Helter Skelter (1949)

A detective gets involved with a wealthy socialite who can't seem to stop hiccupping.

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

Gerard Bryant (additional dialogue), Patrick Campbell,

Stars:

Carol Marsh, David Tomlinson, Mervyn Johns

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carol Marsh	...	Susan Graham
David Tomlinson	...	Nick Martin
Mervyn Johns	...	Ernest Bennett
Peter Hammond	...	Spencer Stone
Richard Hearne	...	Professor Pastry
Peter Haddon	...	Major Basil Beagle
Geoffrey Sumner	...	Humphrey Beagle
Jon Pertwee	...	Headwaiter / Charles II
Zena Marshall	...	Giselle
Terry-Thomas	...	Himself
Jimmy Edwards	...	Himself
Colin Gordon	...	Chadbeater Longwick
Judith Furse	...	Mrs. Martin
Edmund Willard	...	Ezekial
Robert Lamouret	...	The 'Duck' Man

Storyline

A detective gets involved with a wealthy socialite who can't seem to stop hiccupping.

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Plot Keywords:

hiccup | rhyme in title | heiress | two word title

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Taglines:

Hip-Hiccup-Hooray!

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1949 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gainsborough Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terry-Thomas also performs his celebrated sketch "Technical Hitch" in this movie, which made him famous in the late 1940s.

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Connections

Features Would You Believe It! (1930)

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Soundtracks

"Mary Lou"
(uncredited)
Written by Dickie Hurran

User Reviews

Helter Skelter and Dick Barton

When I first saw the film, 'Helter Skelter', I saw the connection. When David Tomlinson appeared as Nick Martin, Special Investigator, heard nightly on the BBC I thought of 'Dick Barton, Special Agent'. The film was made in 1948 at the height of Dick Barton's popularity. There were thoughts at that time what would happen if Dick Barton (played by Noel Johnson) failed to turn up for an episode? Virtually the whole of Britain stopped at 18.45 each evening during winter to hear the next instalment. And look what happened in the film: Nick's girlfriend was accidentally looked in one of the rooms at the BBC and wasn't found in time for the programme so Nick refused to go on air. The whole country stopped. No-one went to the football or the races. I haven't seen any comments on the connection but anyone who heard 'Dick Barton' at that time would have recognised it. Only 'The Devil's Galop' was missing. Great film with old-time stars!