Alf's Button Afloat (1938)

Alf discovers that one of the buttons on his pyjamas is made from the metal of Aladdin's lamp. When he cleans it a genie appears.

Director:

Marcel Varnel

Writers:

W.A. Darlington (play), Ralph Smart (adaptation),

Stars:

Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo

Cast

Cast overview:
Bud Flanagan	...	Alf Higgins
Chesney Allen	...	Ches
Jimmy Nervo	...	Cecil
Teddy Knox	...	Teddy
Charlie Naughton	...	Charlie
Jimmy Gold	...	Jimmy
Alastair Sim	...	The Genie of the Button
Wally Patch	...	Sergt. Hawkins
Peter Gawthorne	...	Capt. Driscol R.N.
Agnes Lauchlan	...	Lady Driscol (as Agnes Laughlin)
Glennis Lorimer	...	Frankie Driscol
James Carney	...	Lieut. Hardy R.M.
Wilson Coleman	...	Surg-Cmdr. Brown
J.H. Roberts	...	Aladdin
Bruce Winston	...	Mustapha

Storyline

Alf discovers that one of the buttons on his pyjamas is made from the metal of Aladdin's lamp. When he cleans it a genie appears.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play | character name in title

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1938 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sei matti a bordo

Filming Locations:

Islington Studios, Islington, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gainsborough Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of Alf's Button (1920)

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Soundtracks

"Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road"
(uncredited)
Written by Albert Chevalier

User Reviews

A lot of silly fun

6 mates, all after a buck, end up getting themselves recruited without realising it! They all get their uniforms, and one has a dirty button. No one wants the one with the dirty button, of course, so it gets thrown about until finally Alf is stuck with it. But the button isn't dirty - see at the beginning of the movie we see Aladdin burying his lamp as he is done with it, and then in "present day" (1937) it being dug up and found, and ending up being melted down for metal in a button factory (cue funny inserts of the genie going "hmm, warm in here!") - and the mysterious "dirty" button on Alf's jacket is none other than the melted down lamp, and when he tries to clean it, the genie appears, saying he will grant his every wish. "Strike me pink!" is Alf's exclamation, and the genie does just that. Oh, if only it were in colour! The genie provides a lot of fun for the 6, often getting their instructions hilariously wrong. A groaner, but a must-see.