28 reviews
Ask a policeman has always suffered from close comparison with Oh, Mr. Porter! and is therefore (unfairly) usually considered an inferior film. On its own it would stand up very well, with plenty of gags to the minute and set-pieces all working throughout, but because the plot was a retread from the previous classic it tends to be forgotten. And it's a pretty direct lifting at times, too! However, the gags do work and are different to reflect the slightly different situations the characters find themselves in and this alone can sustain the interest.
Instead of being railway employees at a lonely railway station up against smugglers this time they're police officers at a lonely police station up against smugglers.
In other words it's a beautiful re-run of OMP, but after watching it you can still think of just how inventive Val Guest, Marriott Edgar and Sidney Gilliat were in the screenplay, just how versatile Hay, Moffat and Marriott were in their portrayals of the Superior, Albert and Jerry and what a marvellous bookend this is for Oh, Mr.Porter!
Instead of being railway employees at a lonely railway station up against smugglers this time they're police officers at a lonely police station up against smugglers.
In other words it's a beautiful re-run of OMP, but after watching it you can still think of just how inventive Val Guest, Marriott Edgar and Sidney Gilliat were in the screenplay, just how versatile Hay, Moffat and Marriott were in their portrayals of the Superior, Albert and Jerry and what a marvellous bookend this is for Oh, Mr.Porter!
- Spondonman
- Jun 19, 2004
- Permalink
Will Hay was never better than when he was working with Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriot, both of whom had such a rapport with him (or his character) that it really is hard not to be charmed by the trio.
It's a familiar and obvious plot that Hay used to it's best - incompetent authoritative figure gets in a mess with the help of his two stooges, falls out with the boss (Chief Constable), is taken advantage of by the locals (smugglers) but eventually wins the day.
This is a joy from start to finish and very, very nearly matches Oh Mr Porter. There's gags from the very start to the very end.
A piece of classic entertainment with the virtue of being free from sex, violence and swearing. They don't make like this anymore I'm sorry to say.
It's a familiar and obvious plot that Hay used to it's best - incompetent authoritative figure gets in a mess with the help of his two stooges, falls out with the boss (Chief Constable), is taken advantage of by the locals (smugglers) but eventually wins the day.
This is a joy from start to finish and very, very nearly matches Oh Mr Porter. There's gags from the very start to the very end.
A piece of classic entertainment with the virtue of being free from sex, violence and swearing. They don't make like this anymore I'm sorry to say.
- theowinthrop
- Sep 4, 2010
- Permalink
Ask a policeman, to my mind, is one of the greatest comedies ever made!!! Sure you might not see it on everybody's top 10 comedy lists but that's probably because they have never heard, nor seen the film before!!! Every second has a comic gem, not one minute goes by without an erruption of laughter from it's audience. It truly is one of the most underrated comedies ever made. I suggest you all go seek it out and find this out for yourselves!!!
- homogulater
- Oct 17, 2001
- Permalink
The small English village of Turnbottom Round prides itself on being the safest place in the United Kingdom. All due to the crack law enforcement team of Will Hay and his two second bananas Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt. In fact they're so good they haven't made any arrests in ten years, didn't even pick up a drunk for a night to sleep it off. They even have a BBC broadcast to celebrate this town and its peaceful nature and peaceful cops.
But someone decides this little sinecure has gone on long enough. What to do, but create some crime. But these three muck up traffic arrests.
Their salvation of sorts might be a suspected smuggling ring which has taken advantage of the lax police work and operates with impunity. Not that Turnbottom Round PD does anything really but the bad guys are rounded up in spite of Hay and his staff.
Some really funny sequences including the BBC broadcast where no one can quite get the use of the microphone right, the search for the smugglers, the attempts at enforcing traffic laws and how that works out and the final chase scene where Turnbottom Round's finest commandeer a bus for their pursuit.
This nicely done Will Hay comedy could have been a model for Police Academy movies.
But someone decides this little sinecure has gone on long enough. What to do, but create some crime. But these three muck up traffic arrests.
Their salvation of sorts might be a suspected smuggling ring which has taken advantage of the lax police work and operates with impunity. Not that Turnbottom Round PD does anything really but the bad guys are rounded up in spite of Hay and his staff.
Some really funny sequences including the BBC broadcast where no one can quite get the use of the microphone right, the search for the smugglers, the attempts at enforcing traffic laws and how that works out and the final chase scene where Turnbottom Round's finest commandeer a bus for their pursuit.
This nicely done Will Hay comedy could have been a model for Police Academy movies.
- bkoganbing
- Jan 23, 2016
- Permalink
Turnbotham Round has no crime, something that becomes common knowledge after a radio programme is broadcast from the village. Upon hearing this broadcast, the top brass at Scotland Yard send word that if there is no crime there, then why employ policemen to police the village? Realising that their good lives are about to come to an end, inept coppers Dudfoot (Will Hay), Brown (Graham Moffatt) and Harbottle (Moore Marriott) set about making some arrests. What they hadn't bargained for was the uncovering of a smuggling ring and the unleashing of the phantom headless horseman.
Much like Will Hay's Good Morning, Boys (1937) followed a similar formula to that of one of his earlier pictures, Boys Will Be Boys (1935), so it be with Ask A Policeman in that it has close links with critics fave, Oh Mr. Porter! (1937). However, that in no way is a bad thing because Ask A Policeman is utter joy from start to finish. In fact I would go so far as to say that the writing is actually better here. With a writing team consisting of Marriott Edgar, Sidney Gilliat, Val Guest and J.O.C. Orton, it's no wonder that the gags come thick and fast and still hold up over 80 years later.
Marcel Varnel once again directs Hay and his blunderingly magnificent sidekicks, Marriott and Moffatt, and each of them are on terrific form as they within a heartbeat lurch from incredulity to stupidity. They are helped by the story and its delightful supernatural set ups. These coppers have been having it easy for so long they have forgotten just what it takes to be a copper. More content with bending the rules for an easy life (note some nice satire in the writing), these guys are suddenly faced with the supernatural and actual real crime. Something they are delightfully unable to properly cope with. From trying to set up a roadside speeding arrest to an attempt at solving an ancient smugglers rhyme, Ask A Policeman, courtesy of an across the board team on fire, is to my mind one of the greatest British films of all time. So pay attention to the jokes and admire the visual comedy that goes with them, and then hopefully you too will appreciate just what genius Hay and his cohorts brought to British comedy between 1936 to 1940. 10/10
Much like Will Hay's Good Morning, Boys (1937) followed a similar formula to that of one of his earlier pictures, Boys Will Be Boys (1935), so it be with Ask A Policeman in that it has close links with critics fave, Oh Mr. Porter! (1937). However, that in no way is a bad thing because Ask A Policeman is utter joy from start to finish. In fact I would go so far as to say that the writing is actually better here. With a writing team consisting of Marriott Edgar, Sidney Gilliat, Val Guest and J.O.C. Orton, it's no wonder that the gags come thick and fast and still hold up over 80 years later.
Marcel Varnel once again directs Hay and his blunderingly magnificent sidekicks, Marriott and Moffatt, and each of them are on terrific form as they within a heartbeat lurch from incredulity to stupidity. They are helped by the story and its delightful supernatural set ups. These coppers have been having it easy for so long they have forgotten just what it takes to be a copper. More content with bending the rules for an easy life (note some nice satire in the writing), these guys are suddenly faced with the supernatural and actual real crime. Something they are delightfully unable to properly cope with. From trying to set up a roadside speeding arrest to an attempt at solving an ancient smugglers rhyme, Ask A Policeman, courtesy of an across the board team on fire, is to my mind one of the greatest British films of all time. So pay attention to the jokes and admire the visual comedy that goes with them, and then hopefully you too will appreciate just what genius Hay and his cohorts brought to British comedy between 1936 to 1940. 10/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Sep 4, 2009
- Permalink
- planktonrules
- Apr 10, 2011
- Permalink
Because "Oh Mr Porter" was filmed two years earlier, it gets more favour from the critics, but although this film was a reworking of that plot, it stands up equally, if not better. -
There are so many great scenes. My favourite being when Harbottle (Marriott already playing a much older man) takes them to see his father, played by himself. Just shows what a superb actor he was. - The print quality seems a little worse for wear in places. Probably due to over use!
There are so many great scenes. My favourite being when Harbottle (Marriott already playing a much older man) takes them to see his father, played by himself. Just shows what a superb actor he was. - The print quality seems a little worse for wear in places. Probably due to over use!
- ben-trovato
- Oct 27, 2004
- Permalink
- mark.waltz
- Jan 6, 2019
- Permalink
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.
Please watch it, you'll love it.
- mark monroe
- Nov 2, 2000
- Permalink
- Leofwine_draca
- Sep 16, 2018
- Permalink
This is another excellent little film from the great Will Hay, the English comic genius that no-one today has ever heard of!
I only saw this because HMV record shop (in the UK) were selling off tons of Will Hay DVDs at £6.99 each - what better chance than to discover anew the great Will Hay. I didn't even think that Will Hay would be available on DVD, yet there are many.
The three-man team of Hay, Marriott, and Moffatt are brilliant as usual, just a bunch of bumbling clowns pretending to themselves that they know what they're doing. Of course, by pure luck, they manage to catch the villains and do themselves credit.
Interesting shots of Brooklands racing circuit in the pre-War years (this circuit remains but has been chopped up in parts).
I only saw this because HMV record shop (in the UK) were selling off tons of Will Hay DVDs at £6.99 each - what better chance than to discover anew the great Will Hay. I didn't even think that Will Hay would be available on DVD, yet there are many.
The three-man team of Hay, Marriott, and Moffatt are brilliant as usual, just a bunch of bumbling clowns pretending to themselves that they know what they're doing. Of course, by pure luck, they manage to catch the villains and do themselves credit.
Interesting shots of Brooklands racing circuit in the pre-War years (this circuit remains but has been chopped up in parts).
- frankiehudson
- Apr 15, 2002
- Permalink
This is possibly my favourite outing for Will Hay, with this time a strong supporting cast to help him along with this daft adventure caper. He is "Sgt. Dudfoot" who along with "Albert" (Graham Moffatt) and "Harbottle" (Moore Marriot) have recently been on the radio from their crime-free village. They didn't quite think it through, though, as soon they realise that they might well have talked themselves out of a job. Solution? Well let's invent some crimes! That they do with, as you'd expect, comical results. Thing is, some real criminals are taking advantage of these hapless buffoons and smuggling barrels of booze from right under their noses. Can they get a grip on things, apprehend those varmints and save their posts? Moore Marriott 's engaging "Harbottle" could easily have been the model for Wilfred Brambles' later characterisation of "Steptoe" and together with his two cohorts and with some creative input from Marcel Varnel and Sidney Gilliat we end up with an enjoyable eighty minutes of typically British humour. It has traces of slapstick, but it is essentially the quickly-paced patter and the fun dynamic between the three that keeps this moving well and entertainingly. Sure, some of the jokes were probably corny even then, but if you enter into the spirit of it, then I think you will enjoy it.
- CinemaSerf
- Nov 13, 2022
- Permalink
It has been rightly said that Will Hay and his two sidekicks, the geriatric and the juvenile, never went on to do anything better than this. But it does not mean that the film has weathered well since.
The comic trio are acting as the local police force in a village that has been crime-free for ten years, supposedly thanks to their efforts, but also putting them at risk of redundancy. So they have to fabricate some crime in order to save their jobs. This leads to a traditional smuggler's cove adventure, where the location of the booty is hidden in the last line of an old verse that only the geriatric's super-geriatric father can just remember, after a lot of prodding. Predictably they run into the middle of a real crime in progress, and are temporarily overpowered and locked up in their own cell. How they escape from the cell is hilarious, though we can't reveal it here.
Otherwise the gags are rather limp, and the action quite confusing. How they end up on the racetrack at Brooklands is pretty contrived, though it makes fun watching. And even audiences of the time had probably learned to mistrust the smoothie-gent with the neat moustache, so you won't be surprised that not all is what it seems in the social hierarchy of the village.
Hay was the third most popular comedian in England when this film came out, but Hitler invaded Poland the same week, and everything - including humour - would change irrevocably. At times, he seems to think he's still doing his schoolmaster music-hall sketch that had taken him around the world for so long. (Police do not usually stand by the roadside discussing mental arithmetic.) Also his fake bald patch is so obvious, we can't think why he wanted it in the first place. But he was an odd fish anyway, whose unfinished memoirs were called 'I Enjoyed Every Minute'. That is not how the rest of the cast remembered him at all.
The comic trio are acting as the local police force in a village that has been crime-free for ten years, supposedly thanks to their efforts, but also putting them at risk of redundancy. So they have to fabricate some crime in order to save their jobs. This leads to a traditional smuggler's cove adventure, where the location of the booty is hidden in the last line of an old verse that only the geriatric's super-geriatric father can just remember, after a lot of prodding. Predictably they run into the middle of a real crime in progress, and are temporarily overpowered and locked up in their own cell. How they escape from the cell is hilarious, though we can't reveal it here.
Otherwise the gags are rather limp, and the action quite confusing. How they end up on the racetrack at Brooklands is pretty contrived, though it makes fun watching. And even audiences of the time had probably learned to mistrust the smoothie-gent with the neat moustache, so you won't be surprised that not all is what it seems in the social hierarchy of the village.
Hay was the third most popular comedian in England when this film came out, but Hitler invaded Poland the same week, and everything - including humour - would change irrevocably. At times, he seems to think he's still doing his schoolmaster music-hall sketch that had taken him around the world for so long. (Police do not usually stand by the roadside discussing mental arithmetic.) Also his fake bald patch is so obvious, we can't think why he wanted it in the first place. But he was an odd fish anyway, whose unfinished memoirs were called 'I Enjoyed Every Minute'. That is not how the rest of the cast remembered him at all.
- Goingbegging
- Mar 2, 2021
- Permalink
Will Hay's best-known film is the classic "Oh, Mr Porter" but this one isn't far behind. Hay is cast in his favourite role ; a seedily incompetent authority figure who conceals his uncertainty behind bluster and bombast.
This is one of those rare films where the plot is almost an intrusion ; who cares about a smuggling ring in rural England, when we can instead enjoy the antics of Hay and his cohorts, playing possibly the most inept police team in the history of law enforcement. Their attempts to set a speed trap, and then to justify their results to an irate motorist, may be the high spot of the film.
This is one of those rare films where the plot is almost an intrusion ; who cares about a smuggling ring in rural England, when we can instead enjoy the antics of Hay and his cohorts, playing possibly the most inept police team in the history of law enforcement. Their attempts to set a speed trap, and then to justify their results to an irate motorist, may be the high spot of the film.
Wacky British humor abounds in this story of three bumbling policemen (including a very old man and a very overweight youth) who run the tiny station in the quiet (so quiet there's nothing out at night except, of course, the night-riding "Headless Horseman") English village of Turnbottom Round where there has not been a single arrest made in over ten years. Promoting with pride this lack of crime on a radio program one evening, the next day the station gets a notice from the chief constable that their station is no longer needed, the policemen working there to be "retired or transferred". So - our three officers come up with the idea to *create* some crime, first putting up a local "speed trap", then later getting mixed up with a gang of real smugglers.
This film is, yes, quite silly, but very entertaining and amusing - boosted up considerably by the three actors who play the policemen. They seem to have a real camaraderie and rapport with each other, all look like they're having a great deal of fun making this. One very funny scene has the oldest policeman visiting, of all things, his even older father - played by the same actor, dressed up in bed with long white beard. One missed bit of humor I thought they could have done here though - they mention that the father still has a living wife and I thought it would have been funny if they had the same actor dress as her too and come out into the room. In fact, that is what I was expecting when the woman was mentioned, but it didn't happen - ah well. A quite humorous and enjoyable film.
This film is, yes, quite silly, but very entertaining and amusing - boosted up considerably by the three actors who play the policemen. They seem to have a real camaraderie and rapport with each other, all look like they're having a great deal of fun making this. One very funny scene has the oldest policeman visiting, of all things, his even older father - played by the same actor, dressed up in bed with long white beard. One missed bit of humor I thought they could have done here though - they mention that the father still has a living wife and I thought it would have been funny if they had the same actor dress as her too and come out into the room. In fact, that is what I was expecting when the woman was mentioned, but it didn't happen - ah well. A quite humorous and enjoyable film.
- movingpicturegal
- Sep 6, 2006
- Permalink
I have to admit I enjoyed this old British comedy from the Thirties. Some of the one-liners made me howl. I especially enjoyed Graham Moffat as the fat and high-pitched voice. The ending put me in mind of the 3 Stooges as the three English bobbies run away from the mess they had created. I came across this gem on you tube and I intend to watch the rest of the series that starred Will Hays, a long forgotten comic star from a long forgotten time period in film history. It was felt by many people in Hollywood that English and European humor just didn't transfer well across the Atlantic Ocean, but films like 'Ask a Policeman' proves that theory wrong.
- bugsmoran29
- May 19, 2015
- Permalink
The primary cast and crew of the British comedy classic 'Oh, Mr. Porter!' are teamed up again in this film that has performances that are just as delightful, and humour that is just as charming. Upon comparison with 'Oh, Mr. Porter!' it is easy to dismiss this film as its inferior, however it is in fact almost up to the same quality. The film is often hilarious in the first half, and in the second half there are suspense elements well worked into the plot. Some of the lines are hysterically funny, and Graham Moffatt has hardly been better, playing the smartest, but yet also the slackest, of the bunch. No one does ineptitude as well as Will Hay, and this film is further proof of this. Moore Marriott is delightful as always and has an amusing second role here. The film's technical side may be no match for the technical side of 'Oh, Mr. Porter!', but no doubt a lot of care and consideration was taken to scout out all the appropriately dark settings. The gags are most of the storyline and the subject matter is too slim for a full-length film, but for what it is, the film is excellent and immensely entertaining along the way. Simple comedies, and old British comedies, hardly get better than this.
- alice liddell
- Feb 6, 2000
- Permalink
This film had a good idea, ie, a village where there is no crime that suddenly has to make up some crime or the police station that employs 3 policemen will have to close. So, we follow the 3 policemen - sergeant Will Hay, young Graham Moffatt (Albert) and elderly Moore Marriott (Harbottle) as they come up with ideas to arrest people. There is great scope for comedy situations and we get some funny ideas, eg, when they agree to arrest someone for speeding. The guy is well under the speed limit but all 3 agree that he was doing 60 mph and need to arrest him. Ha ha. Corruption in the police force is no new thing.
This would usually score points from me for a film. However, the film is just unwatchable and I had to remove it after about half an hour. I just couldn't go on and neither could my wife. You are assaulted by the harsh, high-pitched tones of the voices of each of the police characters that grates and irritates. What horrible sounds to listen to. Then there is a big red line with me that is the acting of Moore Marriott. He plays his part as a cheeky, lovable old man that RUNS everywhere instead of walking. No old man runs everywhere. They all walk. Just watch how he is always running. It is so stupid and I had enough and had to stop the film. So, what could have been quite a funny film is just unwatchable.
One point of interest is that the girl in the picture frame of Gainsborough pictures - the logo at the beginning of the films made at this studio - has a part in the film. Glennis Lorimer (Emily) who plays Moffatt's girlfriend.
This would usually score points from me for a film. However, the film is just unwatchable and I had to remove it after about half an hour. I just couldn't go on and neither could my wife. You are assaulted by the harsh, high-pitched tones of the voices of each of the police characters that grates and irritates. What horrible sounds to listen to. Then there is a big red line with me that is the acting of Moore Marriott. He plays his part as a cheeky, lovable old man that RUNS everywhere instead of walking. No old man runs everywhere. They all walk. Just watch how he is always running. It is so stupid and I had enough and had to stop the film. So, what could have been quite a funny film is just unwatchable.
One point of interest is that the girl in the picture frame of Gainsborough pictures - the logo at the beginning of the films made at this studio - has a part in the film. Glennis Lorimer (Emily) who plays Moffatt's girlfriend.
- Igenlode Wordsmith
- Jul 20, 2007
- Permalink
This Will Hay film is just too goofy not to be good. Hay plays his namesake character to the hilt. He is police Sergeant Samuel Dudfoot. And, his two finest compatriots of comedy join him in this over the top farce about the police force – at least, that in the rural parts of England. Graham Moffatt is the young Constable Albert Brown and Moore Marriott is the toothless and ancient Constable Jeremiah Harbottle.
The rest of the cast are fine in their roles, but this film is mostly full of these three characters and their inept jobs as the protectors of the local citizenry. The plot is outlandish from the start. This is one just to watch for the laughs.
The rest of the cast are fine in their roles, but this film is mostly full of these three characters and their inept jobs as the protectors of the local citizenry. The plot is outlandish from the start. This is one just to watch for the laughs.
Not only as good as his more famous Oh Mr Porter, but virtually the same plot. It worked two years ago so why change it? If anyone thinks Britain took itself to seriously, they should watch this. One of Will Hay's best.
- 1930s_Time_Machine
- Jan 24, 2022
- Permalink
Will Hay's at the top of his game as a police sergeant displaying his usual quiet tact and diplomacy targeting motorists while smugglers brazenly operate right under his nose.
Distinguished by the visit to the father of Harbottle (who himself claims to be only 42), while the spectral apparition at the conclusion is a memorable sight indeed.
Distinguished by the visit to the father of Harbottle (who himself claims to be only 42), while the spectral apparition at the conclusion is a memorable sight indeed.
- richardchatten
- Jul 22, 2022
- Permalink