Poor Cow
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Kenneth Loach
Carol White
Terence Stamp
John Bindon
Kate Williams
Queenie Watts
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After giving birth to a son, 18-year-old Joy returns to her dingy London flat and her husband, Tom, an abusive and insensitive petty thief. Money from a successful robbery enables the couple to move to a better apartment, but Joy's happiness is ended when Tom is arrested and sent to jail. Joy stays with her aging Aunt Emm before moving in with Dave, one of Tom's friends. Dave's tender nature and affection for Joy's son, Jonny, arouses a loving response in Joy, but even this happiness ends abruptly when Dave is also convicted of robbery. After promising to wait for Dave, Joy begins divorce proceedings against Tom and sets out to earn a living for herself and Jonny. Following jobs as a barmaid and a nude model, Joy drifts into a life of promiscuity; then Tom returns from prison, and Joy tries to revive their marriage. Eventually, however, Tom beats her up during an argument, and she runs from their flat. When she returns, she discovers that Jonny is missing. Frantic, she races through the neighborhood until she finds him playing in a demolition site. Realizing how much her child means to her, Joy compromises her life by remaining with Tom but hopes for future happiness with Dave.
Director
Kenneth Loach
Cast
Carol White
Terence Stamp
John Bindon
Kate Williams
Queenie Watts
Geraldine Sherman
James Beckett
Billy Murray
Simon King
Stevie King
Winnie Holman
Rose Hillier
Ellis Dale
Gerald Young
Paddy Joyce
Gladys Dawson
Ron Pember
Malcolm Mcdowell
George Tovey
Will Stampe
Bernard Stone
John Halstead
Peter Claughton
Julie May
Philip Rose
Martin King
Muriel Hunte
James Thornhill
Mo Dwyer
Terry Duggan
Ian Christain
Liza Carrol
Tony Selby
Ray Barron
Sian Davis
Mike Negal
George Sewell
Chris Gannon
Philip Newman
Alan Selwyn
Wally Patch
Hilda Barry
Joe Palmer
Crew
David Anderson
John Cameron
Nell Dunn
John Goldstone
Andrew Grieve
Gerry Humphreys
Joseph Janni
Edward Joseph
Kenneth Loach
Christopher Logue
Brian Probyn
Bernard Sarron
Kevin Sutton
David Symonds
Roy Watts
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Filmed on location in London, Wales, and the Isle of Sheppey. Opened in London in December 1967.
Miscellaneous Notes
The United Kingdom
Released in United States 2000
Released in United States Winter January 31, 1968
The role of Billy, played by Malcolm McDowell, was cut out before being released.
Released in United States 2000 (Shown in New York City (Film Forum) as part of program "The British New Wave: From Angry Young Men to Swinging London" October 27 - November 16, 2000.)
Released in United States Winter January 31, 1968
