This was in the middle of Formby's Columbia period, all seven of them produced and directed by Frenchman Marcel Varnel as wartime flag-wavers for Britain's no.1 box office star. It was also (by the shortest of heads) the longest Formby film, and it shows in places it didn't need padding out and yet it was, even to the very end.
George is a barman at the Senior Service Club, wants to get into the Navy and eventually gets mistakenly enrolled under the name of his mate Jim Benson. Whilst unsuccessfully trying to get out before he's found out he sings a few songs Swim, little fish (in his bedroom), It serves you right (in the "B" Mess), If I had a girl like you (in the Sea Horse Restaurant), and Bell-bottom George (at the BBC) falls in love and uncovers a nest of Quislings trying to blow up a Navy ship. George is George of course, his girl was the mysterious Anne Firth with the startling smile, and the film bristles with familiar faces for those of us who like this sort of thing. If they could all come back they'd have their work cut out for them with the number of Quislings at work today!
Not his best film or music, but even with the padding and plenty of corn I enjoy watching this one every time I trot it out. If you watched it all and didn't like it it jolly well serves you right!
George is a barman at the Senior Service Club, wants to get into the Navy and eventually gets mistakenly enrolled under the name of his mate Jim Benson. Whilst unsuccessfully trying to get out before he's found out he sings a few songs Swim, little fish (in his bedroom), It serves you right (in the "B" Mess), If I had a girl like you (in the Sea Horse Restaurant), and Bell-bottom George (at the BBC) falls in love and uncovers a nest of Quislings trying to blow up a Navy ship. George is George of course, his girl was the mysterious Anne Firth with the startling smile, and the film bristles with familiar faces for those of us who like this sort of thing. If they could all come back they'd have their work cut out for them with the number of Quislings at work today!
Not his best film or music, but even with the padding and plenty of corn I enjoy watching this one every time I trot it out. If you watched it all and didn't like it it jolly well serves you right!