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IMDbPro

Old Bones of the River

  • 19381938
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
260
YOUR RATING
Old Bones of the River (1938)
Comedy
In this British comedy, a professor travels up river in Africa to open schools. But his new pupils are not receptive and when the commander of the local base succumbs to malaria, he takes on... Read allIn this British comedy, a professor travels up river in Africa to open schools. But his new pupils are not receptive and when the commander of the local base succumbs to malaria, he takes on his duties too. Aided by the crew of the boat he arrived on he starts collecting taxes fr... Read allIn this British comedy, a professor travels up river in Africa to open schools. But his new pupils are not receptive and when the commander of the local base succumbs to malaria, he takes on his duties too. Aided by the crew of the boat he arrived on he starts collecting taxes from the locals!
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
260
YOUR RATING
    • Marcel Varnel
  • Writers
    • Marriott Edgar
    • Val Guest
    • J.O.C. Orton
  • Stars
    • Will Hay
    • Moore Marriott
    • Graham Moffatt
    • Marcel Varnel
  • Writers
    • Marriott Edgar
    • Val Guest
    • J.O.C. Orton
  • Stars
    • Will Hay
    • Moore Marriott
    • Graham Moffatt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

    Old Bones of the River (1938)
    Old Bones of the River (1938)
    Old Bones of the River (1938)
    Old Bones of the River (1938)
    Old Bones of the River (1938)
    Will Hay in Old Bones of the River (1938)
    Will Hay and Moore Marriott in Old Bones of the River (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Hay
    Will Hay
    • Prof. Benjamin Tibbetts
    Moore Marriott
    Moore Marriott
    • Jerry Harbottle
    Graham Moffatt
    • Albert Brown
    Robert Adams
    • Bosambo
    Jack London
    • M'Bapi
    Wyndham Goldie
    • Commissioner Sanders
    Jack Livesey
    Jack Livesey
    • Capt. Hamilton
    Western Brothers
    • The Voice of Reproach
    • (as The Western Brothers)
    Christopher Cozier
    • Native Child
    • (uncredited)
    Eugene Cozier
    • Native Child
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Cozier
    • Nativer Child
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Cozier
    • Native Child
    • (uncredited)
    Napoleon Florent
    • Chief Tahiti
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Todd
    Richard Todd
    • Extra in crowd scene
    • (uncredited)
      • Marcel Varnel
    • Writers
      • Marriott Edgar
      • Val Guest
      • J.O.C. Orton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on "Sanders of the River," with Lesley Banks and Paul Robeson.
    • Goofs
      The vegetation by the river is temperate vegetation, not tropical.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Maltin on Movies: Will Friedwald (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Native Marching Song
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Arranged by Louis Levy

    User reviews8

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    The White Man's Burden
    "Old Bones of the River' is probably the least funny of movies made by Will Hay, Moore Marriott and Graham during the Thirties. Like most films made about Africa it crosses the line into racism a few times. Having said all of that, it is still a delightful movie. Will Hay manages to find himself in charge of 1500 untamed miles in the deepest and dark part of Africa. He is poorly assisted in his duties of collecting the taxes and maintaining the peace by two old African hands played by Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt. The chemistry and bantering between these three English comic legends is worth the price of admission. It is a pot boiler that has enough in it to keep you watching.
    helpful•2
    2
    • bugsmoran29
    • May 22, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1938 (United Kingdom)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • River Thames, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Gainsborough Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 30 minutes
      • Black and White

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