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Ask a Policeman

  • 1939
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
970
YOUR RATING
Ask a Policeman (1939)
AdventureComedyCrime

The mirthful adventures of Police-Sergeant Samuel Dudfoot and his two constables, Albert Brown and Jeremiah Harbottle, who stage a fabricated crime-wave to save their jobs---then find themse... Read allThe mirthful adventures of Police-Sergeant Samuel Dudfoot and his two constables, Albert Brown and Jeremiah Harbottle, who stage a fabricated crime-wave to save their jobs---then find themselves involved in the real thing.The mirthful adventures of Police-Sergeant Samuel Dudfoot and his two constables, Albert Brown and Jeremiah Harbottle, who stage a fabricated crime-wave to save their jobs---then find themselves involved in the real thing.

  • Director
    • Marcel Varnel
  • Writers
    • Sidney Gilliat
    • Marriott Edgar
    • Val Guest
  • Stars
    • Will Hay
    • Graham Moffatt
    • Moore Marriott
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    970
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marcel Varnel
    • Writers
      • Sidney Gilliat
      • Marriott Edgar
      • Val Guest
    • Stars
      • Will Hay
      • Graham Moffatt
      • Moore Marriott
    • 27User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos28

    Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Charles Oliver in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Graham Moffatt in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Patrick Aherne, Will Hay, Moore Marriott, and Graham Moffatt in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Will Hay in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Peter Gawthorne in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Will Hay in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Peter Gawthorne, Will Hay, and Moore Marriott in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Glennis Lorimer and Graham Moffatt in Ask a Policeman (1939)
    Will Hay and Moore Marriott in Ask a Policeman (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Hay
    Will Hay
    • Sergt. Dudfoot
    Graham Moffatt
    • Albert
    Moore Marriott
    Moore Marriott
    • Harbottle
    Glennis Lorimer
    • Emily
    Peter Gawthorne
    • Chief Constable
    Charles Oliver
    Charles Oliver
    • The Squire
    Herbert Lomas
    • Coastguard
    Patrick Aherne
    • Motorist
    • (uncredited)
    Cyril Chamberlain
    • Radio Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Cooper
    • BBC commentator
    • (uncredited)
    Noel Dainton
    • Revenue Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Desmond Llewelyn
    Desmond Llewelyn
    • Headless Coachman
    • (uncredited)
    Dave O'Toole
    • Witness
    • (uncredited)
    Brian Worth
    Brian Worth
    • Broadcasting Engineer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Marcel Varnel
    • Writers
      • Sidney Gilliat(story)
      • Marriott Edgar(screenplay)
      • Val Guest(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first section of the film contains an in-joke about Will Hay's real-life career. In 1937 his radio show was "faded out" to make time for a broadcast by the Prime Minister. Hay was furious and vowed never to broadcast again. A popular outcry led by the Daily Express forced the BBC to apologize before Hay would go back on the air. When Dudfoot's broadcast ends the same way, he says, "The BBC always fade out the best items", and when threatened with dismissal he says, "If only we could get the Daily Express behind us . . . "
    • Goofs
      When the garage door opens 'spontaneously' the wire used to pull it open is visible.
    • Quotes

      Constable Jeremiah 'Jerry' Harbottle: [as Harbottle senior] When the tide runs low in the smugglers' cove, / And the 'eadless 'orseman rides above, / He drives along with his wild hallo, / And that's the time when the smugglers go in their little boats to the schooner and bring back the kegs of brandy and rum and put them all in the Devil's Cove below.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Licence to Kill: The Royal Premiere (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Polieceman's Holiday
      (uncredited)

      Music by Montague Ewing

    User reviews27

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Classic comedy from a comic genius
    What a comedy! This is a movie that had me laughing from beginning to end. Even after all these years the one line gags from Will Hay are superbly timed. The movie plot about smugglers is good but all three main characters make this film a real hoot as local village policemen. I have this on video and watch it regularly if I need a laughter pick-me-up! Classic line, they need to arrest someone to prove the village needs a local bobby, Moffatt suggests Guy Faulkes, to which Will Hay replies "he's not a criminal, he invented fireworks" brilliant!

    Please watch it, you'll love it.
    helpful•15
    1
    • mark monroe
    • Nov 3, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 29, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Спросите у полицейского
    • Filming locations
      • Islington Studios, Islington, London, England, UK(Studio, uncredited)
    • Production company
      • Gainsborough Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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