Garrison Follies

Garrison Follies
Directed byMaclean Rogers
Written byKathleen Butler
H.F. Maltby
Maclean Rogers
Produced byErnest Gartside
Hugh Perceval
StarringBarry Lupino
Nancy O'Neil
H.F. Maltby
CinematographyGeoffrey Faithfull
Music byPercival Mackey
Production
company
Signet Films
Distributed byButcher's Film Service
Release date
  • 19 October 1940 (1940-10-19)
Running time
64 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Garrison Follies is a 1940 British comedy musical revue film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Barry Lupino, Nancy O'Neil and H.F. Maltby.[1][2] It was written by Kathleen Butler, H.F. Maltby and Rogers.

Plot

Cast

Production

It was produced by the independent Butcher's Film Service[3] and shot at Walton Studios outside London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Holmes Paul.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is a cheerful, tuneful, light-hearted spectacle guaranteed to cure the worst dose of blues. Everything is delightfully exaggerated, from the apoplectic major to the trumpet player who apparently plumbs in his spare time, while intermixed with their antics are some pleasant variety turns. Barry Lupino is excellent as Alf Shufflebottom, the resourceful plumber; Sally Richards looks charming as the heroine; while H. F. Maltby's dug-out major has to be seen to be believed."[4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The show is so written that all the gags and situations lead up to a water carnival, and a crazy one at that, but expectation is not fulfilled. There is not even a drop of water. But, although aquatic slapstick is denied, anticipation is responsible for a number of laughs, and there arc many other bright gags. The incidental acts are also versatile and top-line."[5]

Picturegoer wrote: "Main asset is H. F. Maltby as an ex-Indian colonel who insists on taking charge of the show. He gives a good humorous character study. Barry Lupino also scores as Alf, a plumber and between them they pro-vide a quota of laughs."[6]

References

  1. ^ "Garrison Follies". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  2. ^ Wright p.275
  3. ^ Mackenzie p.178
  4. ^ "Garrison Follies". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 7 (73): 109. 1 January 1940. ProQuest 1305811869.
  5. ^ "Garrison Follies". Kine Weekly. 281 (1734): 12. 11 July 1940. ProQuest 2339668983.
  6. ^ "Garrison Follies". Picturegoer. 9: 14. 1 October 1940. ProQuest 1771160072.

Bibliography

  • Mackenzie, S.P. British War films, 1939-1945. A&C Black, 2001.
  • Wright, Adrian. Cheer Up!: British Musical Films 1929-1945. The Boydell Press, 2020.