A young sailor on shore leave hopes first to marry his fiancée and then to spend a lovely, romantic wedding night. These inoffensive ambitions get thwarted by the efforts of friends, relatives and in-laws. The wartime conditions too interfere with the couple's love life...
"Hi diddle diddle" is an amusing screwball comedy meant to lift the spirits of a wartime audience. Not all screwball comedies are funny, but this one certainly is. The intrigue doesn't make much sense, which is typical for the genre, but by way of compensation you get all of these jokes, gags, songs and "break the fourth wall" interruptions. There is also a wide choice of daffy characters, like a talkative mother-in-law with the brains of a parakeet or a proud, jealous opera singer who happens to be married to an ageing fraudster. The inclusion of the diva character allows for a fine swipe at Wagnerian opera. It also allows for a most inventive "wallpaper" gag involving Wagner's reaction to the mistreatment of his music.
The engaged couple is charming and one genuinely feels for their predicament. Near the end, of course, love will find a way...
Much care was lavished on the costumes. Lovers of boldly insane headwear can admire - and copy - a variety of hats and fascinators.
"Hi diddle diddle" is an amusing screwball comedy meant to lift the spirits of a wartime audience. Not all screwball comedies are funny, but this one certainly is. The intrigue doesn't make much sense, which is typical for the genre, but by way of compensation you get all of these jokes, gags, songs and "break the fourth wall" interruptions. There is also a wide choice of daffy characters, like a talkative mother-in-law with the brains of a parakeet or a proud, jealous opera singer who happens to be married to an ageing fraudster. The inclusion of the diva character allows for a fine swipe at Wagnerian opera. It also allows for a most inventive "wallpaper" gag involving Wagner's reaction to the mistreatment of his music.
The engaged couple is charming and one genuinely feels for their predicament. Near the end, of course, love will find a way...
Much care was lavished on the costumes. Lovers of boldly insane headwear can admire - and copy - a variety of hats and fascinators.