Watch The Small World of Sammy Lee

The Small World of Sammy Lee is a gritty British drama film from 1963 starring Anthony Newley as Sammy Lee, a small-time nightclub compere and two-bit hustler in London's seedy Soho district. The film takes place over the course of one night, as Sammy scrambles to raise the money he needs to pay off a debt to a loan shark named Conner (played by Warren Mitchell).

The film opens with Sammy performing his act at the Peepshow Club, a seedy backstreet venue where he works. We see him bantering with the audience, cracking jokes, and introducing the strippers, before the show abruptly ends and he's forced to close up shop. Sammy is clearly a man on the edge, living hand-to-mouth and always looking over his shoulder, and we learn that he owes Conner £300 which he needs to repay by the next day.

Over the course of the night, we follow Sammy as he tries to hustle up the money he needs, resorting to desperate measures like conning his friends, stealing from acquaintances, and trying to pawn his valuables. Along the way, we discover more about Sammy's troubled past and the reasons why he finds himself in this desperate situation.

One of the key subplots of the film involves Sammy's relationship with Patsy (played by Julia Foster), a naive young girl who is infatuated with him. Despite his obvious flaws and the fact that he's clearly using her, Patsy remains loyal to Sammy, following him around Soho and helping him out as best she can.

Another important character in the film is Lou (played by Robert Stephens), Sammy's former employer and mentor. Lou is a seasoned operator in the Soho underworld, and knows everybody who's anybody in the district. Although he's clearly dismissive of Sammy's hustling ways, he takes pity on him and tries to help him out by putting him in touch with a wealthy businessman who might be able to lend him the money he needs.

As the night wears on, Sammy becomes increasingly desperate and paranoid, convinced that Conner and his henchmen are closing in on him. The tension builds to a climactic finale as Sammy races against the clock to raise the money he needs and avoid the violent consequences of his failure to do so.

Overall, The Small World of Sammy Lee is a gripping character study of a man on the brink, brilliantly brought to life by Anthony Newley's mesmerizing performance. The film offers a fascinating glimpse into the seedy underbelly of Soho in the early 1960s, and explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the desperation that drives some people to take desperate measures. Despite its age, the film remains a powerful and prescient commentary on the human condition, and is well worth seeking out for fans of classic British cinema.