The Bargee

Some rather odd reviews on here, though any new viewers will get the general gist of the film from them.

Lothario bargee, girl in every 'port' (or at least all the calling points between London & Brum on the canals). That's Corbett, and his illiterate cousin Ronnie Barker, who'd go on to be one of the top-3 comedy actors here, due to Open All Hours, Porridge, and the 2 Ronnies, and that's just the main ones!

To correct a few, Corbett WAS already Steptoe by the time this film happened, and I expect the director and backers wanted a script that played to those mannerisms, using Galton & Simpson (Steptoe creators -- as well as writing lots of other comedy material) was a good way to ensure it.

Prismark writes an unusually poor review, this was NOT like a "bad Carry on film", that series was aimed at an entirely different crowd (or did I miss Sid James & Babs Windsor somewhere?!).

Oh, and 'dimplet' (more like DIM-plet??) who is presumably American slagged off the film, but gave it 9 out of 10?!

The film is just a gentle comedy, a distraction, playing to the strengths of a mass of British character and comedy actors. Brian Wilde and Ronnie Barker would go on to great success in Porridge, Miriam Karlin had been a comedy icon in 'Rag Trade'. Julia Foster may have got selected for the massive hit film Alfie as a result of her performance in this! Etc Etc.

It adds in a poignant nod to the imminent demise of the canals as working transport for heavy loads, a respected trade in the UK for a couple of hundred years, and carrying with it the rise of the industrial age in the Victorian years.

David Mayall correctly identifies the film as a useful bit of social history, with many outside shots of a lost way of life. This does sufficiently warn potential viewers that as a comedy it is as dull as ditchwater. Ronnie Barker is crushed by Harry Corbets character. This is the kind of product which almost killed the British Film Industry. Have people voted 10 for this film out of irony? (Confession I was unable to see the end of film). Did any one pay to see this at the time?

A great period piece featuring a whose who of Mid sixties tv comedy. Harry H Corbett is Hamel a lovely romeo who sails the canals with a girl at every lock gate.

He wouldn't and doesn't want to change this way of life until the inevitable intervenes.

Honourable mentions to Ronnie Barker, Julie Foster and Hugh Griffiths.

It depicts a way of life and attitudes that have long since gone and is enjoyable because of this.

Yes, it is nostalgic. Yes, it is slow, but canal boats can only cruise at 4 m.p.h. so perhaps it matches the storyline. Anyway, who says film has to be frenetic all the time? Harry H. Corbett is superb. It's a shame he never received more recognition for his talents during his life time. The film also was an early chance for Ronnie Barker to shine as Hemel's dim witted cousin. But my favourite supporting players are Eric Sykes' canal enthusiast energetically freewheeling through his scenes. He turns what are little more than vignettes into perfect sketches. Jo Rowbottom appears as one of Hemel's squeezes. Her brief appearance is actually quite touching- Hemel treats her badly, and she knows it.

If nothing else, Give it a try if you are a film buff! It's a 'spot the British character actor' film. Perfect rainy afternoon fare, except it has only been shown once on television in the last ten years.

Mild light comedy concerning dam master (Griffith) whose impressionable daughter (Foster) conceives to barge operator and ladies' man (Corbett), much to Griffith's chagrin. Ronnie Barker co-stars as Corbett's cousin and fellow "bargee" (with somewhat less luck with the ladies), the two concerned also with the imminent extinction of the centuries old tradition, in favour of motorised vessels.

Solid cast includes veteran Griffith as the gruff, ill-tempered man of the waterways (and sporting a bird's nest that would make Francis De Wolff or Sebastian Cabot blush), Barker as the amiable sidekick and prominent supporting roles for Derek Nimmo, Richard Briers and Norman Bird as a cowardly administrator who attempts to confront Griffith after he's sabotaged the canal as retribution for his daughter's, "condition". Some viewers may also recognise Ed Devereaux pre-"Skippy".

Essentially it seemed to me to be a tale about the preservation of traditions, some of which are anachronisms to the present day, others worth conserving. Pleasant enough slapstick with some nice countryside exteriors and a delightful supporting cast, a modest and inoffensive time-filler.