I Thank You

`Big-hearted Arthur Askey' was a major British star of cinema, TV, and even, much earlier, Music Hall. On the evidence of `I Thank You' (a catch-phrase pronounced Aye Theng Yew) he was a comical little man with great timing but I just couldn't get a laugh out of this movie. And its not simply a case of what made people smile more than fifty years ago not being relevant today. A couple of nights previously I had watched an even older film, `Nothing Sacred' and found it absolutely hilarious.

`I Thank You' was made & set during the Second World War. It opens & closes in the London Underground where the population went to escape the German air raids, includes a couple of novelty songs plus performances from Richard `Stinker' Murdoch who became a top radio script-writer and Kathleen Harrison who always seemed to play a maid until she had great success in the fifties in The Huggetts series of films.

It's hard to recommend `I Thank You' which is often frantic and farcical; the best I can say is that it is mercifully short at seventy-odd minutes.

A tremendously funny film, with quick one liners a plenty.

Interspersed with some very catchy tunes, over acting, and a story line silly enough to follow. One of my all time favorite, British films. Sit back and have a laugh.

Set in London early in World War II, this silly yet charming film is about a group of vaudeville entertainers who are hoping to persuade one time backer Lady Randall to fund a new show – something she is disinclined to do. In an effort to speak to her privately about this, Arthur and Stinker apply for – and get – jobs in Lady Randall's house as a butler and a cook. As the cook, Arthur dresses in drag and actually is quite funny in that disguise. Of course, neither Arthur or Stinker can cook and there is an amusing routine with the cook in the house next door. Moore Marriott plays Lady Randall's nutty father. His batty old man routine got pretty boring and was my least favorite part of the movie. Given the general acclaim other reviewers hold him in, I may need to view more Marriott films to test my initial impression. What I particularly liked about the movie were the novelty songs such as "Oh Johnny Teach Me to Dance", "Hello to the Sun", "Waiting at the Church" and "Let's Get Hold of Hitler". In addition to Askey, the other performers evidently were also former Music Hall entertainers. I liked this one and will likely watch it again.

My bet is that if you asked 100 of my fellow Americans who Arthur Askey was, you MIGHT get lucky and find one. He and other British comedians like Will Hay are simply never shown on TV around here and the only reason I discovered them is that I like to download and watch public domain movies--and I have discovered some interesting movies that way. It seems that a lot of the public domain films were made by Gainesborough Pictures--and they made a lot of comedies as well as dramas.

Now I am not saying all these films are brilliant. Askey was often a bit low-brow in his humor--probably because he had his roots in the English stage--sort of like their version of vaudeville. So, for his audiences, Askey and many other comedians went for the cheap laugh--and that's not really a bad thing! Plus, his humor was never as cheap as our Three Stooges! This film must have seemed very near and dear to the hearts of the actors, as it's about a group of stage performers who are out of work and need someone to finance their show. So, Askey and Richard Murdock both approach a rich Lady--who also used to be a performer like them. But, she turns out to want nothing to do with her old job and now she is too sophisticated for such things. So, instead of asking for her financing directly, the decide to go to work for her, as she's advertising for a butler and maid. So you think....how can one of them be a maid?! Well, Askey, in the grand tradition of low-brow entertainment, dresses in drag--and he looks pretty convincing actually! So when exactly will they get around to popping the question? And what will she say? And what hope do they have of convincing anyone they are real servants?! Although this film too much singing, some of the songs were pretty catchy. Plus, I loved Moore Marriott in the he film. While he did a lot of films with Askey and Will Hay, here he is at his funniest. His crazy old coot routine is a hoot--and does a lot to make up for the plot lulls and songs. Well written and funny--this is a fun film even if some of the humor is a bit corny.

Really enjoyed it. Cheap, cheerful, entertaining so the highbrow can get stuffed!