One Good Turn

THis is clearly a Quota Quickie, intended for the British market. It stars Leslie Fuller, a popular music hall comedian, with tiny Georgie Harris as his sidekick. They want to break into show business, but can't. The plot involves their pretty landlady's daughter, Molly Fisher, her brother, who keeps borrowing larger and larger sums of money, a crooked show producer and Chinese gangsters.

Producer Joe Rock and director Alfred Goulding slot in some standard knockabout routines, but it's all of the "little guy wins despite the odds" variety, with a couple of very loose ends left untied. Despite some very low production values, it's c;ear that all the performers are trying very hard, and Fuller was clearly a popular enough performer with his audience to warrant this sort of low-budget film making. Alas, it has aged very poorly.

It is difficult to realise that Leslie Fuller was am extremely well known and liked comedian when this film was made.The film depends on the contrast between lugubrious face and the slapstick comedy.Trouble is,what may have them in stitches in 1936 leaves you pretty cold now.In fact you would have to say that the horse steals the show.The plot such as it is,is immaterial.