Bud Flanagan Movies
For fans of the British television series Dad's Army, this film is a bonanza. Including the entire cast from the television series, it is a comedy about the Walmington-on-Sea contingent of the Home Guard, set in 1940. These men are part-time soldiers, and their civilian situations often impinge on their defense duties, much to the exasperation of the (retired) regular military men in their group. Their mettle is tested when they must capture three German aviators who have parachuted into their midst. The Home Guard, or Local Defense Volunteers, consisted of people who, for a variety of reasons (usually age) were unable to serve in the regular military, and wanted to help with the war effort. At the time the Home Guard was formed, a German invasion was expected to occur almost any day. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In this sexy comedy an affianced woman decides to sow one last wild oat before becoming a devoted wife. She therefore dresses up in a slinky black number and goes to her company Christmas party. The shapely lass impresses both her boss and a sales manager for the cosmetic company. The manager then sends her a new dress and she goes to his hotel room to have a little lunch. When he makes a pass, she flees and returns to the party and spikes the punch. When her fiance shows up, they all kick him out. Soon the drunken party-goers begin cozying up to one another. The girl realizes she has gone too far and sets off the company sprinkler system to sober them up. Things are suitably dampened and the partiers begin getting rather glum until they hear that one of the employee's wives has given birth. Later, the troublemaker makes nice with her fiance and they leave. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This zany film marks the screen debut of Britain's popular comedy troupe, The Crazy Gang. The story begins as the gang are busy sweeping up for the almost bankrupt circus they work for. The owner of a rival carnival endeavors to put them out of business for good. The Crazies manage to foil his evil scheme after they find a magical oil lamp containing a helpful genie. Along the way, the troupe performs a variety of specialty acts including a comic trapeze act, juggling, magic, cornball jokes, and songs, which include: "Life is a Circus", "For You, For You", and "Underneath the Arches". ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bud Flanagan, Teddy Knox, (more)
- 1951
In this drama, a reporter helps prove the innocence of a man wrongfully incarcerated for dealing drugs. The reporter learns of the situation when the convict's vagabond pals, with his influence and support, justice soon prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1945
In this musical comedy, two idealistic bit players decide to rewrite a movie script in order to make it suit their values. At the same time, another a conniving pressman, sneakily re-writes his late partner's will so he can get part of the deceased's newspaper company. To cover himself, he frames one of the movie extras and gets him sent to jail. Things for the new publisher go well until the innocent actor escapes and is able to prove his innocence and bring the real crook to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1944
Bud Flangan and Chesney Allen, members in good standing of Britain's Crazy Gang comedy troupe, carry the story in Dreaming. The story involves a cheeky British soldier who is knocked unconscious and begins...yes, dreaming. Our hero imagines himself at New York's Stage Door Canteen, at the Ascot races, in Northern Africa and in the middle of Nazi Germany. There's not much in the way of plot, but Flanagan & Allen seldom needed plots, merely premises. Hazel Court shows up in several different characterizations as the hero's dream girl. It might prove interesting to compare Dreaming to the similar 1945 Fred MacMurray vehicle Where Do We Go From Here? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1943
In this comedy, a prop man working at the nearly bankrupt Theatre Royal organizes a musical benefit featuring the talented theater staff, to save the establishment from an avaricious rival. When backers catch the rehearsals, they immediately offer to support the show. It is a great success and in the end, the theater owner offers the prop man a partnership. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1942
Comic actors Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen, members in good standing of Britain's "The Crazy Gang", head the cast of the wartime mirthspinner We'll Smile Again. The film is set at a movie studio, where production of an Arabian Nights epic is constantly interrupted by the fumbling and bumbling of Bob Parker (Flanagan) and Gordon Maxwell (Allen). The two screw-ups redeem themselves by capturing a Nazi spy ring, headed by film star Gina Cavendish (Phyllis Stanley) and Teutonic director Steiner (Meinhardt Maur). Bumptuous radio comedian Horace Kenny contributes to the zaniness as a self-important studio makeup man. The producers engagingly make fun of the film's ultra-low budget with the opening disclaimer "The Anglo-American Film Corporation announces proudly that no expense has been spared to save money on this production." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, (more)
The popular British troupe The Crazy Gang do their zany thing in this fast-paced comedy adventure. The story begins as the Gang balloon themselves over enemy lines. There they become friends with a crazy old prisoner who has the plans for a tunnel-boring tank tattooed upon his back. To get him out, they dress him up as Hitler. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
The Crazy Gang, a pre-Monty Python group of British "nut" comedians, were popular on stage and screen from 1935 through 1962. In The Frozen Limits, the comic sextet--Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold--head to Alaska to take advantage of the 1898 Gold Rush. Unfortunately it's now 1939, and no one is in a rush anymore--but better late than never. The Crazy Gang's antics are here amplified by the presence of old codger Moore Marriott, on leave from his regular stint in Britain's Will Hay films. Frozen Limits was directed by Marcel Varnel, a competent journeyman best known to American film buffs for his co-direction (with William Cameron Menzies) of Chandu the Magician (32). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1938
The continued adventure of the magic button that was crafted from the metal of Aladdin's magic lamp. Alf finds that this newfound device makes him master of his own fate. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1937
Remember the 3 Stooges Movie Maniacs, in which Curly, Larry and Moe are accidentally put in charge of a movie studio? Apparently, Britain's "Crazy Gang" remembered the Stooge film as well, since the same plotline pops up in Okay for Sound. Originally three separate comedy teams organized for a single act at London's Palladium in 1935. The Crazy Gang was the rough equivalent to Hollywood's Marx Brothers, though their particular brand of insanity was distinctly British. Billed as "studio disorganizers," our six heroes -- Jimmy Nervo & Teddy Knox, Bud Flanagan & Chesney Allen and Charlie Naughton & Jimmy Gold -- are mistaken for a group of wealthy investors and are given full run of the studio owned by the ulcerated Goldberger (Fred Duprez). The boys manage to disrupt the super-production directed by bombastic German filmmaker Guggenheimer (Meinhart Maur), and to chase away the real investors, all the while performing their peculiar stage specialties. Okay for Sound was the first of five hilarious Crazy Gang vehicles produced between 1937 and 1954 (the team would remain intact until 1962!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, (more)
- 1937
In this comedy, two hapless fellows accidentally stow away on a boat bound for South America. Once there they get there, the two end up entangled with a group of revolutionaries trying to steal a "peace" gas. Mayhem ensues, but eventually, the two manage to stop the renegades. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
In this comedy, two convicts are finally released after spending a decade prison. They immediately head back to the remote place where they buried their cash.They are appalled to discover that the area has been developed. A store now stands where the jewels are hidden. Fortunately, the store managers have had trouble keeping their establishment afloat and are only too happy to help the cons burn it down so they can find the loot. Unbeknownst to them, a woman has already taken the jewels. They burn the store down for nothing. It turns out that the woman is the legitimate heiress to the gems as they originally belonged to a relative of hers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
Wild Boy is a cute little puppy dog, sold at auction when its owner, a once-prominent military man, dies in poverty. The boyfriend of the dead man's daughter purchases Wild Boy and gives it to her as a present. She raises the dog into a champion, ultimately defeating her father's hated rival at an annual Dog Derby. Essentially a typically cozy British programmer, Wild Boy springs to life from time to time with a few fistfights and chases, apparently as a strategy to appeal to American filmgoers. At the time of its release, much was made of the fact that Wild Boy went 8 weeks and $200,000 over budget, as if this made it a better film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gwyneth Lloyd, Leonora Corbett, (more)
