Keep Fit

Keep Fit
Directed by	Anthony Kimmins
Written by	Anthony Kimmins Austin Melford
Produced by	Basil Dean Jack Kitchin
Starring	George Formby Kay Walsh Guy Middleton Evelyn Roberts
Cinematography	John W. Boyle Gordon Dines Ronald Neame
Edited by	Ernest Aldridge
Music by	Ernest Irving
Production company	Associated Talking Pictures
Distributed by	ABFD
Release date	18 August 1937 (1937-08-18)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Keep Fit is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring George Formby, Kay Walsh and Guy Middleton. Formby was at his British top box-office peak when this comedy was made. ^[1]

Synopsis

George Formby again plays his working class underdog, gormless, gullible, indefatigable and triumphant hero. A weakling, Formby's character overcomes obstacles to beat a corrupt rival in the boxing ring. He plays a scrawny barber's assistant who, in response to the keep fit fad sweeping through Britain at the time, dreams of a better physique, and sings of it in the catchy "Biceps, Muscle and Brawn". He falls in love with a beautiful manicurist, and competes for her affections with a muscle bound thug. The manicurist is more attracted to the brute until the barber can prove that he is a crook, and defeat him in the boxing ring. ^{[2] [3]}

Cast

• George Formby as George Green
• Kay Walsh as Joan Allen
• Guy Middleton as Hector Kent
• George Benson as Ernie Gill
• Gus McNaughton as "Echo" Publicity Manager
• Evelyn Roberts as Mr Barker
• Aubrey Mallalieu as Magistrate
• Edmund Breon as Sir Augustus Marks
• Hal Gordon as Reporter
• Hal Walters as Racing Tough
• C. Denier Warren as Editor
• Edgar Driver as Boat Hire Owner
• Leo Franklyn as Racing Tough
• Robert Nainby as Judge At The Gym
• Julian Vedey as Hairdressing Dept Head
• Jack Vyvian as Boat Hire Man
• D.J. Williams as Editor of The Gazette

Critical reception

According to Sky Movies "it's a bouncy, confidently made comedy that's fun throughout and pretty hilarious in its boxing-ring conclusion". ^[4]

See also

• List of boxing films

References

1. "Keep Fit - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
2. "Keep Fit (1937) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
3. Nield, Anthony (8 April 2010). "Keep Fit DVD Video Review". Film, the digital fix. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
4. "Keep Fit - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2014.

Further reading

• Perry, George C. (1994). Forever Ealing: A Celebration of the Great British Film Studio (Revised ed.). London: Pavilion Books. OCLC   803151626.
• Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927-1939 (PDF). London: Library Services, British Film Institute. ISBN   978-0-85170-189-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
• Low, Rachel, ed. (1985). The History of British Film 1929-1939 (Volume 7): Film Making in 1930's Britain. London: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   978-0-04-791042-5.

External links

• Keep Fit at IMDb