The Balloon Goes Up

Happening upon an oldie like this, thanks to Talking Pictures TV channel, is just fabulous. Funny, silly and endearing, these films are as much a history lesson as a comedy. Nostalgic, entertaining and fun. I loved it.

Ethel Revnell and Gracie West are two odd ducks who want to join the defense force. Or perhaps they want to attend the dance a local lady bountiful is throwing for the lads and lasses of the barrage balloon forces. In any case, they do so, and confound some German spies along the way.

Revnell and West are new to me, but I've seen enough burlesque routines to recognize the Mutt-and-Jeff humor. This is the sort of act that appeared in the music halls, indulged in some dumb routines - their one-on-one timing is very good - then sang a novelty song and retired to cheers to make way for the next act. They do German double-talk, they torment Dr. Gordon McLeod like Harpo and Chico destroying Edgar Kennedy, then retreat to allow Donald Peers to sing a serious song.

It's the first time E.J. Fancey ever produced a movie, and it's among the direst of efforts. Looking at Fancey's later productions, it's hard to believe he ever learned anything, but here the credits are bollixed, with Miss West omitted, and Ronald Shiner credited twice, which is three times too many.

A poor thing, but it has some value for preserving one of the popular music hall teams of the era, and for some footage of a barrage balloon being raised.

Completely showing the stars' roots in music hall, this is a good-natured madcap romp through the WAAFs as they recruit to a barrage balloon unit. The last 5-10 minutes are almost entirely documentary-style footage of barrage balloon training and operation, well worth watching if you part of the 'lighter than air' crowd. Some daft songs, Winnie the Wench on the Winch a particular highlight! Cheap and cheerful, lots of fun.

A wartime reminder that while working with barrage balloons may not have been the most glamorous job in the war they did play their part in the victory.

A type of humour very popular back then but not so much now, it has not dated very well at all. I had never heard of the leading ladies but they appear to have been well known in the music halls. The style of acting in this looks very awkward now, all bit too quick fire.

Not very funny to a modern audience but worth watching for curiosity value. Not many reviews so far but it can been seen in the UK on Talking Pictures TV who specialise in showing old films not to be seen elsewhere.