This independent British film is definitely interesting on a historical level, and fascinating for its portrayal of a fun weekend of elaborate fairs, sporting events and other British culture, including a beauty contest. I found it fast paced and fascinating, especially in non-plot related sequences which document the British common man (and woman) in their typical social life, quite bombastic and fun loving and outspoken. Fans of "My Fair Lady" will be fascinated to see a younger Stanley Holloway 20 years before his Broadway appearance in that classic musical and nearly 30 before the iconic movie. The film stars Will Fyffe and Holloway as business rivals whose children (Mary Lawson and Jimmy Hanley) are in love and wish to marry, and Lawson's entry into a beauty contest. Helen Haye (no s at the end, completely different actress) gets giggles as a feisty cartoonish old lady, stealing every moment she's on screen.
There's plenty of slapstick, quick edits during comical action sequences, and some amusing bits of study different English dialects. Great art direction is another plus. The fair sequence has a lot of terrific set pieces, a montage sequence that may be lengthy but one that is never dull. Fyffe is very funny, and Holloway delightful, and very unlike his role of Alfred P. Doolittle. This has more laughs per minute at times than American screwball comedies of the same time, and a laugh out loud sceve of a Chinese phone operator speaking her native tongue one moment, then breaking into English double talk, sounding quite cockney. Surprisingly professionally made for a first time around independent movie by these particular filmmakers which definitely gives it a more modern look than many American films of the time.
There's plenty of slapstick, quick edits during comical action sequences, and some amusing bits of study different English dialects. Great art direction is another plus. The fair sequence has a lot of terrific set pieces, a montage sequence that may be lengthy but one that is never dull. Fyffe is very funny, and Holloway delightful, and very unlike his role of Alfred P. Doolittle. This has more laughs per minute at times than American screwball comedies of the same time, and a laugh out loud sceve of a Chinese phone operator speaking her native tongue one moment, then breaking into English double talk, sounding quite cockney. Surprisingly professionally made for a first time around independent movie by these particular filmmakers which definitely gives it a more modern look than many American films of the time.