Dirty Work

A lot of stock has been going missing at the jewelry store managed by Cecil Parker. The loyal but none-too-bright staff is baffled. However, considering this is basically an Aldwych Farce, written by Ben Travers, directed by Tom Wall, and starring Ralph Lynn as the brightest of the bunch, that's hardly a surprise.

He's also in love with Lilian Bond, and she with him. Nonetheless, they quarrel a lot because Parker keeps trying to make love to the young lady. Robertson Hare, Gordon Harker, and Gordon James complete the farcical center, and Walls directs them in fast delivery of their lines, although Harker proceeds at his wonted pace. Meanwhile, the crooks see a way to use these dopes to speed up their thefts by convincing them they're actually the police.

I didn't find it the best of work by the team, but it certainly does have its moments, and the sequence in which Lynn and Harker convince Hare to wear a wig and shave his mustache is very well done.

Yes it's silly, it's not meant to be taken seriously so to enjoy this you need to switch your mind off: tune in, turn on and drop out. You'll then love this wonderfully entertaining hour of happiness, fun and frivolity

This is one of the original Aldwych Farces which was performed virtually by this same cast in the West End two years earlier. It has therefore been road tested so proven and certified as something to make you laugh. One additional plus this picture has is the stunningly gorgeous Lilian Bond in a rare leading role.

Lovely Lilian is not a particularly convincing actress but she doesn't need to be in something like this. Neither is she funny which probably isn't her fault - it's just how her character is written. Her role is mainly decorative which I'm not complaining about too much because she certainly is very decorative! Like a lot of comedy writers in the 20s and 30s, Ben Travers didn't really write roles for women. Maybe that's why people don't associate classic comedy with women?

The stars in this are Aldwych stalwarts Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare playing their usual ridiculously over exaggerated stereotypes but this film benefits from also having not just top class comedians but a real actor as well. Playing his usual professional cockney is Gordon Harker - an actor who seems to have been in every other English film ever made in the 1930s. Harker gets the part played on stage by the troupe's leader Tom Walls so Walls is not in this.

Tom Walls just directs this time. Back in 34, the Aldwych purists reacted to 'outsider' Harker being in 'their' picture in the same way that Carry On fans objected to Phil Silvers appearing in FOLLOW THAT CAMEL but I think Harker is far more personable than Walls, certainly fa 21st century audience and he actually enhances this.

If you've never heard of the Aldwych Farces but do like old Will Hay pictures then you might want to try this.

The humor is mainly in the dialog, which is a constant stream of puns, ambiguity and double entendres, supported by chaotic action with many semi-slapstick sight gags. The characters are all amusing stereotypes and the plot is definitely secondary to all of the above. The whole thing is totally lighthearted fun of a rather dated kind which would appeal to those who appreciate the old silent comedies; I'd only recommend this if you are in that kind of mood.