Review of Calling the Tune

This is a rather strange film.It is set in the record industry.It charts the rivalry and feud between 3 families.Sam Livesy and Donald Wolfit,who else,steal the record manufacture business and patents from Clifford Evans father and Elliott Markeham.All the time this is happening the plot is being interrupted by as mixed as band of performers as you will ever see.There is Charles Penrose singing his immortal "The Laughing Policeman",then a song from George Robey,poetry from Cedric Hardwicke,Sir Henry Wood conducting "Pomp And Circumstance".Some of the technical developments in the industry are shown.However by far the most curious is saved for last .Makehams latest device,a video disc no less, is used to catch the dying confession of Wolfit that he and Livesey were in cahoots in the attempted arson.Baird had in fact recorded vision on disc.Approptiate since Adele Dixon stars and she was of course very prominent in pre war TV broadcasts from Alexandra Palace.The story is rather commonplace but it is worth viewing for all the cameo appearances.