The Love Match

Arthur Askey was a major British television star from the 1950s onwards but still found time to star in a number of good solid comedies. Most of his best work was during the Second World War but Love Match must also rank as one of his best films. Askey and friend Wally (Glenn Melvyn) drive a steam locomotive for a living but his real passion is football and in particular his local team United. The plot starts here and manages to pack in a lot; an argument with the referee (Franklyn) at a match; an appearance before the magistrate (a lovely Rob Wilton cameo) his daughter (Eaton) in a dance contest, her romance with Alfie Hall (Ross), his son (Kenney) getting the chance to play professionally - but for City, shock at meeting the new lodger (Franklyn again) and various dodges to replace some stolen holiday money - all in 85 minutes!

The script based on a play by Melvyn gives plenty of opportunity for the talented cast to shine. In particular Danny Ross stands out - a fine comedian, in the Lancashire tradition of the gormless simpleton, he seems to have made far too few films. This is the only one I have seen so far. His main legacy seems to have been appearing as the same Alf Hall character in the long running radio show 'The Clitheroe Kid' (1958-1972). Still worth hearing if you get the chance.

An absolutely wonderful film.

I was brought up on Arthur Askey and Will Hay films, so I can appreciate the humour. Arthur Askey is my favourite comedian. This has to be one of my favourite films.

The line where Bill says to his wife Sal, 'He'll never make an engine driver, that Wally. His eyes aren't far enough apart to see through the engine windows'. Absolutely priceless!!! The cast is great, with both Arthur and Thora Hird putting in great performances. Also, an hilarious turn from Rob Wilton.

I would recommend this film to anyone who likes silliness! Especially of the Askey variety.

(FYI the guy who played Wally, is, apparently, who Ronnie Barker copied his stutter from in Open All Hours)

This is a very funny film from the mid 50's about Bill who is a railway motorman who is a giant football (soccer) fan. He goes to a match with his co-worker Wally (played by the writer of this gem, Glenn Melvyn) and by accident he hits the referee with a pie in the face. He is hauled off to court and fined 5 pounds, but Wally, who is deliberately dim in the film, hands the bag of money which was for a railwaymen party to someone who promptly uses the money to pay her fine of 50 pounds. So, how are they going to get the money back? There are other characters in this film, namely Bill's wife, who has great one liners, his son who is going to play football for the team Bill hates and his daughter, the stunning Shirley Eaton, who is entered in a dance contest in Liverpool. This is a great comedy about a family and their own part of the world. The screenplay by Mr. Melvyn is superb, and there are genuinely hilarious moments. No matter what kind of comedy you like, this is very highly recommended. Its crisp, the wit keeps flowing and the laughs are plenty. What more can you ask for?

The Love Match is directed by David Paltenghi and based on a play by Glenn Melvyn who also co-stars with Arthur Askey. Also featuring are Thora Hird, Shirley Eaton, Danny Ross, William Franklyn and Edward Chapman. Arthur Grant is the photographer and Wilfred Burns scores the original music.

After a sequence of events sees him arrested for the assault of a football referee, train driver Bill Brown (Askey) has to use some of the railway man's holiday fund to cover his fine. Desperate for the cash, Bill and his pal Wally (Melvyn) look to run a book on the upcoming United v City football match. But with his daughter Rose (Eaton) trying to win a dancing competition, and his son Arthur (Franklyn) about to make his debut for United, family strife is also taking a hold.

This was the first film that Arthur Askey made after a ten year absence from the big screen. It's typical boisterous fare, filled out with old time jokes and set piece frivolity. The story is a solid one, although it really helps if you are British and understand local football rivalry, while the cast around Askey perform to a high standard. There's some laugh out loud moments, such as one jitterbugging sequence, whilst the appearance of classic steam trains and rail yards carry with it a certain historical charm. All in all it's good harmless comedy fare for those who like Askey and similar British films of this ilk. 6.5/10

As a child of 6 or 7 years I found all of Arthur Askey's 1950's films hilarious, this one in particular as it contained the following gag:

Alf Hall is Rose Brown's dimwitted boy friend. When he knocks on the Brown's front door for the very first time Bill Brown opens it and all Alf can do is splutter out his name "Alf 'all, Alf 'all." Bill's reply is "Don't worry I'll catch you."

That little scene has stayed in my mind for more than forty years!