Black Sheep of Whitehall (1942)

Professor Davis, who teaches at a correspondence school, discovers that a Nazi Agent is trying to prevent a trade treaty being signed between England and South America. The agent is posing ... See full summary »

Directors:

Basil Dearden, Will Hay

Writers:

Angus MacPhail (original story) (as Angus Macphail), John Dighton (original story)

Stars:

Will Hay, John Mills, Basil Sydney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Hay	...	Professor Davis
John Mills	...	Bobby Jessop
Basil Sydney	...	Arthur Costello
Henry Hewitt	...	Prof. Davys
Felix Aylmer	...	J.B. Crabtree
Owen Reynolds	...	Harman
Frank Cellier	...	Dr. Innsbach
Joss Ambler	...	Sir John
Frank Allenby	...	Onslowe
Thora Hird	...	Joyce
Margaret Halstan	...	Matron
Barbara Valerie	...	Sister Spooner
Leslie Mitchell	...	B.B.C. Interviewer
George Woodbridge	...	Male Nurse
George Merritt	...	Station Master

Storyline

Professor Davis, who teaches at a correspondence school, discovers that a Nazi Agent is trying to prevent a trade treaty being signed between England and South America. The agent is posing as an economics expert seconded to the trade delegation. The professor must find the real economist and expose the agent.

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Plot Keywords:

mistaken identity | treason | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Goofs

In the car chase from Claremont Nursing Home it is obvious that all three participants are doubles; in the sports car Professor Davis (Will Hay) and Bobby (John Mills) and in the towed invalid chair Prof Davys (Henry Hewitt).

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Quotes

Davis: [Asked to explain international commerce in a radio interview] Ah - well, the chief export from Portugal is - er - port, and the chief export of Brazil is - nuts. Well, now, the economic situation between port and nuts - that is to say between Portugal and Brazil, is that the Brazilians want to drink port with their nuts and the Portuguese want to eat nuts with their port; so the more the export of port from Portuguese ports which the Brazilian ports import - the greater the export of nuts which...

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: In England there are many famous seats of learning .... OXFORD CAMBRIDGE ETON HARROW AND

HARROW Correspondence COLLEGE

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Connections

Featured in This Is Your Life: Dame Thora Hird OBE (1996)

User Reviews

Pretty Dire

Will Hay was never as funny again after leaving Gainsborough for Ealing, and with it Graham Moffat & Moore Marriott. This one is a particularly dispiriting affair, with few of a good cast at their best - and it doesn't even have Claude Hulbert! Hay laboriously impersonates six different characters without any attempt to change his voice or body language; while the concluding motor cycle chase set against an attractive rural backdrop initially promises to liven things up, but proves far too confusing and goes on far too long.

There are odd moments such as the radio interview with Leslie Mitchell that reduces Mitchell to a perspiring wreck, and John Mills has a couple of funny scenes impersonating an amnesiac in the Psychopathic Ward; but it took until Hay's next (and final) two films to return to something like his old form.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1947 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Cerná ovce

Filming Locations:

Baynards Railway Station, Baynards Park, Waverley, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1