Comedy Film

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Inspector Abberline

Their First Mistake (1932)
Mrs. Hardy (Mae Busch)

Considering she was going to slit his throat in the last film reviewed, this is quite a surprising development.

[Inspector Abberline]

Some Will, Some Won't (1970)
Wilfrid Brambell as Henry Russell is an eccentric millionaire (why are all rich people eccentric?),Brambell is nearly unrecognisable due to wearing a rather weird grey fright wig.Henry Russell is also abit of a practicable joker,and when he dies fooling around on the hands of big Ben believe it or not he leaves his money to his relatives but there's a catch. Each relative has to perform a task before they get there hands on the £150,000 inheritance.Based on the film Laughter in Paradise (1951) with Alastair Sim , Some Will Some Won't (1970) is directed by Duncan Wood who worked on Hancocks Half Hour and Steptoe And Son, so it was a bit of surprise to find that Some Will, Some Won't isn't the laughter fest I was hoping for.In fact the jokes are pretty dire and the script is less than sparkling.It does have a stellar cast Arthur Lowe, Dennis Price, James Robertson Justice, Leslie Phillips, Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett, Sheila Steafel, Stephen Lewis, Thora Hird and Wilfrid Brambell and overall is nicely filmed. It comes across slightly old fashioned by the 1970's standards,with some slight bawdiness hinted at especially with good old Leslie Phillips scenes as he plays usual Romeo character tying to woo the ladies. But overall the film feels very stilted and lifeless,In fact the only time I thought it had any real humour was when Wilfrid Brambell appeared on screen,which is shame has he only has a cameo appearance,when I felt he was the best character out of the whole lot,you always get your money's worth from Wilfrid Brambell a man who pops up every where from The Witchfinder General cranky old farmer,Holiday on the Buses cranky old lecherous man and Steptoe and Son where he's just a cranky old man.On the whole its an average farce,with some decent talent on show,and ill be looking to seek out Laughter in Paradise just to see what the original has to offer.

1/2 out of 5

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

That looks like Leslie Philips smoothing up to Barbara Murray on the dvd cover.

Is she in it a lot? I feel to have been watching her every week for a year in The Plane Makers and it's spin off The Power Game. She gets a raw deal from her husband Patrick Wymark in those series with all his adultery. Leslie Philips is probably a step too far.

[Inspector Abberline]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

That looks like Leslie Philips smoothing up to Barbara Murray on the dvd cover.

Is she in it a lot? I feel to have been watching her every week for a year in The Plane Makers and it's spin off The Power Game. She gets a raw deal from her husband Patrick Wymark in those series with all his adultery. Leslie Philips is probably a step too far.

Yes that's Babs Murray alright,yes she in it abit,more than just a cameo any way,she's Dennis Price niece in the film,she's trying to marry Leslie for his inheritance.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Inspector Abberline

Yes that's Babs Murray alright,yes she in it abit,more than just a cameo any way,she's Dennis Price niece in the film,she's trying to marry Leslie for his inheritance.

I think i might pick it up in the next Network sale. Sounds okay to me. I might find it funnier you never know.

[Inspector Abberline]

Casino Royale (1967)
I've never been the biggest Bond fan,and the only two I can hand on heart say Im a fan of is Live and Let Die (1973),great song,I do like Roger Moore,he was so much better as Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! (TV Series)and mainly because it comes across as big budget Blaxploitation film made by a bunch of middle class English honkys, which it was.The other favourite is Moonraker , obviously Cubby thought star wars/Star Trek how can we get on this band wagon,hey presto Moonraker. And when anyone asks me who my favourite bond is I either tell them to p**s off and get a life or I say David Niven which will confuse them no end.Obviously the purists have wiped Casino Royale (1967) from there memory banks, but after a recent re-watch I decided it wasn't the awful mess were are supposed to remember it as. Ok so its credited with five ,correction six (i forgot Val Guest) different directors for five different parts of the film, and yes there is a slight difference in style in direction some of the scenes,but nothing as jarring as were lead to believe. In fact considering the level of criticism aimed at some of the recent Bond films,(even Spectre which was thought to be ok is now getting the back lash) its not looking bad at all now,some what Psychedelic even with that 60's feel only Austin Powers's could dream of catching abit of. The cast is pretty amazing as well David Niven,Peter Sellers,Barbara Bouchet,Ursula Andress, Woody Allen and Orson Welles to name but a few. And also forget all that toss about who is going to sing the next bond theme Burt Bacharach blows them all out of the water with his theme tune played Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass ,and the song "The Look of Love" – Dusty Springfield make Adele,well look crap really. And if that wasn't enough the making of the film with all its back biting and unfinished scenes make it more interesting than anything Ian Fleming ever wrote. So if you want a very silly spy spoof then look here,in fact time has been good to this film and its come full circle to be probably the ultimate spy spoof film.

1/2 out of 5

[Inspector Abberline]

The Live Ghost (1934)
Live Ghost is one of those I remember watching on BBc2 when I was a kid,and I was struck by how menacing and brutal the sea captain (Walter Long) is.Just a total psycho (which he does so well) a man that when he says he is gonna twist your head backwards,well you just better believe it when he says it,that's all im saying.Walter is just one of the all time great bad asses,and its a real shame he never seemed to make many more films later on,he appears in four Laurel Hardy shorts and also one Three Stooges short Three Little Pigskins. The captain manages to convince the boys to help him shanghaiing sailors for his ship,(capt having problems recruiting people because rumour has it his ship is haunted,but don't let him hear that,or you will be in trouble). Why the captain would hire Stan and Olly as strong arm men is know ones business,but it does lead to a great routine where Stan goes into the bar room full of sailors,bets one of them that they cant put an egg in their mouth without breaking it,then when they put it in their mouth,Stan pops them in the chin,they chase after Stan,and Olly whacks them with a frying pan.Of course all goes well until they change roles and Oliver goes into the saloon only to have Charlie Hall,who has witnessed the gag before trick him instead,this leads to Stan whacking everybody with the frying pan even the Captain.The film is very atmospheric, and the whole set of the ship does give the appearance of a ghost ship (~oops I hope he didn't hear me) .Yet again Stan manages to finds a gun and accidentally shots the bunk where they think Arthur Housman is sleeping.(yet again he's the drunk who has been banned from going ashore). What is surprising is the Stan and Olly have no qualms about sticking what they think is a body,in a weighted down sack and throwing it overboard. With its ghost ship setting and what looks like a nice foggy atmosphere to top it off,the film ends with a rather painful pair of neck twisting.OUCHH

[Inspector Abberline]

Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973)
They say never work with children or animals,so after working with a baby in the first film they throw caution to the wind and work with a greyhound this time.The first half of the film is mostly small vignettes until it gets to the main part of the story which is faking Albert's death so they can claim the insurance company. Ray Galton and Alan Simpson keep the characters and film fresh by coming up with new material instead of re-cycling stories from the tv show,a mistake allot of the tv to film crossovers have made.We have several little mini adventures before the film really kicks off. First before the credits Albert tries to shot a neighbours chicken for food,a gag which carries on through the course of the film. Harold while out collecting,gets called to the top of a tower block only to be given a carrot for his horse.Next up he runs into Diana Dors a randy short skirt wearing mum who tries to seduce Harold,only trouble is her husband who has just died is in the next bed.Harold's troubles get worse when he falls asleep on the cart only to ride straight on the back of removals van to be taken up to York. "York,who the hell do you think you are Dick Turpin" Albert exclaims. Poor old Hercules after walking back from York has a poorly heart and has to be retired,in quite a touching scene Albert pleads with Harold not to let him be put down,but placed in a horses rest home. So with no horse they have to go to the Southall market and pick up a new horse with Albert's life savings £80.Unfortunately for Harold after sending Albert home so he can buy the horse himself,Harold runs into local gangster Henry Woolf as Frankie Barrow,you may remember him from the great Steptoe and Son episode The Seven Steptoerai a really funny Seven Samurai rip off. Now they needed a horse to pull the cart,what Harold brings back,in a rather drunk state is a grey hound,Hercules the Second.Not only can he not pull a cart but he is also short sighted and can't see a thing,especially the rabbit at the race track.And on top of this they still owe Frankie Barrow for the dog.Now they have to come up with the money otherwise Frankie and the boys will be coming round.There can't be many films that have had a greyhound wear reading glasses,or one that eats cigarette butts. Needless to say Hercules the Second in the words of Albert is a w**ker. Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett star. Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are the writers what more do want,Peter Sykes directs this the same year as The House in Nightmare Park (1973) with Frankie Howerd.

out of 5

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

An excellent thread Inspector.

One of my favourites on the forum

Keep it up in 2016.

[Inspector Abberline]

The Music Box (1932)
Laurel & Hardy's Transfer Co. (foundered in 1931) have the job of delivering a rather large piano to Hazel Howell as Mrs. Schwarzenhoffen,which is a supposed to be a surprise present for her husband Billy Gilbert as Professor von Schwarzenhoffen .When the boys arrive at the address there given 1127 Walnut Avenue,they ask a passing postman where the house exactly is,Charlie Hall (the Postman) informs them that the house they want is right at the top of a series of steps. At this point in the film you do wonder how many jobs Laurel & Hardy's Transfer Co. have undertaken and how many have ended in tragedy for both the boys and there clients. On there first attempt to climb the steps there interrupted by a nursemaid and her buggy,this leads to the first attempt of the piano crashing to the bottom. Hysterical the nanny can't stop laughing at Stan and Olly,this leads to Stan to kick her up the backside,she in turn bops Stan in the face, Olly burst out laughing and gets a milk bottle smashed over his head for his trouble.Not only is this a brilliant bit of violent slapstick but it also leads to a great bit of dialogue between the nanny and a passing policeman.
Nursemaid: And not only that, he kicked me.
Policeman: He kicked you?
Nursemaid: Yes, officer, right in the middle of my daily duty.
Policeman: Oh, he kicked you did he?
Its the "line right in the middle of my daily duty",which makes the policeman hesitate for a second.With the piano halfway up the steps again,this time its the Policeman that interrupts them.
Stan: What do you want?
Policeman: I don't want you. I want that other monkey.
[Stan whistles to Ollie]
Ollie: What?
Stan: He doesn't want me! He wants the other monkey!
[Ollie looks around]
Stan: You!
This then leads to another confrontation between the boys and the policeman, Stan: Don't you think you're bounding over your step? which gets him hit over the head for his troubles, with the policeman's baton.On there third attempt to get the piano up the steps they come across Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen, who is totally unaware that the piano is for him,but he also refuses to move out of there way.This again leads to another fight,where upon von Schwarzenhoffen shouts "Well? Either of you two numbskulls going to take this thing out of the way?" which is a corker of a line even by today's standards.By this time were only halve way through the film,and the only thing that's stopping the piano falling apart is the packing case its in,which has been helpfully labeled end 'fragile',side/back "this way up ,side/front "do not nail",top "use no hooks".But nowhere does it say don't drop down a flight of stairs. There is also the ridiculous twist involving the postman,which I won't go into as it beggars belief.Not only a great funny film but won the first Academy Award for Live Action Short Film (Comedy) 1932.