Operation Snafu (1961)
"On the Fiddle" (original title)

When he is pulled up in court for selling stuff on the street, Horace Pope says he was only doing it while waiting to enlist. The judge calls his bluff and forces him to sign up. Pope makes... See full summary »

Director:

Cyril Frankel

Writers:

R.F. Delderfield (novel), Harold Buchman (screenplay)

Stars:

Alfred Lynch, Sean Connery, Victor Maddern

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfred Lynch	...	Horace Pope
Sean Connery	...	Pedlar Pascoe
Victor Maddern	...	First Airman
Harry Locke	...	Huxtable
John Le Mesurier	...	Hixon
Eric Barker	...	Doctor
Viola Keats	...	Sister
Peter Sinclair	...	Mr. Pope
Edna Morris	...	Lil
Thomas Heathcote	...	Sergeant
Brian Weske	...	Corporal
Jack Lambert	...	Police Constable
Cyril Smith	...	Ticket Collector
Cecil Parker	...	Group Capt. Bascombe
Simon Lack	...	Flight Lt. Baldwin

Storyline

When he is pulled up in court for selling stuff on the street, Horace Pope says he was only doing it while waiting to enlist. The judge calls his bluff and forces him to sign up. Pope makes friends with the easy going but loyal Pedlar Pascoe, who happily goes along with all of his scams in an effort to avoid the front lines and make a bit on the side. However, his scams cause trouble where he goes and there are only so many places he can go before France beckons.

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Plot Keywords:

buddy | world war two | independent film | based on novel

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Taglines:

It's Sean Connery again! Warm lips or hot lead - he's after action not medals!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Operation War Head

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Coronado Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1965, at the height of the James Bond craze, American-International Pictures released this movie in the US as "Operation Snafu". The title, as well as the advertising campaign, downplayed the comedic aspects of the film and, by highlighting Sean Connery's appearance (he was second-billed), suggested it was an espionage thriller in the tradition of the 007 films that were then breaking box-office records worldwide.

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Connections

Featured in Trailer Cinema (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Lily of Laguna"
(uncredited)
Written by Leslie Stuart

User Reviews

Second World War Comedy/Drama Well Acted And Stands Up Well Today.

A film that hasn't "dated", a good script and full of all the reliable British actors of the time. Alfred Lynch is superb as the main RAF "spiv" charachter supported by a subdued Sean Connery. The US comparisons with Sgt Bilko are very valid and in the same way that Bilko had the strength in some brilliant minor cast members, so it is with "On the Fiddle". A really good "watch" for Sunday afternoon TV and although there are a few touches of "farce" around it captures the feeling of ordinary Service life towards the end of World War II extremely accurately. Alfred Lynch was a real class British actor who drew brilliantly on his East End background for many of his films. I was sad to hear of his untimely death just before Christmas (2003).