Lewis Gilbert has been responsible for some of the best British pictures ever made - 'Reach For The Sky', 'Alfie', 'Sink The Bismarck!', 'Carve Her Name With Pride', 'H.M.S. Defiant', and 'Educating Rita'. He also made three Bond romps, of which 'The Spy Who Loved Me' was easily the best.
Not so well-known among his credits is this superb war movie, set in a British army camp whose searchlight is directed at the sky whenever there is a night-time bombing raid. Lt.Ogleby ( known to his men as 'Oggie' ), played by Ian Carmichael, presides over an 'absolute shower' ( to borrow a phrase from 'Private's Progress' ). The cook, the perpetually coughing Roland ( Harry Locke ) aspires to be a cordon bleu chef, serving the men fancy meals they do not want - they prefer chips! Brothers Eric ( Tommy Steele ) and Sid McCaffey ( Benny Hill ) seem more interested in honing their music-hall comedy double-act act than in the war. Another, Smith ( future 'Coronation Street' star Johnny Briggs ), becomes so concerned about the fate of his girlfriend ( she has found a new man ) that he goes A.W.O.L. to sort things out. Luckily, their Commanding Officer is a decent sort of chap. When Oggie finds out where Smith is, he travels to Sheffield to get him back double-quick.
Like 'Alfie' and 'Educating Rita', this began life as a play, but has been opened out sufficiently without compromising its integrity. It switches from comedy to tragedy a number of times, yet never becomes disjointed. Despite the outrageous capers the men get up to ( when 'Oggie' goes on leave, they steal ducks from the local farmer, and treat themselves to a posh dinner ), they are conscientious and do not shirk from danger when it presents itself.
The music-hall scene contains original Benny Hill material, and I would not be surprised if he contributed some of the other gags too. When carrying a stolen bath back to the camp, Sid and Eric are stopped by an officer who wants to know what they are up to. "Taking a bath, sir!", snaps Sid, an answer that seems to satisfy the officer.
Though Carmichael has top billing, 'Oggie' is really nothing more than a supporting role. Tommy Steele manages to be a pain in the neck ( impregnating a farmer's daughter while married to someone else ) but that is the way the character is written. Victor Maddern and Sydney Tafler are outstanding ( both were stalwarts of British cinema ), as is the underrated Harry Locke as 'Roland' the cook.
But the stand-out performance comes from Benny Hill as the wisecracking 'Sid'. His contributions to the big screen by and large consisted of minor parts in films such as 'The Italian Job' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Here he is given a leading role, and grabs it with both hands. If you only know him from his Thames show, prepare to be shocked. He steals every scene he is in. Just check out the moment where he loses his temper after Eric confesses his infidelity. It is astonishing that he was never given a film role of this calibre again.
Sheila Hancock ( the late John Thaw's wife ) pops up as a talentless theatre singer, and the great Dick Emery has a few scenes as a van driver.
Watching 'Sky' it is hard not to be reminded of 'Dad's Army' ( like the opening episode 'The Man & The Hour', it also begins in the present day before flashing back to W.W.2 ), nor - surprisingly - of 'Auf Wiedershen Pet' - which also featured working-class men living uncomfortably together in a hut.
My only complaint is the running time - too short! I could cheerfully have sat through half-hour or so. An underrated classic.
Not so well-known among his credits is this superb war movie, set in a British army camp whose searchlight is directed at the sky whenever there is a night-time bombing raid. Lt.Ogleby ( known to his men as 'Oggie' ), played by Ian Carmichael, presides over an 'absolute shower' ( to borrow a phrase from 'Private's Progress' ). The cook, the perpetually coughing Roland ( Harry Locke ) aspires to be a cordon bleu chef, serving the men fancy meals they do not want - they prefer chips! Brothers Eric ( Tommy Steele ) and Sid McCaffey ( Benny Hill ) seem more interested in honing their music-hall comedy double-act act than in the war. Another, Smith ( future 'Coronation Street' star Johnny Briggs ), becomes so concerned about the fate of his girlfriend ( she has found a new man ) that he goes A.W.O.L. to sort things out. Luckily, their Commanding Officer is a decent sort of chap. When Oggie finds out where Smith is, he travels to Sheffield to get him back double-quick.
Like 'Alfie' and 'Educating Rita', this began life as a play, but has been opened out sufficiently without compromising its integrity. It switches from comedy to tragedy a number of times, yet never becomes disjointed. Despite the outrageous capers the men get up to ( when 'Oggie' goes on leave, they steal ducks from the local farmer, and treat themselves to a posh dinner ), they are conscientious and do not shirk from danger when it presents itself.
The music-hall scene contains original Benny Hill material, and I would not be surprised if he contributed some of the other gags too. When carrying a stolen bath back to the camp, Sid and Eric are stopped by an officer who wants to know what they are up to. "Taking a bath, sir!", snaps Sid, an answer that seems to satisfy the officer.
Though Carmichael has top billing, 'Oggie' is really nothing more than a supporting role. Tommy Steele manages to be a pain in the neck ( impregnating a farmer's daughter while married to someone else ) but that is the way the character is written. Victor Maddern and Sydney Tafler are outstanding ( both were stalwarts of British cinema ), as is the underrated Harry Locke as 'Roland' the cook.
But the stand-out performance comes from Benny Hill as the wisecracking 'Sid'. His contributions to the big screen by and large consisted of minor parts in films such as 'The Italian Job' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Here he is given a leading role, and grabs it with both hands. If you only know him from his Thames show, prepare to be shocked. He steals every scene he is in. Just check out the moment where he loses his temper after Eric confesses his infidelity. It is astonishing that he was never given a film role of this calibre again.
Sheila Hancock ( the late John Thaw's wife ) pops up as a talentless theatre singer, and the great Dick Emery has a few scenes as a van driver.
Watching 'Sky' it is hard not to be reminded of 'Dad's Army' ( like the opening episode 'The Man & The Hour', it also begins in the present day before flashing back to W.W.2 ), nor - surprisingly - of 'Auf Wiedershen Pet' - which also featured working-class men living uncomfortably together in a hut.
My only complaint is the running time - too short! I could cheerfully have sat through half-hour or so. An underrated classic.