Oh, Mr Porter!
1937
The Cast
William Porter (Hay) is a man with ambition. It's just a shame that his luck runs bad and because of such, he's been moved from position to position and from station to station on the railroad. However, his luck may just be turning as the position of Stationmaster at remote Buggleskelly has just become available and, with thanks to his sister, he's given the chance of putting it on the map... Though not all is as it seems at Buggleskelly Station...
This is the Will Hay that I know and love... and remember from my youth; sat in my Nan's on a Saturday afternoon watching telly while the winter rain pelted the window. I have to admit, I'm not too keen when Hay decides to "go alone". His funniest films are definitely the ones where he teams up with the "Old Man" Moore Marriott, who plays Jeremiah Harbottle, and the "Youth" Graham Moffat, playing Albert. When these guys are together they come close to rivalling the great Laurel and Hardy. Like that duo, they are superb at playing off each other and have the impression that they've known each other forever.
The screenwriters, the brilliant Val Guest, J O C Orton, and Marriott Edgar, use this partnership to it's fullest advantage by giving the trio lots of wonderfully funny and witty lines and sight gags. The director then adds to the power of the story by keeping the pace at full steam - just like in the runaway engine sequence.
All of this is interwoven with a good story from Frank Launder, who adds excitement, mystery, and intrigue in the guise of the gun runners.
The only thing which ruffled my feathers a little was the runaway engine scene. Though this is superbly directed by Marcel Varnel, with some interesting camera shots and angles, and quick snap changes, to create excitement. There are times when the speeded up frames are comical. Though I don't think this was meant to be the case, as it was meant to create the illusion of dangerous break-neck speed. Though, even in the 70's when I first watched this film, we are well past this style of special effect... and it's effect isn't so special anymore. But the rest of the movie is great and this is just a small niggle it won't stop your enjoyment of the film... it may even add to it, a little.
This is, as it was in my youth, a great way to spend a wet Saturday afternoon. When it's raining outside you'll be laughing inside... win! As such, I would recommend this to everyone out there.
I give this a Chug-Chug-Chug-Woo-Hoo of 6.75 out of 10.
