Director
Donald Swanson
Cast list
| Tommy Machaka | ... |
The Thief
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| Harriet Qubeka | ... |
Mrs. Sakabona
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| David Mukwanazi | ... |
Lucas Ranku (as David Mnkwanazi)
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| Dolly Rathebe | ... |
Lili Shabalala
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| Victor Cwayi | ... |
John, Lili's beau (as Victor Cwai)
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| Grinsell Nongauza | ... |
Mr. Shabalala (as Grinsell Nogauza)
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| Lucas Khosa | ... |
Isaac Wela
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| Linda Madikisa | ... |
Mrs. Wela
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| Jonathan Mzamo | ... |
Priest
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| George Mabuza | ... |
Mr. Letuli, the troubled parishioner
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Credits
Produced by
| Donald Swanson | ... | producer |
Music by
| Tommy Ramokgopa | ||
| Ralph Trewhela | ||
Cinematography by
| C.M. Pennington-Richards | ... | (lighting cameraman) |
Film Editing by
| Gerald Ehrlich | ||
Production Management
| Harry N. Ebedes | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Eric Cordell | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Ken Taylor | ... | sound recordist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| John Coquillon | ... | camera operator (as Johnny Coquillon) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Bessie McAuliffe | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Other crew
| Gene Swanson | ... | continuity |
Synopsis
The film, also called The Pennywhistle Blues, is about a man who gives his life savings to a priest. However, a thief steals the money and keeps it in a hidden garden. Ironically, the garden belongs to a poor woman and when she finds the money in her garden, she uses it to pay off her grocery debts. The thief returns to the garden to take all the money that is left. He hides it in another place but another man is able to find it. He also uses this money to pay off his own debts. The money is eventually returned to the priest but it is seen how much good it has brought to the several people whose hands it passes through.
Reviews
Bosley Crowther, Movie Review: The Pennywhistle Blues (1952). New York Times (online newspaper)
User Reviews, The Magic Garden. Internet Movie Database (IMDb, website)
Academic Articles
‘Assignment Africa’: Donald Swanson’s Colonial Imaginary and Chisoko the African (1949) by Jacqueline Maingard. Journal of Southern African Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3, (Sept. 2013), pp. 701-719