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The Magic Garden, also known as The Pennywhistle Blues, is a 1951 feature film produced and directed by British filmmaker Donald Swanson in South Africa, made in and around Johannesburg with an amateur cast. It is historically important in South African cinema as the first film with an all-black cast to be shown in the white cinemas in racially-segregated Johannesburg. It was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), for Best Film from any Source and Best British Film. It stars Tommy Ramokgopa, who also wrote some of the film's music. Willard Cele contributes to the soundtrack by playing the "Pennywhistle Blues" on the pennywhistle.
Original Release
03/05/1951
US Release
02/05/1952
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Tommy Machaka | The Thief |
Harriet Qubeka | Mrs. Shakabona / Mrs. Sakabona |
David Mukwanazi | Lucas Ranku |
Dolly Rathebe | Lili Shabulala / Lili Shabalala |
Victor Cwayi | John, Lili's beau |
Grinsell Nongauza | Mr. Shabulala / Mr. Shabalala |
Lucas Khosa | Isaac Wela |
Linda Madikisa | Mrs. Wela |
Jonathan Mzamo | Priest |
George Mabuza | Mr. Letuli, the troubled parishioner |
Directors
Writers
Donald Swanson, James Ambrose Brown, C.M. Pennington-Richards, Ferdinand Webb
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Tommy Machaka | The Thief |
Harriet Qubeka | Mrs. Shakabona / Mrs. Sakabona |
David Mukwanazi | Lucas Ranku |
Dolly Rathebe | Lili Shabulala / Lili Shabalala |
Victor Cwayi | John, Lili's beau |
Grinsell Nongauza | Mr. Shabulala / Mr. Shabalala |
Lucas Khosa | Isaac Wela |
Linda Madikisa | Mrs. Wela |
Jonathan Mzamo | Priest |
George Mabuza | Mr. Letuli, the troubled parishioner |
Joseph Motuba | Nicolas, store clerk |
Cornelius Moghare | Policeman |
Samuel Alcock | Policeman |
Stanley Khali | Mrs. Sakabona's neighbor |
Willard Cele | Pennywhistle player |
Tommy Ramokgopa | The Thief |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Donald Swanson | Producer |