The 1955 film "A Kid For Two Farthings" is based on the novel of the same title about a little boy growing up in London's Petticoat Lane Market in the early 1950's. The title comes from a Jewish song "One little goat which my father bought for two zuzim", where a zuzim is a small ancient Jewish coin whose name was translated to "farthing", an English coin worth 1/4 penny. Joe lives with his mother Joanna in an apartment above Avrom Kandinsky's tailor shop. Joanna misses her husband (Joe's father) who is in South Africa attempting to start a business. Mr. Kandinsky employs Joanna and local athlete Sam Heppner in his shop. Mr. Kandinsky tells Joe about the mythical unicorn or horse with one horn on it's forehead. He explains to Joe that most of the unicorns died off and that most of the few survivors moved to Africa. Joe buys a kid (baby goat) with one horn believing that it is a baby unicorn and believes that it will get his friends what they wish for. Several scenes show coins being passed between people and near the end of the film Mr. Kandinsky gives an English gold sovereign to Joe. Despite the title, no farthings are shown in the film.

The title is shown over a scene of London's St. Paul's Cathedral and "The Unicorn", a liquor shop. A "kid" is a small goat and a farthing was an English coin worth 1/4 of a penny.

A British Farthing of the film period:

Bronze, 20 mm, 2.80 gm
The English farthing was last minted in 1956 and was demonetized in 1961.

A scene of the crowded Petticoat Lane Market appears.

The Market consists of hundreds of small stores. The film begins with Joe, a young boy, standing in the street.

The unicorn head is the emblem of "The Unicorn" store. Joe lives with his mother above a men's trousers store run by Mr. Kandinsky. Sam Heppner works for the store sewing goods and is a body builder.

Sam plans to send the pictures to a magazine.

Joanna's husband (Joe's father) has been in South Africa trying to launch a business without success. She would like her husband to come home. Sam has a long time girlfriend Sonia, and they would like to marry but have to wait until they get enough money to set up housekeeping.

People make remarks that Sonia is the local "Marilyn Monroe." A mysterious Rabbi appears pushing a gramophone around on a cart.

The Rabbi will appear again. Joe has been trying to raise small birds but has not kept any alive for very long. The dead birds are buried in a local "pet cemetery." Joe talks to Mr. Kandinsky about pets, he would like his father to send him a lion. Mr. Kandinsky tells him that "a lion is not a suitable pet for a boy." Mr. Kandinsky then tells Joe about the legendary unicorn. "A unicorn has this one horn in the middle of his head, it can grant any wish you like." He continues to explain that greedy people stole their horns and most unicorns died off, but a few managed to get to Africa and a few are left in England.

Joe gets his money stash and leaves to find a dog. Sonia and Sam visit a furniture store.

Sonia suggests that Sam take up wrestling to make money. While wandering around, Joe spots something.

A man is leading a white goat.

Joe immediately believes that he has found a unicorn and wants to buy it.

The man wants five shillings at first but Joe talks him down to three shillings and nine pence.

Joe now owns his unicorn and takes it home to show.

Mr. Kandinsky has been using a hand iron on clothes and would like to buy a steam press.

He doesn't have enough money for a new steam press. Joe believes that wishing on his unicorn will get Mr. Kandinsky the press but also finds another store which has bought a new steam press and is selling their old one. Sam is approached by a wrestling promoter to enter a match against Python Macklin, a giant and more experienced wrestler.

The match is set and becomes a big event in the neighborhood with Sam the local favorite.

People have thrown coins int the arena and a man in a uniform picks them up. The match is held and Sam manages to win over the stronger opponent.

Most of the people are at the match but not Mr. Kandinsky who finds the "unicorn" dead and hides the body. He then waits for Joe to come home.

He detaches a coin from the watch fob.

The coin is a gold sovereign or one pound coin and appears to have Queen Victoria on it. Such a coin would be an antique in 1955.

A British gold sovereign of Queen Victoria:

The coin is the same size and weight as a United States $5 gold coin, 1/4 troy ounce.

Joe and his mother arrive home and Joe asks where the animal is. Mr. Kandinsky tells him that the unicorn was unhappy, moved to Africa, and left the coin for Joe.

Joe gets the coin and thanks Mr. Kandinsky.

Joe holds the coin with the image showing. The neighbors return with the used steam press.

Joe picks up a book on Africa and finds something interesting.

Mr. Kandinsky retrieves the body of the goat and takes it to the pet cemetery.

The Rabbi again appears pushing his cart towards Mr. Kandinsky.

Jonathan Ashmore as Joe
David Kossoff as Avrom Kandinsky
Celia Johnson as Joanna
Diana Dors as Sonia
Joe Robinson as Sam Heppner
Primo Carnera as Python Macklin
Director: Carol Reed
Writers: Wolf Mankowitz