The Spongers (1978)
In the days leading up the Queen's Silver Jubilee, Pauline, a recently separated single mother, receives a visit from a bailiff and is given 15 days to address her overdue rent payments. Meanwhile, the local council is under pressure to cut expenditure, and their decisions result in Pauline's mentally handicapped daughter Paula being transferred from a care home for special needs children to an old people's home, where she is all alone.
Director: Roland Joffé
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Christine Hargreaves as Pauline |
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Bernard Hill as Sullivan |
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Peter Kerrigan as Peter |
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Paula McDonagh as Paula |
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Gary Todd as Gary |
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Grace Allen as Grace |
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Dawn Booth as Baby Dawn |
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Angela Catherall as Jackie |
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Gertie Almond as Gertie |
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Elaine Lindsay as Mrs Johnson |
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Bernard Atha as Councillor Conway |
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Fred Pearson as Director of Social Services |
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Ina Clough as Deputy Director of Social Services |
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Donald Gee as Dr Whitehead |
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Roger Sloman as Presenting Officer at Tribunal |
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Frances Cox as Supervisor at Home |
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Josephine Antosz as Warden at Hostel |
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Lesley Nightingale as Asst Supervisor at Home |
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Marion Shakespeare as Chair of Tribunal |
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Ann Haydn-Edwards as Clerk |
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Ann Aris as Tribunal Committee |
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Len Annett as Tribunal Committee |
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Joanna Clay as Jubilee Committee Chair |
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Eileen Beldon as Jubilee Committee |
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Ken Rose as Jubilee Committee |
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Gwen Harris as Jubilee Committee |
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Joe Kenyon as Group Policy Meeting Leader |
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Barry Hart as Roads Committee Chair |
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Johnny Allan as Planning Committee Chair |
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Jack Platts as Housing Committee Chair |
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Anthony Dutton as Education Committee Chair |
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Peter Ellis as Left Wing Councillor |
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David Hatton as DHSS Clerk |
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Yvonne Nicholson as DHSS Clerk |
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Joan Peters as Social Services Committee |
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Fred Gaunt as Social Services Committee |
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Peter Lawrence as Pauline's GP |
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Phil Kernot as Bailiff |
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Gwyll Williams as Bailiff |
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Johnny Hackett as Foreman |
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Ted Carroll as Workman |
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Emrys Evans as Comedian/Club MC |
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Bill Moores as Local in Pub |
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Mick Miller as Policeman |
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Stuart Lee as 2nd Policeman |
| Camera | Nat Crosby | Director of Photography |
| Editing | Bill Shapter | Editor |
| Art | Judy Steele | Production Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Robin Stubbs | Costume Design |
| Directing | Roland Joffé | Director |
| Writing | Jim Allen | Writer |
| Production | Tony Garnett | Producer |
