh callously rejects her.

Meanwhile, after stealing his grandmothers’ savings, Walsh plans a raid on the dance hall where Bob Stevens (Robert Ayres), who plans to marry Walsh’s mother Elsie (Betty Ann Davies), works as commissionaire. The raid fails after Walsh attempts to shoot Stevens. His gang leave, refusing to stay on with him. Walsh runs home to his mother for help – and is faced by Stevens, who has married Elsie that morning and tells him he is going to give Walsh the thrashing of his life. Walsh becomes terrified and hysterically pleads for mercy, trying to keep Stevens at bay with a razor. The police arrive. Walsh hopes to be arrested rather than face a thrashing – but the police tell Stevens they will return for the boy in the morning …

While some newspapers and Watch Committees (many of the latter, like Hove and Birmingham, banning the film from exhibition) condemned Cosh Boy for its alleged brutality, the usually maligned British Board of Film Censors took a more balanced view and awarded it an ‘X’ certificate after minor cuts in the scenes where Kenney brandishes a razor and wields a cosh. Even the film’s detractors were impressed by the fine performance given by Kenney, and Gilbert’s driving, no-nonsense direction made excellent use of his and Harris’s strong dialogue and hard-edged characterizations. Summed up CEA Film Report, ‘It is well done in every way, and the acting is excellent.’

Who stars in Cosh Boy

Cast: James Kenney as Roy Walsh; Joan Collins as Rene Collins; Betty Ann Davies as Elsie Walsh; Robert Ayres as Bob Stevens; Hermione Baddeley as Mrs. Collins; Hermione Gingold as Queenie; Nancy Roberts as Gran Walsh; Laurence Naismith as Inspector Donaldson; Ian Whittaker as Alfie Collins; Sid James as Desk Sergeant; Johnny Briggs as Skinny Johnson

Who made the movie

Writers: Lewis Gilbert, Vernon Harris, from the play Master Crook by Bruce Walker / Director: Lewis Gilbert

UK / 75 minutes / 1953