This'll Make You Whistle (1936)

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Director:

Herbert Wilcox

Writers:

Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson (as Frederick A. Thompson)

Stars:

Jack Buchanan, Elsie Randolph, Jean Gillie

Cast

Cast overview:
Jack Buchanan	...	Bill Hoppings
Elsie Randolph	...	Bobbie Rivers
Jean Gillie	...	Joan Longhurst
William Kendall	...	Reggie Benson
David Hutcheson	...	Archie Codrington
Maidie Hope	...	Mrs. Longhurst
Anthony Holles	...	Sebastian Venables
Marjorie Brooks	...	Laura Buxton
Bunty Payne	...	Betty
Miki Hood	...	Clarice
Scott Harrold	...	Gendarme
Irene Vere	...	Mrs. Crimp

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

La tournée des grands ducs

Company Credits

Production Co:

Herbert Wilcox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one of his early performances as a film extra, comedian Terry-Thomas appears with a long false moustache and falls into a water tank.

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Soundtracks

I Don't Give a Continental
Written by Al Goodhart, Al Hoffman and Maurice Sigler

User Reviews

Innocent fun from an innocent era. Sadly long gone.

The previous comment is the second review I have read from that particular user, and although everyone is entitled to their opinion, it must be pointed out that they are trying to judge the humour of that era by todays standards and it cannot be done. They are two completely different animals.

This'll Make You Whistle is a celluloid testament to England of the 1930's. It was an era I never saw first hand as I was not born until '73, but its an era for which I hold great affection. The art deco fashions, the music, the gentleman's clubs, the spacious London apartments and the night clubs complete with brylcremed band-leader and orchestra. Now do you see where I am coming from..it's a completely different world than we live in today, but one I would be happy to revert to if it were only possible.

What appeals to me about this film is that Jack Buchanan and his friends are able to have a four day party with plenty of booze, which climaxes in an hotel in Le Touquet. All of this presumably costing a bomb by 1930's standards and (here is the best bit) completely uninterrupted by the very work commitments that must have paid for it all. I presumed they must have all got the sack when they returned to England!!!!

As for the nightclub scene and the "black baby" incident mentioned by my predecessor on this page, again it was a different world then. There were very few black people in England at the time and the crazy and incredibly annoying world of political correctness had yet to invade our society. It may not be a welcomed scene in a movie for our multi-cultural society today, but back then it must have been guffaw funny. I still find it so for I can see the joke for what it is and in the context in which it was meant. It wasn't offensive for the age as there was no-one to find it offensive and I think people ought to remember that before they try and write it off as a racist slur.

The songs...ahhh the songs. Not too good really are they. The tunes are great but are let down by the cliché lyrics like "..birds of feather...getting together...." (sung rather inappropriately to the lead characters - best friends - wife no less.)In addition to this, these lyrics were deemed soooooo good they actually feature in TWO songs. Such was Buchanan's confidence in them...oh dear.

However again they are not songs written for the pop charts of 2004 and in the innocent days of 1936, if they got your foot tapping then they had served their purpose and had provided the entertainment required to help lift you out of the depression.

A funny story with an almost cartoon existence makes this a pleasant eighty odd minutes to be savored on a quite afternoon, especially for the older generation. If you haven't seen it before then I'm sure it will take you right back to that bygone age and your own fond memories of the day. If you have then This'll Make You Whistle all over again.