George is an unwilling civilian during the war. When an enlisted friend switches clothes with him in order to go to a party, George finds himself mistakenly pressed into the navy, where he gets involved with pretty Ann Firth and caught up in a subplot involving German spies.
Varnel directed the last nine of George Formby's movies, and the collaboration shows its strains here. George's persona was that of the well-meaning, lower-class 'cheeky chappie' who seizes his infrequent, small opportunities and finally prevails, pausing every now and then to sing a song, accompanying himself on his ukulele -- actually an alto banjo. Varnel's specialty was as director of heartless farces with the Crazy Gang and the incomparable Will Hay. The result is a coarsening of George's character. Although Formby pulls it off, his character has lost some of his charm.
Varnel directed the last nine of George Formby's movies, and the collaboration shows its strains here. George's persona was that of the well-meaning, lower-class 'cheeky chappie' who seizes his infrequent, small opportunities and finally prevails, pausing every now and then to sing a song, accompanying himself on his ukulele -- actually an alto banjo. Varnel's specialty was as director of heartless farces with the Crazy Gang and the incomparable Will Hay. The result is a coarsening of George's character. Although Formby pulls it off, his character has lost some of his charm.