Bobby Howes Movies
- 1961
Able-bodied seaman Albert Tufnell (John Meillon) plans to marry Shirley Hornett (Vera Day), and the ceremony is about to take place -- when a telegram arrives from an officer aboard his ship, advising that marriage is impossible for Tufnell at that moment. Shirley's battle-ax of a mother (Marjorie Rhodes) doesn't know the facts behind the telegram but assumes the worst, and won't even discuss what to do about the wedding, even as she tries to live down the humiliation of a ceremony stopped midway through. Albert and his best friend, Carnoustie Bligh (Graham Stark), try to sort it all out, but even the arrival of an officer from their ship (Dennis Price) with an explanation only makes matters more complicated. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- 1957
1957's The Good Companions was the second film version of the well-known J. B. Priestly play. The story revolves around the Dinky Doos, a provincial musical troupe living from hand to mouth. Eric Portman, Celia Johnson and John Fraser are three Britons from various classes and walks of life who become involved in the fortunes of the Dinky Doos. Pooling their resources, the diverse "good companions" save the troupe from disbanding. Good-natured and high-spirited, Good Companions might have even been better had the director adopted a more intimate and less showbizzy approach. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric Portman, Celia Johnson, (more)
The Anglo-American musicomedy Happy Go Lovely is set in Edinburgh, Scotland, during a major film festival. The gathered throngs are aghast when unknown dancer Janet Jones (Vera-Ellen) steps daintily from a limousine owned by a Scottish millionaire. A few miles earlier, the girl had thumbed a ride from the limo driver, but the public doesn't know this, and soon rumors are flying. Before she knows what has happened, Jones has become the festival's main attraction. She is also romanced by B.G. Bruno (David Niven), whom she assumes to be a reporter but who, of course, is the millionaire in disguise. Ostensibly a musical, Happy Go Lovely is limited to two songs, though both are performed con brio by the fabulous Vera-Ellen. The film was produced independently by N. P. Rathvon and released by Rathvon's former studio, RKO Radio. It was shot in black and white but is now reportedly only available in a colorized print. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Niven, Vera-Ellen, (more)
- 1946
Based on the novel by Pamela Hansford Johnson, Trojan Brothers offers the unlikely screen team of music hall funster Bobby Howes and up-and-coming leading man David Farrar. The stars are cast as Benny and Sid, two-bit vaudevillians who tour the provinces with a "horse" act. Sid plays the front end of the horse, while Benny brings up the rear (type-casting, as it turns out). The harmony between the two troupers is disrupted when Sid falls in love with fickle socialite Betty Todd (Patricia Burke). Meanwhile, Benny finds happiness -- or at least security -- with plain-looking Maggie (Barbara Mullen). In case all this sounds like a lighthearted comedy, it isn't, especially when the maddened Sid exacts revenge upon the faithless Betty. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patricia Burke, David Farrar, (more)
- 1939
As Australian river rights are battled for, the love of a girl is also at stake. ~ Rovi
- 1938
The popular 1934 West End musical comedy Yes, Madam was brought to the screen intact in 1938, with five of the original stars coming along for the ride. Bobby Hoyes heads the cast as Bill Quilton, a cheeky young man who will inherit a fortune on the condition that he work as a servant for a month without getting fired. Likewise in line for the inheritance, under the same conditions, is wisecracking Sally Gault (Dinah Churchill, replacing the stage version's Binnie Hale). If they fail to keep their jobs, they'll lose their legacy to scheming Tony Tolliver (Billy Milton) -- who not surprisingly does everything he can to undermine Bill and Sally. Both the play and film versions of Yes, Madam were based on a novel by K. R. G. Browne, previously filmed without music in 1933. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bobby Howes, Diana Churchill, (more)
- 1937
In this happy musical, two business partners find themselves in all sorts of romantic trouble. One of them is planning to marry his secretary, and the other, who is engaged to an aristocrat, advises him to fire her before proposing. The fellow does, but unfortunately, the distraught secretary, not knowing why she was released, attempts to drown herself in a river. Fortunately the other partner rescues her and takes her back to his apartment to warm up. He begins pouring brandy down her and she gets uproariously drunk. He then takes her to a high-society party where the woman's behavior is so outrageous that her escort's fiancee walks out. In the end, the man ends up proposing to her and happiness somehow ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1937
In this silly comedy, a jobless fellow is nursing a hangover after a wild night at a Turkish bath when he is handed a telegram informing him that his aunt has died and he has inherited her fortune which is stashed within a bust of Napoleon in the house he will also inherit. He wastes no time getting to the residence, but is appalled to discover that the house has become a girl's school and no men can enter. He then poses as a brother to one of the students and begins roaming about in search of the appropriate bust. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bobby Howes, Renee Ray, (more)
- 1934
In this musical comedy, a young man visiting the ultra-modern estate of his aunt falls in love with the old-fashioned, stuffy neighbor's niece. The young lovers encounter trouble, as none of their relatives approve of the match. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1933
In this mystery a man who will do anything for his lover tries to get back his power of attorney so that he can manage his true-love's fortune. He wants it back because he realizes that she no longer trusts her guardian who has been administering her trust fund. In order to get it back he attempts a safe cracking. Unfortunately, he is caught by a detective. Later it is the detective who shows him a better way to get a hold of the important document. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bobby Howes, Constance Shotter, (more)
- 1931
In this comedy, a timid clerk musters up his courage to help his ward thwart the blackmailing scheme of his former lover. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
