Tons of Trouble

It is rather strange that of the eight reviews of this film only one has seen it in the last 40 years and he wasn't able to make out the dialogue.So I have an advantage having just finished viewing this.Films such as this were made for a children's audience when slapstick still held sway.So I doubt whether children today would be much amused.Hearne does his fairly predictable comedy quite well.When he messes about with a washing machine you know that the room will soon be filled with soap suds.I can't say that I have ever really found him funny though obviously some people retain fond memories.So hopefully some of them may be able to refresh their memories.

Just seen this film on the splendid Talking Pictures. What a gentle simple comedy from a much calmer age. Modern children might not get it but Richard Hearne was a superb knockabout comedian and I enjoyed it immensely.

I remember watching this film on TV over 40 years ago. It's a touching tale, which reflected an innocence for the times. I loved it and kept the copy of Radio Times, where it was listed, for many years. Mr Pastry is a caretaker in charge of boilers in some establishment (school?)and has a little dog as a friend. Time has made the memory a little fuzzy, but the film was full of character actors such as William Hartnell (pre-Doctor Who days), Ronald Adam, John Stuart. I remember Mr Pastry riding his bike with the dog in a basket. It all turns out OK in the end when the boilers are saved from being dismantled. Can't remember much of the romantic interest - must have been my age! Great nostalgic stuff!

The second and lesser of two tinny mid-fifties big screen vehicles for the fondly recalled Mr.Pastry by veteran director Leslie Hiscott. Surprisingly subdued between the farcical interruptions involving things like laughing gas and soap suds (to the extent that this has even been described as a comedy drama); it plays like a thirties quota quickie, right down to some of the supporting cast (although £4.18/3d was still a large amount in 1956).

I too remember this little gem....at least, it was then!

I was 7 years old and my Dad took me to see this at our local Gaumont. It was the support film for Disney's "Davy Crockett", which was a real "Biggy" that year.

It's many,many years since it was on TV but, it's one of those films that has always stuck in my memory.

The only thing I can remember about it for sure is that Mr Pastry had a lot of trouble with some soap suds?

Unseen for many years, we can finally catch up with it next Monday, Feb 1st, 2016 when those excellent people at the Talking Pictures Channel will be showing it, at 12:05pm.

I can't wait!