This film was shown last night at the NFT as part of the current Tommy Trinder season.It is a boot camp comedy of the type that became common in the War.This film was made only 7 weeks after the declaration of the war on September 3rd 1939.However apart from an extract from Chamberlains speech there are no topical references and gags.Within a few months most comedies would have constant references to the Nazis and Hitler. In this film Trinder is in a Blackpool show when he is called up.Enroute to camp he meets his Sergeant Major in civvies and has a bust up with him.When he arrives at camp all the usual rookie escapades ensue. Trinder is asked to put on a show and this comprises the bulk of the later part of the film, The problem with Trinder is that like other stand up comics of his era he finds it very difficult to adapt to the demands of the screen.So not even an astute director such as John Baxter can make him in any way appealing.His delivery is pretty monotonous and it has to be said that he really at 70 years on is not nearly as funny as he thinks he is.The show at the end is not that great and in fact the whole film is redolent of an end of pier show.More a period piece than an entertainment.
4 Reviews
Wally Patch Sings!
richardchatten16 January 2021
Lassie from Lancashire Peggy Browne gets into uniform as a colonel's daughter working as his secretary for this very early contribution to the war effort directed on a shoestring with far more grace than it deserves by John Baxter on behalf of British International Pictures. Tommy Trinder rolls his eyes as an entertainer as usual called 'Tommy' who enlists to do his bit, and has the usual hilarious adventures with a truculent sergeant major, peeling potatoes, falling into a water trough and so on; while his sweetheart played by glamourous blonde Jean Colin is supposedly transformed into a frump simply by putting on spectacles.
At the patriotic finale presided over by Geraldo and his Orchestra in Regency dress (the enormous audience enthusiastically applauding obviously library footage) the chic Vesta Tilley outfit in which Miss Colin performs reminds us that at this stage in the war the makers still had the last one in mind; and Trinder momentarily breaches the fourth wall by looking straight into the camera in closeup and inviting the audience to join in. Wally Patch meanwhile reveals a pleasant singing voice (assuming that's his voice) serenading matronly cafe proprietor Ida Barr backed by a chorus line including a young John Laurie (already in uniform when the Home Guard hadn't even been formed yet).
At the patriotic finale presided over by Geraldo and his Orchestra in Regency dress (the enormous audience enthusiastically applauding obviously library footage) the chic Vesta Tilley outfit in which Miss Colin performs reminds us that at this stage in the war the makers still had the last one in mind; and Trinder momentarily breaches the fourth wall by looking straight into the camera in closeup and inviting the audience to join in. Wally Patch meanwhile reveals a pleasant singing voice (assuming that's his voice) serenading matronly cafe proprietor Ida Barr backed by a chorus line including a young John Laurie (already in uniform when the Home Guard hadn't even been formed yet).
Thousands Jeer.
mark.waltz28 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There's dated and there's D-A-T-E-D, painfully unfunny and boring, especially when compared to films, shows or TV from the same time that is enjoyable in spite of being an old style of entertainment. With his Stan Laurel looks, Tommy Trinder should have been funny on that aspect alone, but not one laugh, smirk, chuckle or guffaw from me. This early British wartime musical has a few moderately enjoyable songs and dances, but I could tell I was not about to memorize these songs.
The basic plot is simple and pretty non-existent, having Trinder drafted and assigned to put on a show even though he's done nothing but annoying those in charge. There's about 15 minutes worth of plot and an hour of attempts at stand-up comedy in his encounters with others, and it's only when people other than Trinder attempt to be funny that I even moderately smiled. I've enjoyed the British comedy from the same time of Arthur Askey and to a lesser amount George Formby so I had hopes for my first foray into a Trinder film. Production design is fine and looks fairly elaborate, but overall results are mostly painful.
The basic plot is simple and pretty non-existent, having Trinder drafted and assigned to put on a show even though he's done nothing but annoying those in charge. There's about 15 minutes worth of plot and an hour of attempts at stand-up comedy in his encounters with others, and it's only when people other than Trinder attempt to be funny that I even moderately smiled. I've enjoyed the British comedy from the same time of Arthur Askey and to a lesser amount George Formby so I had hopes for my first foray into a Trinder film. Production design is fine and looks fairly elaborate, but overall results are mostly painful.
The decline of the British Empire
winopaul14 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
British National Films released this in April 1940, after the war declaration of September 1939 and a month before the humiliation of the British troops at Dunkirk. You can view it free at a popular video sharing sight, posted by "The Paramount Vault." I suspect this is a legal posting, and a way to try and scrape a few advertising dollars from this turkey of a flick.
Starts with some song and dance, ends with some song and dance, with Tommy's really bad humor sprinkled throughout. Pretty much plot-less. Some decent tap dancing at the beginning. All the best songs do not feature Tommy. Provocative use of the words "faggot," and "pecker".
This is similar to the mostly unwatchable Jerry Lewis movies that came later, maybe Tommy is Jerry's muse.
Unlike WWII, there was no American money and Soviet manpower to save this half-hearted British production. It is rumored that after watching a bootleg copy, Adolph Hitler exclaimed "Dees British are powder-puffs!" and ordered the bombing of London.
Starts with some song and dance, ends with some song and dance, with Tommy's really bad humor sprinkled throughout. Pretty much plot-less. Some decent tap dancing at the beginning. All the best songs do not feature Tommy. Provocative use of the words "faggot," and "pecker".
This is similar to the mostly unwatchable Jerry Lewis movies that came later, maybe Tommy is Jerry's muse.
Unlike WWII, there was no American money and Soviet manpower to save this half-hearted British production. It is rumored that after watching a bootleg copy, Adolph Hitler exclaimed "Dees British are powder-puffs!" and ordered the bombing of London.
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