Old Mother Riley Joins Up

The only vehicle for Old Mother Riley directed by Maclean Rogers was obviously quickly rushed into cinemas on behalf of the war effort, with the result that it's one of the most ramshackle of the garrulous old biddy's films, seemingly cobbled together from old music hall routines.

Fascinating actuality footage of the actual ATS rubs shoulders with such surreal moments as 'electrical treatment' (as they called shock treatment in those days) being administered to an arms manufacturer, the old girl doing a striptease in silhouette or riding a bicycle in her sleep.

It's also the only Old Mother Riley film to feature Garry Marsh, already heading a gang of enemy agents selling plans for a big gun to an unnamed but easily identified enemy power.

As did George Formby,Will Hay and many others. I have to admit that this film is actually funny at times. Lucan finding three different ways to fall down stairs. Maybe it's the presence of Garry Marsh and Marita Hunt that inspired him. Mind you this film is the exception not the rule.