Oh, Mr. Porter!

A much loved member of my "favourite films of all time" list. I first saw it on Saturday morning pictures for sixpence in the early fifties and thought it was brilliant. Got it on DVD and would still sit down and watch it if it came on the telly. Some films are like classical music, you're always pleased to come across them. This is one of mine.No need for CGI, no need for colour, no need for Hollywood window dressing and mega hype, its a taste of a different world, a different era and with less sophistication. Will Hay pompously fumbles and struts his way through one disaster after another, aided by his two lieutenants and a good time is had by all.

This is quite possibly the greatest British comedy film made. The humour still stands up today and the scenes are as clever as any modern work. Unfortunatly, the film's star Will Hay, has almost been forgotten by the comedy industry and little is spoken about him. This film is a classic example of British comedy and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys and a good laugh and occasional scare. Classic.

'Oh, Mr Porter!' is seen as possible the most popular of the many films made staring Wil Hay. The team of three (Graham Moffat, Moore Marriot and Hay) seem to fit together well leading each other to witty and well perform punchlines that capture the spirit of the early black and white comedy genre. The tale, based on the placement of a lack lustre station manager at a sleepy backwater station in Ireland, is the perfect setting for Hay to act out his famous role as the bumbling but likable head of operations. Assisted by Marriot and Moffat the three find themselves embroiled in a gun running plot and the ghost of the old miller. Great fun and a reflection of an era long gone.

I saw this film in 1937 when I was 10. I am now 76 and can remember almost the entire plot. I would list this amongst my top 10 films together with The Quiet Man, Dr. Strangelove, Random Harvest and a few others including The Grapes of Wrath.

One of my all-time favourites.

Silly characters, silly plot.

Supposedly set in Ireland, it was actually filmed on the moribund Basingstoke and Alton Railway in Southern England (note 'Southern' on the tender of the express engine!) I suppose, for its day, it was probably quite innovative with a lot of camera tricks, even though some of the footage is shown in reverse! See the opening credits for instance - British railways drive on the left!

Hay, Marriott and Moffatt are hilariously funny, trotting out well established characters and routines, but no less funny for that, my favourite scene being the one involving Gladstone and the shunting of the carriage - priceless.

If you see it around, watch it, and then check out some of their other films. This was their best but plenty of the others are very funny.