White Cargo

This unrepentantly ribald, pratfall-laden 70s farce is curiously under-documented, and in the rare occasions it is discussed, the film is summarily dismissed as though an especially ill tempered Tom Cat! Which is somewhat surprising, as this rather jocular, low-rent Walter Mitty-esque fable has a deliciously whimsical performance from future national treasure David Jason as the daydreaming drip Albert Toddey, whose frequently lurid flights of fancy usually take the suave form of his sexy, nattily attired,super Stoic, super spy alter ego, adored by women, greatly feared by all mortal men, but in his dour, day-to-day reality, this diminutive dolt, while yearning for adventure inadvertently finds himself in the heady midst of a ludicrously far-fetched, back of a match-book plot of cartoonishly cackling villainy, and their rather unsophisticated flesh-peddling racket. 'White Cargo' is undeniably silly, and for the most part, it is entirely intentional, David Jason's steely-haired, erstwhile Bond cuts quite a dash, and his fluency with physical comedy has a keen, Buster Keaton vibrancy, and the estimable comedian is vigorously supported by brawny cult hero David Prowse, and fellow 'The Saint' alumnus, the no less statuesque Imogen Hassell is a buxom joy to behold! While frequent Pete Walker collaborator David McGillvray's episodic script sometimes lacks finesse, it nonetheless keeps things moving along with noisome alacrity, and the pleasingly sprightly score by David 'Shatter' Lindup is certainly a jaunty enough affair. While 'White Cargo' is, perhaps, a little over burdened with mediocrity it still proves to be more fun than some might have led you to believe.