In the year that this film was made John Baxter made no less than 5 films including this.Many ,such as this had what was epitomised,as the common touch.George Carney was often the leading man.Often someone was down on their luck and had to be helped out by their friends.In this film it is the lock keeper and his wife who have reached retirement age.They are found a pub to run.A preface to this film makes it clear that there is no narrative as such.So the most interesting part of the film is when a journey is taken down the River Thames passing Parliament swathed in scaffolding,Tower Bridge and the old Waterloo Bridge in the course of demolition.
5 Reviews
A Simple Story of the "River Folk"
richardchatten17 February 2020
Twickenham Films can't have expected to make much out of this avowedly simple tale of simple folk, rather reminiscent of a French silent film, but it probably didn't cost much either and stands up well after 87 years.
Shot on location up and down the Thames in the early summer of 1934, it looks good and only lasts an hour; which it passes very agreeably.
Shot on location up and down the Thames in the early summer of 1934, it looks good and only lasts an hour; which it passes very agreeably.
Lovely Old Film
nigel_hawkes6 August 2022
From a gentler age, this is "nice" and harmless; and a semi-valuable social record in that it depicts parts of waterfront London now gone or altered.
Not quite up to the same director's heartwarming "Song of the Road" (1937), but I'm reminded of a review in one of the standard reference books of that film which mentions "a country at peace with itself and its institutions"
Not quite up to the same director's heartwarming "Song of the Road" (1937), but I'm reminded of a review in one of the standard reference books of that film which mentions "a country at peace with itself and its institutions"
Historic curio!
gnok20029 August 2015
I'm inserting reviews for films I'v seen that lack one, this rarity yet to register 5 votes, was shown on talking pictures, which is reviving a good number of old British films, review follows... John Baxter tended to specialize in tales of the working class, which were not that common in 30's British cinema, this is a tale of romance between a lock keepers son and a bargee's daughter, which is OK; but the real interest in this film is a look back to a working world of the inland waterways that now 80 years on, is but a distant memory, there is a scene showing the previous Waterloo Bridge in the process of being demolished, an historic curio.
Terrific 1934 Film
brislack3 February 2022
This is, without doubt, the nicest film I have ever seen. Every part of the simple story was lovingly presented, with great character acting. Some scenes along the River Thames were interesting, and Big Ben had a different roof to the one seen today.
The print I saw recently on TV was very clear, with no deterioration over time. The sound track was also very good. Has it been restored?
It Ieft me with a pleasant feeling...
The print I saw recently on TV was very clear, with no deterioration over time. The sound track was also very good. Has it been restored?
It Ieft me with a pleasant feeling...
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