Ha'penny Breeze

Ha'penny Breeze
Cover of DVD release
Directed by	Frank Worth
Written by	Don Sharp Frank Worth
Produced by	D’arcy Conyers
Starring	Don Sharp
Music by	Philip Green
Production company	The Storytellers
Release date	1950 (1950)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£8,000[1][2] or "well less than £20,000"[3]

Ha'penny Breeze is a 1950 black and white British film directed by Frank Worth and starring Edwin Richfield, Don Sharp and Gwynneth Vaughan.^[4] It was the first writing credit for Sharp who also appears as an actor.^[5]

David King and his Australian friend Johnny return to a Suffolk coastal village after the Second World War to find the community completely dispirited.

His mother had told him that his father had died during his absence, but not that the family boat-building business had closed. His father was also the mayor, but no-one has been elected in his place.

They have little luck encouraging the locals to rejoin them in the boatyard, but set about a project of converting one of their old boats into a pleasure yacht. However, this does little to encourage the old workers as they view yachts as "parasite" crafts in relation to the fishing vessels formerly made. Nevertheless, they determine to enter the as yet unfinished yacht, Allana, into a race. Only when they see her in sail do they start to gain interest.

However, when a new friend, Richard Martin, joins their circle, the villagers start to talk, as they know his name. Richard has a rival yacht, Moonraker. He says if Allana wins the race he will place an order with the boatyard.

David's sister Joan is romanced by Johnny and becomes part of the crew, but during the race she falls overboard and they lose the race stopping to rescue her. Richard wins the race but is chastised for not stopping to help.

• Edwin Richfield as David King
• Don Sharp as Johnny Craig
• Gwynneth Vaughan as Joan King
• Terry Everitt as Brian King
• Eva Rowland as Mrs. King
• Roger Maxwell as Mr. Simmonds
• John Powe as Barney
• Darcy Conyers as Richard Martin
• Rigby Foster as Len

The film was an idea of Australians Don Sharp and Frank Worth who met in England. Sharp was appearing in the play Cage Me a Peacock with Conyers and Richfield.^[6] They were inspired by low budget films being made in Italy on location, which saved money by not using sets or stars. They decided to find a location and write a script around it. Conyers had an old sailing cutter at Pin Mill and suggested that as a location.^[1]

Sharp and Worth wrote the story together over a three-month period. They formed their own production company with Conyers and succeeded in raising finance with William Freshman attached as executive producer.^[7] The bulk of the money came from George N. Gregory who sold his Leeds auction business to help finance. Conyers financed with some of his fee from appearing in a play. Filming took place in October 1949.^[1][8]

Associated British Pathe offered to distribute on the understanding that everyone would be paid ten pounds a week. A Leeds auctioneer chipped in a few thousand pounds and the filmmakers provided money themselves.^[9][10] When Associated British saw the film they covered the cost of the movie.^[11]

The film was shot in Pin Mill, a small fishing village on the River Orwell in Suffolk.^[12] Some scenes were shot in the Butt and Oyster inn.

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is a worthy attempt by a new British company to make an independent, inexpensive film (without, incidentally, the help of the Film Finance Corporation). The story is simple, naive and not too well constructed, but its backgrounds are authentic and attractive. The photography is good, and the whole film has a pleasant freshness."^[13]

The Scotsman said the film had "too much of the naivete and the emotion of the amateur shine through [...] often the dialogue is trite and for most of the film the tempo is depressingly perambulatory" but praised the "camera's mobility and many a good character sketch by" the actors.^[14]

The Sunday Times wrote: "Has both charm and talent".^[15]

Kine Weekly said "Fresh, uninhibited and disarmingly ingenuous regional romantic drama. The acting of the young players and the "locals" is eager, and the backgrounds are both picturesque and authentic.Its integrity and sincerity amply atone for a somewhat untidy script. Essentially English, good humoured and thrilling, it should please on most double bills."^[16]

• Ha'penny Breeze at IMDb