Sunday 1 October 2023

The Goose Steps Out (1942 Basil Dearden, Will Hay)

Will Hay was a 'British character comedian, one of the screen's greats' according to Mr Leslie Halliwell. I'm not sure you'd find many people agreeing with that now - he's a bit difficult to take. However you can understand why a film like this was popular during the war, for example, the scene where Hay as an undercover Nazi teacher shows his class the traditional British salute - the 'V' sign, which he encourages them to perform to the portrait of Hitler.

The film is silly and mercifully short, but does feature young Charles Hawtrey and young Peter Ustinov, as well as a short appearance by John Williams.

Far from Ealing's best, despite being written by Angus McPhail and John Dighton, based on an idea by Bernard Miles and Reg Groves. Photographed by Ernest Palmer.





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