Banana Ridge (1942) User Reviews

Papa Pia!

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 8 September 2022]

The arrival of Isabel Jeans turns the world of two former paramours (Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton) upside down. The two old chums, now business partners, are unaware of whether or not they are the father of her son, Patrick Kinsella. When the young man begins to date Nova Pilbeam (Drayton's daughter), the two friends decide to send Kinsella to their factory in Malaysia, and somehow everyone involved (including the two partner's wives, Adele Dixon and Valentine Dunn) ends up there for more chaos.

More than just a bit of the plot of "Mamma Mia" with a gender switch, this sophisticated British farce is a decent comedy of errors even though the plot is absolutely ridiculous. It mixes various types of comic situations in creating a plot that seems perfect for a silly stage play. The young Jeans (later the aunt in "Gigi") is terrific, and Hare and Drayton are delightfully droll. Philbeam and Kinsella make a handsome couple so the audience hopes they won't end up as half brother and sister, a plot device that the writers make the audience wait a while before the pay off.

Lock Up Your Wives And Daughters And Cousins And Secretaries And...

[boblipton · 6/10 · 24 November 2019]

Isabel Jeans shows up to see Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton, two officers of a rubber company with plantations in Malaysia -- the movie is set in 1938. She explains that she wants a job for her son, Patrick Kinsella. They agree, because either of them may be the youngster's father... or neither of them. It was during the Great War, and any of the soldiers in the company might not be coming back... so he gets a job, and begins to attract anything in skirts, including Drayton's wife, Adele Dixon, his daughter, Nova Pilbeam, and.... well, they can't fire him, so they ship him to Malaysia, under Hare's supervision, where he promptly charms a new set of women, and the entire cast follows for a reunion of sorts.

It sounds absolutely exhausting for Kinsella. Hare and Drayton are excellent in their banter; they worked together a lot on the stage, too. The script, largely by Aldwych Farce writer Ben Travers, has grown a trifle tired and rote over the course of almost twenty years of winking and leering, but if you're watching for the rhythms of comedy rather than anything novel, you'll have a good time.

Oh Calamity

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 20 September 2015]

Alfred Drayton and Robertson Hare played in many of the Aldwych carved written by one of the writers of this film Ben Tracers.When this film was made the film adaptation of the plays had more or less run their course.Like any writer you can start to run out of inspiration when you are writing a lot for the same actors.This film is typical of such a problem.Although the plot is different from previous films sadly it lacks any inspiration and sadly for a comedy it is totally unfunny.Alfred Drayton blisters his way through as usual and dear old Robertson Hare is as usual very put upon.There are three stars of the silent era,Stuart Rome,John Longden and John Stuart,play small roles