This film was made by John Blakelys Mancunian Films.Its studio i recall was a converted church.It made low budget films mainly for Northern audiences.This film is very typical of the type of films that they made.Essentially it is really no more than a variety show/revue with a very slim plot line attached.Most of the humour is very broad and of the type most popular in the music halls at the time.It has to be said that the film has really lost what little entertainment it ever had and it is really a rather creaky historical document,showing what the various acts,such as Norman Evans were like in the mid forties.Unless you still enjoy the sort of humour on view in this film or are a student of the music hall you may as well give this film a wide berth.
5 Reviews
Demobbed 1944
BSKIMDB18 September 2016
Just a couple of lines to add to the previous review, which is useful enough. This film is introduced as a "Musical Comedy Burlesque", so at least no misunderstandings. There is still one reason to watch it if you don't like vaudeville, and it's the two musical numbers by guest artists Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, famous operetta-style singers at the time who got married in real life. They add the high class note to the show with "So deep is the Night" and a Garden Medley. They only made three films together, the others being a gypsy number in Waltz Time (1945) and The Laughing Lady (1946). There's also one number performed by Mendelssohn's Hawaiian Serenaders, which is soon followed by the comic version by the leading team, aided by Betty Jumel (see images). In fact they are ever-present, clowning around all the time, so don't expect more -nor less- than them all over.
Staged, unfunny and awful.
ouzman-113 September 2018
How anyone actually paid to see this would be my question. It's actually dreadfully unfunny, and if this serves as a legacy to the players then it is no wonder that their names are no longer familiar.
This is almost patronising to the expected audience, perhaps the order of the day, was the film-makers, toffs (the money-men) to throw such things together to serve such tripe to an ever so humble working class.
The 'packing case' sketch sums this film up, "So I'm a liar am I?" Oh dear...
This is almost patronising to the expected audience, perhaps the order of the day, was the film-makers, toffs (the money-men) to throw such things together to serve such tripe to an ever so humble working class.
The 'packing case' sketch sums this film up, "So I'm a liar am I?" Oh dear...
Creaky, Stagey, but still of interest
Idbelsey22 February 2021
I cannot pretend for one instant that this film will make you want to rush to see it again, or even watch past the first reel, but contrary to the previous damming reviews, it stands as an historical document, and for that be grateful.
It is no use reviewing such a film with modern eyes and ears, times were very different, and this sort of fare was very popular at the time as audiences knew the artists concerned from trips to the music halls and theatres, and contrary to what one previous reviewer states, to people who know about the history of variety, many of the names are well known. However, that is a separate issue.
I am grateful to have seen this as a novelty, and any film with Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth is worth a watch. Like anything we can have available, if you don't like it, switch off, but don't damn with faint praise if you haven't a clue what you're talking about!
It is no use reviewing such a film with modern eyes and ears, times were very different, and this sort of fare was very popular at the time as audiences knew the artists concerned from trips to the music halls and theatres, and contrary to what one previous reviewer states, to people who know about the history of variety, many of the names are well known. However, that is a separate issue.
I am grateful to have seen this as a novelty, and any film with Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth is worth a watch. Like anything we can have available, if you don't like it, switch off, but don't damn with faint praise if you haven't a clue what you're talking about!
awful tedious unwatchable
peterwburrows-7077423 October 2020
This is the worst film I have currently seen. l am a fan of will hay and others of his ilk but he was not in it and l can understand.
Do not waste your time. Some films are so bad that they are entertaining.
l would have given this a negative if l was able
Do not waste your time. Some films are so bad that they are entertaining.
l would have given this a negative if l was able
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