Up the Creek

Comedies about military service were common during the 1950s and 1960s. In Hollywood, most tended to be big film efforts, while in England, they were mostly B films. But that takes nothing away from the entertainment of those films on the east side of the pond. Indeed, "Up the Creek" is a gem of a British comedy. The film is something of a spoof of the Royal Navy in the time after World War II.

This is one of Peter Sellers' first full-length films in a starring role. David Tomlinson is very good as Lt. Humphrey Fairweather. All of the supporting cast are very good. But, Sellers, who has second billing behind Tomlinson, steals the show as the boatswain (bosun), Chef Petty Officer Doherty. To the men of his crew, who can be remarkably sharp when the situation calls for military decorum, Doherty is called "boss." And for good reason. I won't say why that is, because it's part of the humorous plot.

Hollywood made a number of military comedies with big-name stars and the budgets and trimmings to go with them. Among the best of these were "Kiss Them for Me" of 1957 with Cary Grant, "Operation Petticoat" of 1959 with Grant and Tony Curtis, "Wake Me When it's Over" of 1960, "The Wackiest Ship in the Army," of 1960, and "The Horizontal Lieutenant" of 1962.

But none of those were as funny as "Up the Creek." Four years after this British film came out, the military comedy show, "McHale's Navy" began airing on ABC TV in the U.S. It has an uncanny resemblance to this earlier British movie. "McHale's Navy" was highly popular and indeed, very funny. It led to a movie in 1964 with some of the same cast.

Life aboard the H.M.S. Barclay wasn't all that bad for a time. Watch this movie if you get the chance, and I'm sure you'll agree.

Ho Boy! I've been watching whatever Hammer films I could find to keep up with the "House of Hammer" podcast. Whilst mostly associated with Horror, the most consistent shudder has come whenever I've learned that the next film to watch is a comedy. "Up The Creek" was another dire effort, with, unfortunately, a sequel that'll be next week's punishment.

After several incidents involving his penchant for missile testing, Lieutenant Fairweather (David Tomlinson) is instructed to take command of the mothballed HMS Berkley. For the last few years, the Berkley has been led by Chief Petty Officer Doherty (Peter Sellars) and he has set up a co-operative with his men, selling goods and services to the nearby village of Meadows End. As news of Fairweather's arrival in the village reaches them, they try desperately to get the ship in suitable condition before he gets there.

Despite the pedigree in the cast, Tomlinson, Sellars, Lionel Jeffries is back again having been in "Revenge of Frankenstein" last week, Wilfred Hyde-White is also in it as a horseracing obsessed Admiral, I'm afraid that I didn't enjoy "Up the Creek". The scenario isn't particularly new, conniving wise-ass military men pulling off schemes would be used in "McHale's Navy" but at the time was being made use of by Phil Silver with the Sgt Bilko character. I feel like the problem is that "Bilko", for example, has jokes within that set up and all this film has is the set up. There wasn't a single funny line or amusing moment and it was a real chore to get through. It's supposed to be a farce, I assume but it doesn't work as all they really do to Tomlinson is say "don't look at this" a lot, whilst pointing him in another direction.

Part of the problem is that Tomlinson isn't an authoritarian figure that needs to be outwitted, even the film is aware of this when it repeats exactly same plot again with the arrival of the Admiral towards the films conclusion. Tomlinson would, I suspect, have been reasonably happy for the crew to continue their nonsense, if it meant he could continue to dick about with missiles.

Even this early performance from Peter Sellers can't rescue a film that time has stripped of whatever meagre laughs it might have once had.

This is the same story as Oh Mr Porter ! In which an incompetent idiot gets posted to a sleepy location to keep him out of harms way. He then becomes involved in all sorts of trouble.

Val Guest, the director, was one of the writers on the original and even copies a couple of lines word-for-word. The other film is a true classic and this one is interesting but that's all. There were many films produced around this time often containing the same group of actors. Lionel Jeffries, David Lodge, Sam Kydd (of course), Patrick Cargill, and others. It's always good to see David Tomlinson and Wilfred Hyde-White. Peter Seller's character doesn't work, at least, for me. I was pleased to see it.

One of a hoard of service comedies that hit the British cinema screens in the late '50's, early '60's, 'Up The Creek' is far from being the best or most memorable. Basically it is a cross between radio's 'The Navy Lark' and the later 'Watch Your Stern' , with a bit of 'Bilko' mixed in, as 'silly ass' David Tomlinson, a rocket mad navy officer, is given command of a navy vessel and forced to contend with the schemes of his Chief Petty Officer (Peter Sellers).

Sellers is perhaps the main reason for watching this movie and its fun to see him in this, his very first starring role. But, to be honest, it's probably his least memorable performance of this period, never reaching the heights of his work in 'The Naked Truth' or 'The Battle Of The Sexes' (to name just two).

A good supporting cast helps deliver the laughs, while the under-rated Val Guest directs efficiently. The movie is fun while it is on, but ultimately it is a bit anonymous (it could be any one of a number of similar movies) and fails to live on in the memory.

Val Guest directs this movie that owes a debt to Sergeant Bilko from The Phil Silvers Show.

Peter Sellers is Chief Petty Officer Doherty running get rich schemes on the understaffed mothballed Royal Navy vessel, HMS Berkeley.

It has had no commanding officer for several years and moored at a wharf near the village of Meadows End. The small crew keep animals. They sell naval rum and cigarettes to the local pub. Make food and do the laundry for the villagers. Doherty even claims wages for some non existent crew members.

All this is about to come to an end when hapless Lt Humphrey Fairweather (David Tomlinson) is posted there by the horse racing mad Admiral.

Fairweather caused chaos and damage with each rocket he builds as a sideline. This is a way to keep him out of harms way.

Having not much idea in commanding a ship, Doherty connives Fairweather to let him continue with his schemes. Then one day the Admirals visits for a surprise inspection.

There is not much comedy or much originality. The story is threadbare but worth watching for an early appearance by Peter Sellers.