Hey! Hey! USA

Last updated

Hey! Hey! USA
"Hey! Hey! USA" (1938).jpg
Directed by Marcel Varnel
Written by J. O. C. Orton
Produced by Michael Balcon
Starring Will Hay
Edgar Kennedy
Edmon Ryan
David Burns
Cinematography Arthur Crabtree
Edited by R. E. Dearing
Music by Charles Williams
Distributed by Gainsborough Pictures
Release date
  • October 1938 (1938-10)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Hey! Hey! USA is a 1938 British comedy film starring comedian Will Hay, Edgar Kennedy and Eddie Ryan. [1] Hay appears as Benjamin Twist, a porter who accidentally finds himself on a ship bound for the United States. The film features an early appearance by child actor Roddy McDowall, before he went to live in America. [2]

Contents

Plot outline

Benjamin Twist, a teacher working during school holidays as a ship's porter ends up on a ship bound for America and impersonating a professor, Phineas Tavistock. Along with American gangster and stowaway Bugs Leary (Edgar Kennedy), Twist finds himself entangled in a plot to kidnap the son of a millionaire whom 'Professor' Tavistock is teaching. Things are further complicated by the fact that two sets of gangsters are attempting to get their hands on the ransom money, which Twist is given to hand over.

Cast

Production

The film was one of several Ted Black produced with Will Hay at Gainsborough. [3]

Critical reception

Sky Movies wrote, "incomparable Will Hay reprises his splendidly shifty Dr Benjamin Twist character (the incompetent headmaster of St Michael's) in this breezy British comedy set in a quaintly observed America full of gun-toting gangsters. Comic stalwart Edgar Kennedy provides slow-burning support under the direction of Marcel Varnel, the dapper Frenchman who made most of Hay's biggest successes. " [2]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roddy McDowall</span> British actor (1928–1998)

Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall was a British and American actor, whose career spanned over 270 screen and stage roles across over 60 years. Born in London, he began his acting career as a child in his native England, before moving to the United States at the outbreak of World War II. He achieved prominence for his starring roles in How Green Was My Valley (1941), My Friend Flicka (1943), and Lassie Come Home (1943). Unlike many of his contemporaries, McDowall managed to evolve from child star into an adult performer and appeared on Broadway as well as in films, winning a Tony Award for his performance in Jean Anouilh's The Fighting Cock. For portraying Octavian in the historical epic Cleopatra (1963), he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Hay</span> English comedian, actor, and film director (1888–1949)

William Thomson Hay was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film Oh, Mr. Porter! (1937), made by Gainsborough Pictures, is often cited as the supreme British-produced film-comedy, and in 1938 he was the third highest-grossing star in the UK. Many comedians have acknowledged him as a major influence. Hay was also a keen amateur astronomer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgar Kennedy</span> American actor (1890–1948)

Edgar Livingston Kennedy was an American comedic character actor who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to portray characters whose anger slowly rose in frustrating situations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Clark</span> British actor (1912–1994)

Ernest Clark MC was a British actor of stage, television and film.

<i>Kid Millions</i> 1934 film by Roy Del Ruth

Kid Millions is a 1934 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and starring Eddie Cantor. Its elaborate "Ice Cream Fantasy Finale" production number was filmed in three-strip Technicolor, one of the earliest uses of that process in a feature-length film.

<i>The White Cliffs of Dover</i> (film) 1944 film by Clarence Brown

The White Cliffs of Dover is a 1944 American war drama film based on the verse novel The White Cliffs by Alice Duer Miller. It was made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Clarence Brown, and produced by Clarence Brown and Sidney Franklin. The screenplay was by Claudine West, Jan Lustig and George Froeschel, with the credit for additional poetry by Robert Nathan. Nathan stated in an interview that he wrote the screenplay as his first work as a contracted writer for MGM but the studio credited Claudine West who died in 1943 as a tribute to her.

<i>Convict 99</i> 1938 British film by Marcel Varnel

Convict 99 is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Will Hay, Moore Marriott, Graham Moffatt and Googie Withers.

<i>Tam-Lin</i> (film) 1970 British horror film by Roddy McDowall

Tam-Lin, also known as The Ballad of Tam-Lin, The Devil's Widow and The Devil's Woman, is a 1970 British folk horror film directed by Roddy McDowall and starring Ava Gardner and Ian McShane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Sawyer</span> Canadian actor (1906–1982)

Joe Sawyer was a Canadian film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1927 and 1962, and was sometimes billed under his birth name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibb McLaughlin</span> English actor (1879–1961)

George McLoughlin, known professionally as Gibb McLaughlin, was an English film and stage actor.

<i>Around the World in 80 Days</i> (miniseries) 1989 multi-national TV series or program

Around the World in 80 Days is a three-part television miniseries originally broadcast on NBC from April 16 to 18, 1989. The production garnered three nominations for Emmy awards that year. The teleplay by John Gay is based on the 1873 Jules Verne novel of the same title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Green (actor)</span> English actor (1903–1973)

Danny Green was an English character actor. He was best known for his role as the slow-witted ex-boxer "One-Round" Lawson in The Ladykillers.

Dr. Benjamin Twist is a recurring fictional character who appears in several films featuring comedian Will Hay, who portrays the character in all mediums.

<i>Jackpot</i> (1960 film) 1960 British film by Montgomery Tully

Jackpot is a 1960 British second feature crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Betty McDowall and Eddie Byrne. It was written by Tully and Maurice J. Wilson based on a story by John Sherman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfred Walter</span> English actor (1882–1958)

Wilfred Walter was an English film and theatre actor, sometimes credited as Wilfrid Walter. He was born Franz Wilfrid Walter, son of the actor Richard Walter.

<i>I See Ice</i> 1938 British film

I See Ice is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring George Formby, Kay Walsh and Betty Stockfeld. The film depicts the adventures of a photographer working for a London newspaper. It features the songs "In My Little Snapshot Album", "Noughts And Crosses" and "Mother What'll I Do Now".

John Halifax aka John Halifax, Gentleman is a 1938 British second feature ('B') historical drama film directed by George King and starring John Warwick, Nancy Burne and Roddy McDowall. It was written by A. R. Rawlinson based on the 1856 novel John Halifax, Gentleman by Dinah Craik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Duprez</span> American actor (1884–1938)

Fred Duprez was an American actor, comedian and singer who performed in vaudeville, phonograph record and film. He made phonograph recordings in the US and the UK in the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s. Most of the films he appeared in were British. He was also a writer, and wrote the popular stage farce My Wife's Family, filmed three times: first in Britain, in 1931; next in Sweden in 1932; and finally in Finland, in 1933.

Murder in the Family is a 1938 British crime film directed by Albert Parker and starring Barry Jones, Jessica Tandy and Evelyn Ankers. The film's sets were designed by the art director Carmen Dillon. It was adapted from a 1936 novel of the same title by James Ronald.

<i>Going Under</i> (1991 film) Comedy film directed by Mark W. Travis

Going Under is a 1991 American comedy film starring Bill Pullman, Wendy Schaal, Chris Demetral, Tyrone Granderson Jones, Dennis Redfield, Lou Richards, Ernie Sabella, Elmarie Wendel, Ned Beatty, Robert Vaughn, and Roddy McDowall. The film was directed by Mark W. Travis and written by Randolph Davis and Darryl Zarubica.

References

  1. "Hey! Hey! U.S.A.! | Bfi | Bfi". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Hey! Hey! USA - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 23 May 2002. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  3. Vagg, Stephen (1 December 2024). "Forgotten British Film Moguls: Ted Black". Filmink. Retrieved 1 December 2024.