On the Fiddle

ON THE FIDDLE is a WW2-era comedy starring the long-forgotten Alfred Lynch as a spiv who finds himself enrolled in the army and sent to France to fight, against his best intentions. The problem is that Lynch is a bit of coward and a man who's more interested in making money through his black market dealings than actual fighting.

This quaint and genteel comedy has dated, particularly in comparison to the early black-and-white CARRY ON films which were coming out at the same time and which feel almost highbrow in comparison. The main problem for me is Lynch's character: he plays an arrogant and cocky so-and-so who's impossible to like and I ended up waiting for him to get his just desserts, but sadly that never happened. Some might call him irrepressible, I just call him irritating.

Still, fans of the era will find much to enjoy in the presence of a number of notable British names in the supporting cast. Not least of these is Sean Connery, second-billed and playing Lynch's army buddy. In the USA, the film was retitled OPERATION SNAFU and the poster figured Connery's name predominantly to cash in on his new-found fame as Bond (DR NO was his next film after this) but I'd argue that his performance in this, as the slow-witted but lovable rogue, is actually better than his Bond. Others may disagree.

Meanwhile, there's a full parade of familiar faces who usually pop up in one-scene roles. Watch out for Stanley Holloway, John Le Mesurier, Eric Barker, Victor Maddern, Patsy Rowlands, Bill Owen, Wilfrid Hyde-White and last but not least Barbara Windsor in one of her earliest screen roles. These actors - who feel like old friends to any fan of British cinema - certainly keep you watching and take your mind off the weak jokes and otherwise episodic feel of the storyline.

When he is pulled up in court for selling stuff on the street, Horace Pope says he was only doing it while waiting to enlist. The judge calls his bluff and forces him to sign up. Pope makes friends with the easy going but loyal Pedlar Pascoe, who happily goes along with all of his scams in an effort to avoid the front lines and make a bit on the side. However, his scams cause trouble where he goes and there are only so many places he can go before France beckons.

I watched this film recently in a sort of tribute to it's main star Alfred Lynch, who sadly died over the Christmas holiday 2003. I had never seen this film of his before and didn't even know when it was made. The reason I mention that is because this film feels like one of those Norman Wisdom films where the English cheeky chappy unwittingly does heroics in the war, all with a `blimey gov'ner' and so on. Instead this was made in the 1960's, although I can't think why. The basic plot sets up a series of little amusing scams before the sudden heroics that we all know will come sooner or later. While it is rarely hilarious, it is amusing at turns and is worth watching as long as you don't expect too much of it.

Lynch plays a character that wouldn't have really worked in the 1940's as, regardless of his later heroics, he is really far too cowardly and weasely to be a wartime hero - but 15 years later it can be overlooked. He does OK and is a standard cockney type - although it is strange seeing him taking the lead role over Connery. Connery was only a year away from being the legend he now is with Bond and plays totally against what would now be considered type. He is a little bit simple but good hearted; while the role is hard to swallow now, he does play it well. The support cast is surprisingly deep considering the material; Parker, Le Mesurier, Owen and Windsor are among the famous faces.

Overall this is an enjoyable film that is never hilarious but has the amusing, music hall air of a propaganda movie from 15 years older. I wonder how this film was received as it must have seemed outdated even the day it was released - watching it now is probably better cause it is just an `old' film. It's not great but the cast is famous and the comedy is gentle and old fashioned - an average film but still worth seeing.

A thoroughly enjoyable English comedy but the inimitable Cecil Parker who although he saw service in WWI he forgot his training. When John LeMesurier enters the room and salutes a hatless Group Captain, Cecil returns the salute. In the British Services one salutes the uniform not the individual and as hatless, the Group Captain does not merit a salute, merely coming to attention suffices. Cecil should have known this.

On the Fiddle is a passable film with Alfred Lynch in a rare leading role as Horace Pope a spiv type scam artist who ends up being sent to the army by a judge.

Once he has joined up he teams up with dim witted but amiable squaddie Pedlar Pascoe (Sean Connery) who tags along with his money making schemes and provides the brawn to his brains.

The duo accidentally become war heroes, then end up running a pub serving US based soldiers.

Connery would go on to become James Bond a year later so here is a role where he is kind of cast against type. Lynch better known as a shifty type character actor rather enjoys being in the limelight as the star but he really is charmless and unsympathetic here, more a third rate and not nice Sergeant Bilko.

The movie has a host of familiar faces ranging from Lance Percival to Barbara Windsor.

A sly cockney (Alfred Lynch) and a rather dim gypsy (Sean Connery) team up during World War II to turn events to their own financial advantage. Note for pub quiz players. Sean Connery's last role before playing James Bond was this one: playing a thick-as-short-planks Gypsy! Whether the casting people saw this before they gave him the role is open to doubt, but I believe that he plays stupid better than he plays clever. Do you believe that Connery really had a double first and could speak fluent Japanese? Well that is what 007 is supposed to be! But I digress. This is what I actually like in a cheap and cheerful film. Give us a bit of everything from comedy to drama and keep it rolling along before we get bored. They are not really con men, but fly-by-nights that want to turn everything to their own advantage. Laughable small timers really. The film changes tone at the end from comedic to dramatic as the twosome have to do a bit of real fighting instead of skiving. Looks a bit out of place, but brings in the twist that was sure to be coming. Not that great a movie, but star power and character acting keep us involved to the finish. If you give this movie a chance you will probably find that you are in it for the full term. Lots of fun - but only B movie candy floss.