Go to Blazes

I have fond memories of this film, I was nine when my mother took me to see it, we saw a lot of films together back in the day. It was a delight to see a British film in colour in those days. Great cast led by comic Dave 'Big Head' King who later went to play mostly heavies in films.

Sure plot is daft but it is a comedy after all, one of many British made from the sixties. If you are of an age and remember most of the cast you'll enjoy the nostalgia of picking out the future stars in small parts.

Recommended.

Dave King, Dennis Price, Norman Rossington, Daniel Massey, Coral Browne, Maggie Smith, and Robert Morley star in "Go to Blazes" from 1962.

King, Rossington, and Massey are a gang of smash and grab crooks. Every time they smash and grab, they are caught and sent to prison. En route to prison one day, they discuss their options and decide to get their hands on a fire engine next time. That way, they can speed and look official.

They manage to buy a dilapidated engine; however, they keep being stopped to fight real fires. They appeal to an ex-firefighter (Dennis Price) to teach them how to be real firemen. He does.

One of the men, Harry (Massey) romances Chantel (Smith) who works at the couturier next door to a bank. One of the funniest scenes occurs when the Morley character - who is an arsonist by trade - tries to start a fire in the salon and can't!

Good film with solid performances. Maggie Smith was so young here - 28 at the time - and she's lovely and funny.

A fun ending, too.

The only point of interest to me is the exterior locations.The opening scene takes place in Temple Fortune Parade.I remember watching the filming.The gang head south down the Finchley Road towards Golders Green.Next thing we know they are being pursued by the police along the A41 Watford Way.I would be interested to know the name and location of the cinema shown later in the film.The film itself is not very funny.A good cast let down by a rather unfunny script.the last 20 minutes in particular is extremely lame.Unfortunately Associated British Pathe did not turn out many good comedies in the sixties.There are lots of great actors,,Lowe,Le Mesurier and Mallinson who only have a brief time on screen alas.Early film of Maggie Smith.

It isn't one of the best films in the mould of The Lavender Hill Mob or Three Way Stretch despite a good cast. I switched on part way through and here were scenes where you could see it was shot in Elstree or Barnet High high street especially when the Lonon Country bus went past. Of more interest was the escape scene where the fire engine went past the duck pond on Hadley Common, Down Bakers Hill and the sunken lane in Hadley Woods. This was used by vehicles in the 1960's as I remember an ice cream van by the lake.

A relatively little known British comedy from 1962 filmed in wide screen colour. Good cast, good credible script with a novel plot by Patrick Campbell, fascinating views of sunny London in 1962. A pleasant way to spend 90 minutes. I guess that people with an interest in fire brigades will particularly like it.