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Better Late Then Never

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

British National Films released this in April 1940, after the war declaration of September 1939 and a month before the humiliation of the British troops at Dunkirk. You can view it free at a popular video sharing sight, posted by "The Paramount Vault." I suspect this is a legal posting, and a way to try and scrape a few advertising dollars from this turkey of a flick.Starts with some song and dance, ends with some song and dance, with Tommy's really bad humor sprinkled throughout. Pretty much plot-less. Some decent tap dancing at the beginning. All the best songs do not feature Tommy. Provocative use of the words "faggot," and "pecker".This is similar to the mostly unwatchable Jerry Lewis movies that came later, maybe Tommy is Jerry's muse.Unlike WWII, there was no American money and Soviet manpower to save this half-hearted British production. It is rumored that after watching a bootleg copy, Adolph Hitler exclaimed "Dees British are powder-puffs!" and ordered the bombing of London.

This film was shown last night at the NFT as part of the current Tommy Trinder season.It is a boot camp comedy of the type that became common in the War.This film was made only 7 weeks after the declaration of the war on September 3rd 1939.However apart from an extract from Chamberlains speech there are no topical references and gags.Within a few months most comedies would have constant references to the Nazis and Hitler. In this film Trinder is in a Blackpool show when he is called up.Enroute to camp he meets his Sergeant Major in civvies and has a bust up with him.When he arrives at camp all the usual rookie escapades ensue. Trinder is asked to put on a show and this comprises the bulk of the later part of the film, The problem with Trinder is that like other stand up comics of his era he finds it very difficult to adapt to the demands of the screen.So not even an astute director such as John Baxter can make him in any way appealing.His delivery is pretty monotonous and it has to be said that he really at 70 years on is not nearly as funny as he thinks he is.The show at the end is not that great and in fact the whole film is redolent of an end of pier show.More a period piece than an entertainment.