I'm a black and white film buff. havent watched TV for years. Would get rid of it if not for my wife. This I watched for the first time about a month ago on a tip from a friend. I'm nearly 70 years old and OMG if only the screen would open and let me back to those days - just after the war I might add. Have watched it every night for 3 weeks now, so atmospheric with real people. No swearing, no sex no violence. Loved it. 10 out of ten.
Why on earth would someone want to watch the same film every night for 3 weeks???!!!!!! After the first viewing you know what is going to happen. I hope your poor wife didn't have to put up with it! 😆
Most of the older actors saw military service during the second World War. At the time of filming Benny Hill was about 35 years old. Benny was called up in 1942 at 18 and trained as a mechanic and truck driver, in 1944 he was a search light operator in Normandy, he was transferred to the Combined Services Entertainment division before the end of the war. Ian Carmichael was an officer in an Armoured recon troop landed in France two days before his 24th birthday. By VE day he was a Captain and was promoted to Major to run a theatrical company prior to being demobilized in 1946. At the time of filming he was about about 39 years old. I remember Ian Carmichael best for his role as Lord Peter Wimsey when he was in his fifties.
I wish I could have watched this film with my dad, - he was on searchlights during the war. Never talked to him about his time in the Army, then he died when I was 17, - he was 51. I’m now 68. Life can be shit at times.
Dear Philip, you obviously feel his loss, still, and strongly. I'm sorry for your loss.. And you are right, life can be shit, but also incredibly beautiful. Try and find joy in music, or friendship, and what you already have.
Why have I never ever seen this movie? Ian Carmichael, Benny Hill, Tommy Steele, Victor Maddern, Dick Emery, what an absolute brilliant lineup of actors.
I enjoyed this film and was surprised how moving it was in the latter stages. It begins as a typical 'cor-blimey' type comedy but grows into an emotionally-convincing drama about men at war. I never knew that Benny Hill could cut it as a serious actor but he does a good job here.
The making of this film threw my late mother into panic. We were walking home (about five miles from were they were filming) when the searchlights "lit up the sky" and she remembered the war. It took ages for my father to reassure her.
And yet my mothersat on a gate somewhere in the fens watching all those pretty coloured lights whilst my father on leave took cover in a ditch. Those pretty lights were tracer fire ciming from German bombers testing their guns before going to Bomb coventry.
Dad walked through burning Manchester on Christmas Day to get his choirboy money even though the Cathedral had burned down. He got his money and his PTSD. After the war doing handgrenade practice his nose started bleeding and his PTSD started. The Army doctor gave him some pills which he was still taking in the 70s. They can't have been too harmful coz he's still alive at 95.
What a cracking piece of vintage celluloid. WELL DONE FLICK VAULT! And Dick Emery! Cor, everyone in Ealing must be in this flick. Muse: Easy to see where comedies like 'Dad's Army' and 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' drew their inspiration. . Top belly-laugh... Crab-fat officer with handlebar moustache in RAF truck, stops in front of two pongoes with a bath... Gunner McGaffey: ''Just taking a bath sir! '' PRICELESS!
Great film going from unsurprising light entertainment to a surprisingly dark drama - a good story told by a catalogue of English greats. And the sound of falling shrapnel on the roofs and all around from all of their own Ack Ack was a really good detail.
Early British film directed by Lewis Gilbert who also directed Educating Rita. Great cast of comedians and the usual stalwarts. Starts off like a Boulting Brothers satire and then turns into a gripping evocative drama. Very good.
I do like these old British films; they mostly seem to have more character and depth than the modern and especially the American ones which all seem very dark or childish about cartoon characters. it was nice to see such a good group of much missed British Stars.
Hey, a perfect wee British production, with many familiar names... Sheila Hancock anyone? A wee legend now. A lovely wee slice of Brit cinema, and a product of its time... Love it 🏴👍
I like everyone else here , apart from one , enjoyed this flick . Good dialogue , well delivered , some well known actors and comedians along with a good story and direction . The black and white prints not bad either.👌 🇬🇧🆓
Great film, as much a drama as a comedy. Benny Hill gives a straight performance here, perhaps the only one of his career, and he makes a very good job of it.
Great way to start. With cricket. Takes me back when I played for my local village team. Gone now, destroyed to make a car park and a headquarters for a GOF COURSE, a not-even-a-game.
What an awesome film. I agree that this should not be considered in a category of comedy. This was a true example of everyday life during wartime, where service and sacrifice to King and country was all that mattered. A glorious age it most certainly was.
When I look back it seems things were so "innocent" then, or wre they? Summer holidays were soooo long. The policemen, totally unarmed of course, all resemblebled Dixon of Dock Green and life seemed so tranquil. I suppose it was the calm after the storm. Although I was just a child I have the feeling that people were just so glad to be still alive after what they'd been through and even though there wasn't a family that hadn't lost someone.
Thinking of my father. I watched it with him when I was ten. Unfortunately neither of us could remember the title and now I've found it, it's two years too late.
Ah, I'm sorry you couldn't get another time to watch it together. My condolences to you. I hope you have lots of lovely memories. These days if I can't remember a title of something, I've been able to find things by being a detective online. I do a search of the subject, or the storyline, or the actors. So for this film it could be something like British wartime film with Tommy Steele, Benny Hill. And things will pop up. Even If you can only remember just one actor you can look that actor up and wikipedia will list all their work.
G'day to you! Wow never heard of this one, what a cast, all stalwart Actors in their time,I find the old B n W films the best, sorry a bit late in the comments ,but Aus is along way away, lol, once again thanks for the Entertainment!
Normally when I see a few of these actors appearing together I anticipate some light-hearted 1960s 'national service' film that usually fails to rise above the individual well-know actors and stars of the time. But this film was different. For once, I felt they all worked together for something bigger and better - a story worth suspending disbelief for; in short something greater than the sum of its parts. And because of that, for once I was engaged by the characters these familiar actors portrayed instead of just seeing them as a splattering of 'cheesy' stars. This film made the relationships and dialogue between these characters matter and because of that I gained a new respect for the actors playing them. I think this film lifted each one of those late-1950s stars above the light-weight roles I've seen them in many times before - including, dare I say it, Johnny Brigs and even Dick Emery. I tend to find 1950s/60s films about WW2 a little unconvincing - suffering from an over-powering imprint of 1950s 'national service' but here the story took me away just far enough for me to believe in this little squad of men resisting Hitler's evil together on the home front. Well worth a watch.
Second Film I have seen this week with ex Entertainers in starring roles. 1st was the Excellent 'Spare the Rod' with Max Bygraves and now this with Benny Hill.
This was not a comedy. A poignant look at war service. Not everyone had blazing guns with the enemy in their face, many people did their bit, the 'rear echelon'. More realistic than most modern war films.
Great film really enjoyed it...now cofession time, when Benny first appears and is chased over the farm yard, how many of you were playing the Benny Hill tune in your head and were waiting for the scantily clad beauties chasing him ?...I was
Some faces here, Benny Hill, Dick Emery, Tommy Steele, Johnny Briggs. The others faces with no memorable names, but classic Brit. actors. So Benny was a search light operator in the army.
At first look, a routine WW2 film......not so........the acting is superb; not one weak link........in fact, natural. Steel and Hill standouts; their stage routine perfec; Maddern also superb. The bonus?......the universal, stolid, irritating, ubiquitous coke stove, that warmed the feet of thousands of Servicemen!
Well observed. Steele and Hill paid homage to the Western Brothers with their Music Hall act, then went on in their careers to pay homage to Music Hall in the age of Variety on TV.
brilliant movie part of a very short lived genre the serio comedy war movie.other movies include the password is courage very important person the enemy within and of course the daddy of them all the great escape.all mixed some knockabout comedy with serious drama to a greater or lesser extent.
I'm a black and white film buff. havent watched TV for years. Would get rid of it if not for my wife. This I watched for the first time about a month ago on a tip from a friend. I'm nearly 70 years old and OMG if only the screen would open and let me back to those days - just after the war I might add. Have watched it every night for 3 weeks now, so atmospheric with real people. No swearing, no sex no violence. Loved it. 10 out of ten.
Why on earth would someone want to watch the same film every night for 3 weeks???!!!!!! After the first viewing you know what is going to happen. I hope your poor wife didn't have to put up with it! 😆
These old British films are so refreshing for the natural acting and delightful dialogue. Who knew Benny Hill was such a good actor and good looker!
Most of the older actors saw military service during the second World War.
At the time of filming Benny Hill was about 35 years old. Benny was called up in 1942 at 18 and trained as a mechanic and truck driver, in 1944 he was a search light operator in Normandy, he was transferred to the Combined Services Entertainment division before the end of the war.
Ian Carmichael was an officer in an Armoured recon troop landed in France two days before his 24th birthday. By VE day he was a Captain and was promoted to Major to run a theatrical company prior to being demobilized in 1946. At the time of filming he was about about 39 years old. I remember Ian Carmichael best for his role as Lord Peter Wimsey when he was in his fifties.
Thanks for the info...
I wish I could have watched this film with my dad, - he was on searchlights during the war. Never talked to him about his time in the Army, then he died when I was 17, - he was 51. I’m now 68. Life can be shit at times.
Dear Philip, you obviously feel his loss, still, and strongly. I'm sorry for your loss.. And you are right, life can be shit, but also incredibly beautiful. Try and find joy in music, or friendship, and what you already have.
Why have I never ever seen this movie? Ian Carmichael, Benny Hill, Tommy Steele, Victor Maddern, Dick Emery, what an absolute brilliant lineup of actors.
I enjoyed this film and was surprised how moving it was in the latter stages. It begins as a typical 'cor-blimey' type comedy but grows into an emotionally-convincing drama about men at war. I never knew that Benny Hill could cut it as a serious actor but he does a good job here.
The making of this film threw my late mother into panic. We were walking home (about five miles from were they were filming) when the searchlights "lit up the sky" and she remembered the war. It took ages for my father to reassure her.
LOVED the film . Benny Hill . Tommy Steele real talent, excellent film , well scripted, those guys, brave souls .
Bless 🙏
And yet my mothersat on a gate somewhere in the fens watching all those pretty coloured lights whilst my father on leave took cover in a ditch.
Those pretty lights were tracer fire ciming from German bombers testing their guns before going to Bomb coventry.
Dad walked through burning Manchester on Christmas Day to get his choirboy money even though the Cathedral had burned down.
He got his money and his PTSD.
After the war doing handgrenade practice his nose started bleeding and his PTSD started.
The Army doctor gave him some pills which he was still taking in the 70s.
They can't have been too harmful coz he's still alive at 95.
@keithfrost1190 where abouts was this? Was it on a real cricket pitch?
What a cracking piece of vintage celluloid. WELL DONE FLICK VAULT!
And Dick Emery! Cor, everyone in Ealing must be in this flick.
Muse: Easy to see where comedies like 'Dad's Army' and 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' drew their inspiration.
.
Top belly-laugh... Crab-fat officer with handlebar moustache in RAF truck, stops in front of two pongoes with a bath...
Gunner McGaffey: ''Just taking a bath sir! '' PRICELESS!
Been waiting for this one for many years. Saw it when it was first released . A great British cast and a first rate film . Thanks for showing.
Blimey geezer, how old are you?
Great film going from unsurprising light entertainment to a surprisingly dark drama - a good story told by a catalogue of English greats. And the sound of falling shrapnel on the roofs and all around from all of their own Ack Ack was a really good detail.
This was made in 1960 when i left school at 16 went to work at rowntrees chocolate factory.I cant believe all those years have passed me by.
Early British film directed by Lewis Gilbert who also directed Educating Rita. Great cast of comedians and the usual stalwarts. Starts off like a Boulting Brothers satire and then turns into a gripping evocative drama. Very good.
And husband to Sydney Tafler's sister, Hylda
The great Benny Hill lives on. Great upload, thank you
Benny Hill was in 1944 in Normandy as a regular.
I do like these old British films; they mostly seem to have more character and depth than the modern and especially the American ones which all seem very dark or childish about cartoon characters. it was nice to see such a good group of much missed British Stars.
Whatever the job a soldier always has a story to tell. This was a good one. Thanx
Wow. One of the best vintage films. Totally underestimated. Thanks for the upload.
I can't believe the joy your channel is bringing. Your are playing all of my favourite films.
Its the best Chanel for vintage films 👍😊👍
Absolutely enjoyable film all those young faces we know so well as older ones brilliant dad but joyful reminder of all those legends really enjoyed it
Hey, a perfect wee British production, with many familiar names... Sheila Hancock anyone? A wee legend now. A lovely wee slice of Brit cinema, and a product of its time... Love it 🏴👍
I remember watching this on old 405 lines b/w TV. A talented cast who for the most went on to fame and stardom. Thanks Flick Vault.
Gawd-blimey mate! 405 lines? ! Yer showin' yer age nah!
Most enjoyable. As always, Victor Maddern is fascinating to watch. One of my fav actors.
Thought it was boring at first but i kept watching and i am so glad i did. Great film.
"Officer on Parade.....Dismiss......" My, I haven't heard that command since 1965...........Great movie....
Ian Carmichael! Yes! I thought I would not find anything besides all his Lord Peter Wimsey masterpieces. Thank you!!! ❤
Benny Hill, who'd thought it, such an amazing actor, enjoyed this they don't make'em like this anymore.
We will never see the likes of days like this anymore
The GREAT BENNY HILL
He was in the Italian Job as well
to right! GReat performance by Benny Hill. He was a natural in front of the camera!
@@DRAINPIPE57
No. Days or Films. 🇬🇧
I like everyone else here , apart from one , enjoyed this flick .
Good dialogue , well delivered , some well known actors and comedians along with a good story and direction . The black and white prints not bad either.👌 🇬🇧🆓
directed by Lewis Gilbert, who went on to direct Alfie, You Only Live Twice, Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker
Brilliant classic. I didn't want it to end. Thank you for posting.
Great film, as much a drama as a comedy. Benny Hill gives a straight performance here, perhaps the only one of his career, and he makes a very good job of it.
Just gotta love these old classics 👌
5:17 Benny Hill, always messing with birds and being chased. Great Film !!! Thanks for Loading !
quite an eye for chicks from the start
Benny Hill could have been a great serious actor. The critics panned this movie, but it's actually quite realistic.
As a music hall turn may be as a military spotlight unit, Nothing like one.
Very Good. The Horror of war and how it effects the Average Normal person. Thanks for uploading another Lewis Gilbert Gem
Great way to start. With cricket. Takes me back when I played for my local village team. Gone now, destroyed to make a car park and a headquarters for a GOF COURSE, a not-even-a-game.
Thank you downloading film.The old films are the best. Keep them coming.
Wow! Benny Hill AND Dick Emery in the same film. Never knew about this.
This has got to be the best Channel for vintage films 👍😊👍❤
What an awesome film. I agree that this should not be considered in a category of comedy. This was a true example of everyday life during wartime, where service and sacrifice to King and country was all that mattered. A glorious age it most certainly was.
Benny Hill was a pretty good straight actor. He should have done more straight acting roles.
What a cracking film. A hidden gem
What a fabulous film. A mixture of emotions. Thanks
Wow, Benny Hill's serious performance at 55:00 a very credible scene.
When I look back it seems things were so "innocent" then, or wre they? Summer holidays were soooo long. The policemen, totally unarmed of course, all resemblebled Dixon of Dock Green and life seemed so tranquil. I suppose it was the calm after the storm. Although I was just a child I have the feeling that people were just so glad to be still alive after what they'd been through and even though there wasn't a family that hadn't lost someone.
I saw this when it was first released - an eight year old Tommy Steele fan. Great to find it again! What happened to all those years in between?
Excellent British comedy-drama.
Many thanks for posting.
Thinking of my father. I watched it with him when I was ten. Unfortunately neither of us could remember the title and now I've found it, it's two years too late.
PEACE TO THE BOTH OF YOU.
Ah, I'm sorry you couldn't get another time to watch it together.
My condolences to you. I hope you have lots of lovely memories.
These days if I can't remember a title of something, I've been able to find things by being a detective online. I do a search of the subject, or the storyline, or the actors. So for this film it could be something like British wartime film with Tommy Steele, Benny Hill. And things will pop up.
Even If you can only remember just one actor you can look that actor up and wikipedia will list all their work.
@@Iloveflowers2024 Thank you for that. Lots of great memories. I finally found the film when I remebered one of the actors.
Brilliant film, lighthearted and funny, great cast as well.
Thanks Flick Vault. A most enjoyable wassname, you know, movie.
Just like the usaf! Loved the film and saved it. Thanks.
that look on Bennys face never changed
G'day to you! Wow never heard of this one, what a cast, all stalwart Actors in their time,I find the old B n W films the best, sorry a bit late in the comments ,but Aus is along way away, lol, once again thanks for the Entertainment!
A great film. From the line up you would think it a comedy but it is a serious film which shows life as it was then.
Amazed I hadnt seen this before. Great cast Well acted.
I have to admit Benny Hill Has always creeped me out .but even He acted up to the mark ,
Adapted from a successful West End play. Victor Maddern, Harry Locke and Johnny Briggs were in the cast.
Thank you flick fault for putting this film on
Thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Thank you.
Normally when I see a few of these actors appearing together I anticipate some light-hearted 1960s 'national service' film that usually fails to rise above the individual well-know actors and stars of the time. But this film was different. For once, I felt they all worked together for something bigger and better - a story worth suspending disbelief for; in short something greater than the sum of its parts. And because of that, for once I was engaged by the characters these familiar actors portrayed instead of just seeing them as a splattering of 'cheesy' stars. This film made the relationships and dialogue between these characters matter and because of that I gained a new respect for the actors playing them. I think this film lifted each one of those late-1950s stars above the light-weight roles I've seen them in many times before - including, dare I say it, Johnny Brigs and even Dick Emery. I tend to find 1950s/60s films about WW2 a little unconvincing - suffering from an over-powering imprint of 1950s 'national service' but here the story took me away just far enough for me to believe in this little squad of men resisting Hitler's evil together on the home front. Well worth a watch.
Brilliant...Thank you, not seen this one before.
Another brilliant film. Thanks Flick Vault
Bless them must have been difficult for them stuck away, and thoughts of home 🌹♥️❣️
Second Film I have seen this week with ex Entertainers in starring roles. 1st was the Excellent 'Spare the Rod' with Max Bygraves and now this with Benny Hill.
This was not a comedy. A poignant look at war service. Not everyone had blazing guns with the enemy in their face, many people did their bit, the 'rear echelon'. More realistic than most modern war films.
Thank you so much, great to see this and a lot of actors that I recognise from telly in sixties and seventies, cheers.
I was really enjoying the movie. I've never seen it before. But ads every 5 mins is too much.
Did any one recognise Sheila Hancock, CBE ( wife of John Thaw !! ) Great to see these old film's evey-one's looking very young !!!
22:30 if interested
Absolutely classic.
Great film really enjoyed it...now cofession time, when Benny first appears and is chased over the farm yard, how many of you were playing the Benny Hill tune in your head and were waiting for the scantily clad beauties chasing him ?...I was
Dick Emery and Benny Hill….. awesome
Bravo! 5 stars.
A surprisingly good film.
Brings an appreciation. Thanks.
And God bless them all.❤
Five of this cast have been in Carry on films.Sheila Hancock,Cardew Fakir off Robinson,Harry Locke,Victor Maddern and Sydney Tafler.
And Johnny Briggs!
Really good film.
Upload more black and white flicks. They are better than present day movies.
Wonderful viewing...thank you
Wow. Many thanks for this. Will watch tomorrow. After midnight now. Couldn’t stay awake even if I wanted to. G’night.
You haven't looked very hard, it's been on dvd for years, I've got it
Fantastic. A real treat. Thank you.
25:15 "I heard better jokes than that in my cradle."
Such a gud film and what a all star cast
Some faces here, Benny Hill, Dick Emery, Tommy Steele, Johnny Briggs. The others faces with no memorable names, but classic Brit. actors.
So Benny was a search light operator in the army.
Tommy Steele and Benny Hill were great entertainers in their own Right but both very good actors too!
Thank you! ..haven't seen this since the 60s.
Most enjoyable thank you nice and clean
The great Benny Hill.
Yeah, my eyes just bugged out! What a stroke of luck, as I never heard of this flick before.......
Good film. Also Listened to Tommy Trinda at Holiday camp. on utube. All in tune and having a good time.
Brilliant !
Really good film watching it all the way through especially the end
At first look, a routine WW2 film......not so........the acting is superb; not one weak link........in fact, natural. Steel and Hill standouts; their stage routine perfec; Maddern also superb. The bonus?......the universal, stolid, irritating, ubiquitous coke stove, that warmed the feet of thousands of Servicemen!
Well observed. Steele and Hill paid homage to the Western Brothers with their Music Hall act, then went on in their careers to pay homage to Music Hall in the age of Variety on TV.
Tommy steele n Benny Hill were EXCELLENT in this must see 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥
Johnny Briggs, Corry St. legend.
He made over 150 film
Anyone who isn't British would not understand your comment.
Amazing cast!
brilliant movie part of a very short lived genre the serio comedy war movie.other movies include the password is courage very important person the enemy within and of course the daddy of them all the great escape.all mixed some knockabout comedy with serious drama to a greater or lesser extent.
enjoyed this greatly.
Like that looks like a Younger Benny Hill. Sure enough.
thoroughly enjoyable film, thank you
Absolute Quality.
cooks course is the hardest course in the army........ no bastards ever passed it !!!
Yes they did my friend.
The more we ruined the food the more we got promoted.
I should know.
I retired as a field marshall
We used to call them "Fitters & Turners", Fit it into Pots and Turn it into S--t!
@@bushranger51 You have to be an Aussie.🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bait Layers
Hill and steel on stage... at least the person on the spotlight managed to keep them in view😂
" Light up the sky with Standard Fireworks ".
Showing yer age there Mickey :)
@@hbaker9295 Micky