Reviews

i first saw this movie many years ago when British television used to show afternoon matinées.it is one of those movies that is once watched it is hard to forget. So many wonderful scenes, most famous probably being Danny Ross's unbeatable pratfall.The cast is a virtual who's who of the British music hall. apart from the legendary Arthur Askey, you have the aforementioned Danny Ross, the wonderful Glenn Melvyn (Who incidentally gave Ronnie Barker his first break in television,who in turn based his shopkeeper Arkwright from Open All Hours on Melvyn's Stage act).

Who can forget the ever reliable Thora Hird and Patricia Hayes. There was also a young Shirley Eaton 8 years before she turned up covered in gold paint in Goldfinger.There was also William Franklyn (remember him from TVs Masterspy),Edward Chapman who would later be famous as Mr Grimsdale in many a Norman Wisdom Film. Another famous music hall star was Robb Wilton who played the judge who Askey helps fill in his football coupon.Incidentally there was 2 spin off TV series from this classic Love and kisses in 1955 and I'm not bothered in 1956. Wouldn't it be wonderful if British TV started to repeat shows like this or at least release them on D.V.D.

Released on October 12th 1942 this Formby film probably has the best cast line up of any Formby film. George plays a milkman and part time artist who has a problem drawing bodies.On his milk round he is helped by his younger brother played by Jimmy Clitheroe (The Clitheroe Kid). Also in the cast is that ever reliable character actress Kathleen Harrison and Charles Hawtrey. The plot involves George drawing the heads of prominent ladies in his local village, The fun begins when some students led by Hawtrey draw voluptuous bodies on them. It was a rarity even in those days to have two big music hall stars acting in the one film. As usual George gets to sing and play his ukulele to the fallowing songs - Andy the handy man, They all laughed when I started to play,Talking to the moon about you, Delivering the morning milk. A little longer than the usual Formby films but great fun nonetheless.

Before he became famous for Directing epics (The Bridge On The River Kwai, Lawrence OF Arabia etc.) David Lean directed a number of British literature classics. While I have never seen a movie that has eclipsed It's literary source, This is by far the best adaptation you are likely to see. To adapt one of the most famous novels by one of the most loved novelist's of all time is an almost impossible task. To end up with a result like this is a combination of many superb collaborations. From Lean's Crisp and tight direction to Guy Green's stunning Oscar Winning Black and White photography. The casting of each part was superbly cast from a fine stock of British actors. Led by John Mills as the central Character Pip he was backed up by a magnificent set of actors. Alec Guinness (in his first major role) played Herbert Pocket, Martita Hunt was unforgettable as Miss Havisham, That fine Scottish actor Finlay Currie played the convict Magwitch. Francis L. Sullivan Played the lawyer Jaggers just as he did in a 1934 Hollywood version. The ever reliable Bernard Miles played Pip's shy brother in law, the blacksmith Joe Gargery. The Heroine and the object of Pip's affections Estella was played by two of British cinemas most beautiful exports. A very young Jean Simmons played the young Estella and Valerie Hobson( who 15 years earlier played opposite Boris Karloff, as the bride to be Elsa in the horror classic Frankenstein) was the older Estella. Almost 60 years old there has been many versions of Great Expectations made since this masterpiece. The only question is why when it is obvious this version will never be surpassed as the definitive version.

From the mid - thirties Frank Randle was one of the top Music Hall comedians, Mainly around the Music Halls in the north of England. Like his fellow Northern Comedians (Will Hay, George Formby and Gracie Fields) Film producers thought the next step would be the movies. Where in the case of his fellow artists it was a successful move it was not such a successful one in the case of Randle. His films did decent enough business in the North of England but did not travel so well elsewhere. This title his second film is one of his better efforts, Which really isn't saying much. It is based around the shenanigan's of a group of new recruits round an army training camp. His usual partners in crime are Harry Korris, Robbie Vincent (Enoch)and winkie turner. The production values in these movies were pretty poor even by war time standards. I am told Frank Randle was a very popular Music Hall Comedian in his time and usually brought the house down. His style did not quite travel to the silver screen. His movies do serve as a valuable reference to a very popular comedian.

While this is not one of Lloyd's most famous films, It is certainly one of his best. You can look through countless numbers of comedy films (The Gold Rush and The General included)and you will struggle to see better timing than that on display here. That is not a put down to those two classic comedies it is only a testament to the timing of Lloyd, Who was certainly on a par with Chaplin and Keaton. In this movie he plays the weakling in a family with two strapping brothers and a large hard to please father. Always put upon Harold has to capture a villain by himself to gain the respect of his father and brothers, And win the heart of his fair maiden. The amount of sight gags crammed into this 80 minutes is incredible, and the timing is as I said earlier is absolutely perfect.

This film was made in 1935 when Formby was at the height of his fame in the British music halls. This was Formby's third film and also one of his most fondly remembered. He plays George Shuttleworth (speed demon), Who has a dream of riding his motorbike in the Isle Of Man TT races. It is a wonderful 80 minutes of nostalgic fun as George gets into many scrapes on the way and manages to fit in a few songs while plucking his Ukelele. It is also a timely reminder of a Britain which (sadly) no longer exists. So sit back and reminisce but most of all enjoy.