Tons of Trouble

I remember (probably around 1964/5)an afternoon off from school during the week, and this film was on TV. I have a feeling it was coming up to Christmas so perhaps the time off school was part of the Christmas break, but it's a fuzzy memory. Mr Pastry (Richard Hearne) was quite a well known face on TV, especially in children's shows. I can't remember much about the plot of this film(I've learnt a lot more from this site!) but I remember two boilers being a main feature of the story. Since that's so unusual, and who else but the British could script a film around two old heating boilers, I guess that's why it's stuck in my young and impressionable memory, and yes, perhaps a tear was shed at the demise of Mr Pastry's beloved charges!

I wondered what the film was called, and thanks to IMDb, I've found out. Would I like to see it again? Possibly...but maybe the impression it gave me then, should simply be left alone.

TONS OF TROUBLE is a cheapjack British comedy conceived as a star vehicle for old-time comedian Richard Hearne. He plays a janitor who spends his time looking after a couple of heaving old boilers in the basement of a large hotel. He feels so much affection for these pieces of machinery that he's given then names and personalities and it's fair to say that they are his life's work. There's something delightfully British about his character.

The opening part of the film is pretty good with some amusing slapstick moments, particularly involving the laundry chute. I have no idea who Hearne is or was but he's quite game for a laugh here. Sadly, the film becomes unstuck later on, when it builds an uninvolving plot involving ruthless corporate villains and the like, and it only springs to life again when William Hartnell is introduced into the story. The ending is as obvious as they come. I was interested to note that this was the last film in the career of quota quickie director Leslie S. Hiscott before retirement; he also had a hand in the script.

I too remember this little gem....at least, it was then!

I was 7 years old and my Dad took me to see this at our local Gaumont. It was the support film for Disney's "Davy Crockett", which was a real "Biggy" that year.

It's many,many years since it was on TV but, it's one of those films that has always stuck in my memory.

The only thing I can remember about it for sure is that Mr Pastry had a lot of trouble with some soap suds?

Unseen for many years, we can finally catch up with it next Monday, Feb 1st, 2016 when those excellent people at the Talking Pictures Channel will be showing it, at 12:05pm.

I can't wait!

I remember watching this film on TV over 40 years ago. It's a touching tale, which reflected an innocence for the times. I loved it and kept the copy of Radio Times, where it was listed, for many years. Mr Pastry is a caretaker in charge of boilers in some establishment (school?)and has a little dog as a friend. Time has made the memory a little fuzzy, but the film was full of character actors such as William Hartnell (pre-Doctor Who days), Ronald Adam, John Stuart. I remember Mr Pastry riding his bike with the dog in a basket. It all turns out OK in the end when the boilers are saved from being dismantled. Can't remember much of the romantic interest - must have been my age! Great nostalgic stuff!

My review will be extremely quick and vague! This is because I only remember watching this film way back in around August 1977, after being tied to a hospital beds with traction weights and pulleys, following a road accident! All I can remember is virtually the same as all the other reviewers; ie, the janitor man (Pastry, of course) and his beloved boilers, which he saves in the end! I have been trying to remember the title of the film for 36 years now...so many thanks for that; you've made an old man very happy! I echo your other reviewers' comments, echoing their pleas...do please let us have another airing of this B&W classic on Britsh TV!