Calling the Tune (1936)

Directors:

Reginald Denham, Thorold Dickinson

Writer:

Reginald Denham

Stars:

Adele Dixon, Clifford Evans, Sam Livesey

Cast

Credited cast:
Adele Dixon	...	Julia Harbord
Clifford Evans	...	Peter Mallory
Sam Livesey	...	Bob Gordon
Sally Gray	...	Margaret Gordon
Donald Wolfit	...	Dick Finlay
Eliot Makeham	...	Stephen Harbord
Lewis Casson	...	John Mallory
Ronald Simpson	...	Bramwell
H.F. Maltby	...	Stubbins
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Cameo appearance
Robb Wilton	...	Jenkins
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reginald Forsyth	...	Cameo appearance
Charles Penrose	...	Cameo appearance
George Robey	...	Cameo appearance
Henry Wood	...	Cameo appearance (as Sir Henry Wood)

Storyline

---

Genres:

Musical

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1936 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Phoenix Films (II), Independent Film Producers (IFP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Sheperd's Hey"
Composed by Percy Grainger
Sir Henry Wood conducts the Queen's Hall Orchestra in Percy Grainger's 'Shepherd's Hey' on an Ealing Studio set in a cameo appearance

User Reviews

A real curiosity

This is a rather strange film.It is set in the record industry.It charts the rivalry and feud between 3 families.Sam Livesy and Donald Wolfit,who else,steal the record manufacture business and patents from Clifford Evans father and Elliott Markeham.All the time this is happening the plot is being interrupted by as mixed as band of performers as you will ever see.There is Charles Penrose singing his immortal "The Laughing Policeman",then a song from George Robey,poetry from Cedric Hardwicke,Sir Henry Wood conducting "Pomp And Circumstance".Some of the technical developments in the industry are shown.However by far the most curious is saved for last .Makehams latest device,a video disc no less, is used to catch the dying confession of Wolfit that he and Livesey were in cahoots in the attempted arson.Baird had in fact recorded vision on disc.Approptiate since Adele Dixon stars and she was of course very prominent in pre war TV broadcasts from Alexandra Palace.The story is rather commonplace but it is worth viewing for all the cameo appearances.