Demobbed (1944 film)
| Demobbed | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | John E. Blakeley |
| Written by | Story and scenario: Roney Parsons Anthony Toner original story: Julian Cantor Max Zorlini comedy sequences devised and arranged by: Arthur Mertz |
| Produced by | F.W. Baker John E. Blakeley |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
| Edited by | Ted Richards |
| Music by | Percival Mackey |
Production company | Mancunian Films & Butcher's Film Service (co-production) |
| Distributed by | Butcher's Film Service (U.K.) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Demobbed is a 1944 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Norman Evans, Nat Jackley, Gus McNaughton and Dan Young.[1][2] It was written by Roney Parsons and Anthony Toner from an original story by Julian Cantor and Max Zorlini.
Plot
[edit]A group of demobbed ex-soldiers find work at a company that makes scientific instruments. When things start to go missing, Norma, a company secretary, enlists their help in tracking down the thieves.
Cast
[edit]- Norman Evans as Norman
- Nat Jackley as Nat
- Dan Young as Dan
- Betty Jumel as Betty
- Tony Dalton as Billy Brown
- Jimmy Plant as Graham
- George Merritt as James Bentley
- Fred Kitchen as Black
- Arthur Hambling as Curtis
- Gus McNaughton as Capt. Gregson
- Marianne Lincoln as Marianne
- Anne Firth as Norma Deane
- Neville Mapp as John Bentley
- Webster Booth as himself
- Anne Ziegler as herself
- Sydney Bromley as BBC announcer
- Kay Lewis as Norman Evan's partner
- Freddie Watts as landlord of the Red Lion
- Edgar Driver as the bookie
- Noel Dainton as Police Inspector
- Marjorie Gresley as the mother
- Angela Glynne as the child
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film might prove amusing to those who like music-hall turns, an Hawaiian dance being quite funny, but during some of the other acts the humour is so grotesque as to make one feel quite uncomfortable."[3]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Rowdy, good-humonured musical comedy burlesque covering the hectic misadventures of four crazy ex-privates in Civvy Street. There is not much of a plot, but the principal comedians make a lively and versatile team, the well-timed music and dance-hall sequences are bright, the climax carries a kick and the technical presentation is above reproach. ... True, the mixture of slapstick, song and music-hall is occasionally rough and ready, but enthusiastic teamwork and first class technical presentation, nevertheless, permit the whole to merge into good-hearted, entertainment-filled comedy burlesque."[4]
TV Guide called it an "Occasionally okay slapstick comedy."[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Demobbed". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ BFI.org
- ^ "Demobbed". The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 11, no. 121. 1 January 1944. p. 27 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Demobbed". Kine Weekly. Vol. 324, no. 1923. 24 February 1944. p. 28 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Demobbed". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016.