A Vintage Vantage: Joe Robinson in A Kid for Two Farthings .

'Joe thinks that a unicorn can grant wishes, so the hopeful lad ends up buying a baby goat with one tiny horn, believing it to be a real unicorn. Undaunted by his rough surroundings, Joe sets about to prove that wishes come true.'

I can't even count the number of posts on FH inspired by something I watched on TCM.  It's still funny for me to think that when I started the blog, I hated old movies, especially anything in black and white. I don't think it was until Elizabeth Taylor died, that I really started to get in to older films.  I remember thinking at the time that although I knew a lot about the Hollywood beauty, I couldn't remember actually seeing any of her films.  I remedied that quickly, and have had a passion for older movies, and TCM since.

TCM introduced me to many classic Hollywood hotties, and actually also used to show quite a bit of nudity.  I used to love when they had regular nights featuring cult classics, and when they had their TCM Underground series.  Sadly financial restraints cut some of the  more off-beat programming, but you can still find and discover many actors who without the cable channel, I probably would never have seen or been exposed to.

A few weeks ago, TCM posted an image for an upcoming showing of a film on their Twitter page.  The movie was called A Kid for Two Farthings, and image featured actor Joe Robinson in his tight little wrestling briefs.  I'd never heard of the film before, or of Joe.  I thought the title sounded out,  at first reading it as fart-things, and not far-things.  I decided to PVR it after reading a bit about the film, and about Joe on-line.

Robinson originally began his career as wrestler, making him perfect for the role of Sam in the film.  He was once known in the wrestling world as 'Tiger Joe Robinson' and won the European Heavyweight Championship in 1952.   Robinson was also interested in acting, and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.  After a back injury during a wrestling match, he decided to get out of the ring and concentrate on his acting career.

Robinson worked steadily in films through the sixties, but retired in the early 1970's after appearing in the Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever.  His role in A Kid for Two Farthings was actually his first professional role, and he does show off his body in many scenes throughout the film.  In one of his first scenes, we get Joe in just a pair of leopard briefs. 

TCM Promo image

  The movie also marked the first time I saw blonde bombshell Diana Dors on film.  I heard about the 'British Marilyn Monroe', but not seen her work.  She and Joe certainly made an incredibly hot pair on screen, even though the movie was sort of family friendly, so the focus was more on the kid and his goat that any steamy love scenes between the adults.  It was still a fun watch, and I enjoyed my introduction to Joe.

Not sure if there are more nudes, but it wasn't that unusual for wrestlers and body builders to have nudes taken in the 1950's.  Love to know more about the shoot and image below, but thus far, I couldn't find anything other than photo.