Review of The Small World of Sammy Lee

I loved the scenes in the club, and with Julia Foster (Ben Fogle's mum). Yes, innocent arrives at strip club in search of man she had a one-night stand with at Butlins. Yes, of course she's persuaded to strip (she has experience as a dancer), but the experience is soul searing and she collapses in tears. Sammy spends most of the film trying to raise £300 he owes to Mr Big (shades of Night and the City) and I admit I fast-forwarded over his "comic" encounters with various character actors. Newley had his moments, and anyone who can write "A World of Pure Imagination" can't be all bad, but he took himself a bit too seriously. The best bits for me were the slow tracking scenes of Soho itself. Did I glimpse the Espresso Bar Barocco? This was made in the early 60s - I arrived in London a few years later. Mine's a cappuccino and a slice of cheesecake like you can't get any more.