Here's a snippet of history that may surprise many of you. In the credits there is a minor actress named Betty Driver. She was a tap dancer and was booked to do all the tap dancing that Beryl finished up doing. Betty was twelve years old and was besotted with George. She was absolutely starstruck and couldn't keep her eyes off him. Beryl was fiercely jealous of George and she said to the director "Either that girl goes or I go." So Betty had to leave. Unfortunately for Beryl Betty's name was already in the credits even though she didn't appear in the film. So Betty got the last laugh. Betty stayed with acting and finally established herself as an A lister playing Betty Turpin in the soap opera Coronation Street.
Great piece of film history by John Blakeley who went on to make a series of notable comedy features with music hall stars with his new company Mancunian Films
This is the abridged version later rereleased in 1938 to capitalise on his later fame - the full version is 80 mins which for 60 odd years was thought lost but rediscovered and released on dvd.
One of the Queen's favourites! Formby was a superstar of his day. It may appear simple today, but it was early in the evolution of film entertainment. Fabulous to see. Thank you eugenecheese for sharing this wonderful archive piece.
I've watched a number of Formby's films over the past year, and he's definitely an acquired taste, like Arthur Askey or even Benny Hill. Formby's films may not be of the same level as Chaplin or Keaton, but he was extremely popular in his time - or at least popular enough to earn an OBE. Amazingly, he was also functionally illiterate and could not read music. BTW, "Beryl" in this film is his real-life wife, Beryl Ingham.
Very delightful piece of nonsense, obviously done on a shoestring budget with single camera setups & almost every scene done in one single take. (Note: You can catch a brief glimpse of a camera assistant sticking in a 'tail-slate' in the lower right hand corner at the end of the musical number at
Here's a snippet of history that may surprise many of you. In the credits there is a minor actress named Betty Driver. She was a tap dancer and was booked to do all the tap dancing that Beryl finished up doing. Betty was twelve years old and was besotted with George. She was absolutely starstruck and couldn't keep her eyes off him. Beryl was fiercely jealous of George and she said to the director "Either that girl goes or I go." So Betty had to leave. Unfortunately for Beryl Betty's name was already in the credits even though she didn't appear in the film. So Betty got the last laugh. Betty stayed with acting and finally established herself as an A lister playing Betty Turpin in the soap opera Coronation Street.
Wonderful! Great to see Mrs. Formby, too! Thank you!
Love Formby ,every time he smiles makes me smile,and nice seeing Mrs Formby as the maid.
I've been looking for this movie for a long time. Thanks so much for posting it!
Thanks for posting! ❤️❤️❤️🙏
Great piece of film history by John Blakeley who went on to make a series of notable comedy features with music hall stars with his new company Mancunian Films
This is the abridged version later rereleased in 1938 to capitalise on his later fame - the full version is 80 mins which for 60 odd years was thought lost but rediscovered and released on dvd.
Comedy legend!
One of the Queen's favourites! Formby was a superstar of his day. It may appear simple today, but it was early in the evolution of film entertainment. Fabulous to see. Thank you eugenecheese for sharing this wonderful archive piece.
Great to see
He is really funny. Love British humour.
11:39
Thank you very much for the upload
That's the year my mum was born in Jamaica!!
I've watched a number of Formby's films over the past year, and he's definitely an acquired taste, like Arthur Askey or even Benny Hill. Formby's films may not be of the same level as Chaplin or Keaton, but he was extremely popular in his time - or at least popular enough to earn an OBE. Amazingly, he was also functionally illiterate and could not read music. BTW, "Beryl" in this film is his real-life wife, Beryl Ingham.
Betty Driver from Coronation Street!! She can only have been 14?!
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view!"
Oh my got, It's Harry Hudson!
Thanks johno for letting people know BETTY DRIVER is not in the film.i went through it four times waiting to hear a character called betty.ha ha
Very delightful piece of nonsense, obviously done on a shoestring budget with single camera setups & almost every scene done in one single take. (Note: You can catch a brief glimpse of a camera assistant sticking in a 'tail-slate' in the lower right hand corner at the end of the musical number at