Bless 'Em All (film)
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Leone Stewart
Arthur Dent
Max Bygraves
Jack Milroy
Sybil Amiel
Les Ritchie
Stan White
Pat Linova
| Bless 'Em All | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Robert Jordan Hill |
| Written by | Aileen Burke Leone Stewart Arthur Dent |
| Produced by | Arthur Dent |
| Starring | Hal Monty Max Bygraves Jack Milroy Sybil Amiel Les Ritchie Stan White Pat Linova |
| Cinematography | S.D. Onions |
| Edited by | Robert Jordan Hill |
| Music by | John Blore |
Production company | Robert Jordan Hill Productions |
| Distributed by | Adelphi Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Bless 'Em All is a 1948 British musical comedy second feature (B movie)[1] film directed by Robert Jordan Hill and starring Hal Monty and Max Bygraves.[2][3] It was written by Aileen Burke, Leone Stewart and Arthur Dent. John Guillermin was an associate producer.[4]
In the Second World War, Skimpy, Tommy and Jock meet at their army call-up medical and are assigned to the same unit. Tommy is soon in trouble with bad-tempered Sergeant Willis. Later Tommy falls for ENSA singer Val, then discovers she has a date with Willis. Posted to France, Skimpy takes a fancy to Lisette, to find that Willis used to be her admirer. Returning to France after the 1940 retreat, the friends meet again.
Cast
- Hal Monty as Skimpy
- Max Bygraves as Tommy
- Jack Milroy as Jock
- Sybil Amiel as Lisette
- Les Ritchie as Sergeant Willis
- Stan White as Corporal
- Pat Linova as Val
- Peter Williams as Doctor
Production
It was the first of two Adelphi Films to star Hal Monty as Skimpy. It was also the screen debut of Max Bygraves.[5]
Music
The film contains the songs "Bless 'Em All", "I'll be Seeing You", "Siegfried Line", "Boom", "All's Well Mademoiselle", "Hi-Di-Hi", "Victory Waltz", "Maggie Cock-A-Bendy", I'm Afraid to Love You" and "What More Can I Say".[6]
Reception
The film appears to have been reasonably popular.[5]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film is a skit on the old Army life, and is extremely funny in the parts which are not too-long-drawn-out. Army entertainments serve to provide the three friends with a reason for doing individual variety acts which are really the best part of the film. Hal Monty's impersonation of a silent film audience is particularly good; but the film as a whole is amateurish and technically below average. Les Ritchie is excellent as the sergeant, but Hal Monty, Max Bygraves and Jack Milroy, as the three friends, are wasted in a badly photographed, sketchy production."[7]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Wildly incoherent but cheery low comedy musical extravaganza, dealing with Army life. Hal Monty, the popular radio and music-hall comic, is given his head and his lively interpretations effectively link the crazy strip of stock gags. A trifle long, but funny for the most part, it's a reliable rib-tickler for the industrial masses."[8]