The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
The Sucker
A young boy’s generosity costs him dear when he is conned out of his mother’s cash for ice cream.
From the collection of:
Overview
An innocent boy takes a long, lonely summer walk to the shops for his mother and falls for a cruel con on the way, pulled by a teenage grifter. This cine club drama (with a cynical edge) recalls the joys and cruelties of childhood, focusing on kids being mean to each other. There is no redemption in the film's final scene as images of the girl grifter's gang greedily delighting in their ill-gotten ice creams play over the harsh punishment meted out by the boy’s mother.
The film was produced by Joe Clarke, a member of the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association, which was founded back in 1927. The cine club was one of only five in Britain at the time. Against all the odds, the club was still operating in the city in 2018. This film is part of a unique and eclectic collection, which dates back to those pioneering early decades of amateur cinematography.