Poor Old Bill | |
---|---|
Directed by | Monty Banks |
Screenplay by | Val Valentine |
Based on | an original story by Lola Harvey & Syd Courtenay |
Produced by | Walter C. Mycroft |
Starring | Leslie Fuller Iris Ashley Syd Courtenay |
Cinematography | Claude Friese-Greene |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Wardour Films (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 51 minutes [1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Poor Old Bill is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Iris Ashley and Syd Courtenay. [2] It marked the film debut of a very young Peter Lawford, playing the child of the main character, Bill (Leslie Fuller). [3]
A man sponges off an old comrade from the First World War who believes he has saved his life during the war, although this ultimately proves not to be true.
TV Guide gave the film one out of four stars, calling it an "Interesting conception for a farce," but concluded that, "Unfortunately, the idea is carried on much too long, stretching what little material there is." [3]
Leslie Samuel Phillips was an English actor. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. He appeared in the Carry On and Doctor in the House film series as well as the long-running BBC radio comedy series The Navy Lark. In his later career, Phillips took on dramatic parts including a BAFTA-nominated role alongside Peter O'Toole in Venus (2006). He provided the voice of the Sorting Hat in three of the Harry Potter films.
Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford was an English-American actor.
Montague (Monty) Banks was a 20th century Italian-born American comedian, film actor, director and producer who achieved success in the United States and United Kingdom.
Salt and Pepper is a 1968 British comedy film directed by Richard Donner and starring Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Michael Bates, Ilona Rodgers and John Le Mesurier.
Leslie Fuller was a British comedy film actor.
Kiss Me Sergeant is a 1930 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Gladys Cruickshank and Gladys Frazin. It was based on a play by Syd Courtenay and was sometimes released under the alternative title Idol of Moolah.
One Good Turn is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Alfred J. Goulding and starring Leslie Fuller, Georgie Harris and Hal Gordon. It was shot at Elstree Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the art director George Provis.
Old Spanish Customers is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Lupino Lane and starring Leslie Fuller, Binnie Barnes and Drusilla Wills. It was also known as Toreadors Don't Care. Val Guest has a small role; he later called the film "a terrible thing".
Why Sailors Leave Home is a 1930 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Peter Bernard and Eve Gray. The screenplay concerns a British sailor on shore leave in the Middle East who ends up being mistaken for a Sheikh.
What a Night! is a 1931 British comedy crime film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Molly Lamont and Charles Paton. It was made at Elstree Studios as a quota quickie.
Syd Courtenay was a South African-born British actor and screenwriter. He was a frequent collaborator with the comedian Leslie Fuller. Courtenay first met Fuller in 1919 in Margate and they soon struck up a partnership with routines featuring their comedic character Bill. With the arrival of sound films they were signed to British International Pictures and made their first film Not So Quiet on the Western Front in 1930. They made a large number of films during the 1930s, generally featuring the character of Bill, with Courtenay writing and acting in many of them. He was married to Lola Harvey, who co-wrote a number of films with him.
Tonight's the Night is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Amy Veness and Charles Farrell. The screenplay concerns a man who is wrongly imprisoned for theft and escapes from jail and tracks down the real culprit. It is also known by the alternative title Tonight's the Night: Pass It On. Leslie Arliss was a co-screenwriter. It was shot at the Elstree Studios of British International Pictures.
Not So Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Mona Goya and Wilfred Temple. It was made as a quota quickie by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios. Its title is a reference to All Quiet on the Western Front.
Old Bill Through the Ages is a 1924 British silent comedy fantasy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Syd Walker, Arthur Cleave and Jack Denton. The film was based on a series of cartoons by Bruce Bairnsfather. The screenplay concerns a soldier serving in the trenches during the First World War who falls asleep and travels through time, encountering a number of historical figures.
Boys Will Be Girls is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Gilbert Pratt and starring Leslie Fuller, Nellie Wallace and Greta Gynt. The film was made by Fuller's own independent production company in the Rock Studios at Elstree. In order to gain his inheritance, a man has to give up drinking and smoking.
Never Trouble Trouble is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Lupino Lane and starring Lane, Renee Clama and Jack Hobbs. It was shot at the Cricklewood Studios in London.
Old Soldiers Never Die is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Molly Lamont and Alf Goddard. It was made at Elstree Studios by British International Pictures. It was produced as a quota quickie for release as a second feature.
Lola Harvey was a British screenwriter and film actress. She and her husband Syd Courtenay were employed by British International Pictures, the leading British film studio of the era, to write screenplays together. Their work provided a number of scripts for the popular comedian Leslie Fuller.
Strictly Illegal is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Ralph Ceder and starring Leslie Fuller, Betty Astell and Georgie Harris. It was made at Cricklewood Studios.
Bill's Legacy is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Harry Revier and starring Leslie Fuller, Mary Clare and Syd Courtenay. It was made at Twickenham Studios as a quota quickie.