What Do We Do Now? (film)
| What Do We Do Now? | |
|---|---|
Trade advertisement | |
| Directed by | Charles Hawtrey |
| Written by | George A. Cooper |
| Produced by | Maurice J. Wilson |
| Starring | George Moon Burton Brown Gloria Brent |
| Cinematography | Charles Hawtrey |
Production company | Grand National Film Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
What Do We Do Now? is a 1946 British second feature ('B')[1] film directed by Charles Hawtrey and starring George Moon, Burton Brown and Gloria Brent.[2][3] It was written by George A. Cooper and produced by Maurice J. Wilson.
It notable for being one of only two films directed by Hawtrey, and is believed to be a lost film.[4] The other film is Dumb Dora Discovers Tobacco (1946).
Plot
Wesley and Lesley are comedians performing at the Skewball Hippodrome. When fellow artiste Birdie Maudlin has her diamond brooch stolen, they turn amateur detectives. The robbery story forms the background to a series of music hall acts.
Cast
- George Moon as Wesley
- Burton Brown as Lesley
- Gloria Brent as Diana
- Harry Parry as Frank Arundel
- Ronald Frankau as drunken patron
- Jill Summers as Birdie Maudlin
- Leslie Fuller as taxi driver
- Edmundo Ros's Conga Band as themselves
- Tom F. Moss as Vocali
- Ivor Barnard as Ted Goof
- Barry Lupino as Jeff
- Monti Crick as drunken patron
- Artie Ash as talent scout
- Maurice Bryceson as talent scout
- Douglas Steward as manager
- Vic Hagen as stage manager
- Gordon Begg as stage door keeper
- Raymond Herd as call boy
- Harry Parry's and his Radio Rhythm Club Sextet Swing Band as themselves
- Gail Page as herself
- Steffani and his Thirty Silver Songsters as themselves
Production
Location filming took place at Collins's Music Hall in Islington, London.[5]
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A thin story and poor dialogue serve merely as links between a series of music-hall turns by such artists as Ronald Frankau, Gloria Brent, Harry Parry, Jill Summers, Leslie Fuller, Edmundo Ros' Conga Band and Steffani and his Thirty Silver Songsters. George Moon is amusing as Wesley and receives adequate support from Burton Brown as Lesley, but the off-stage performances of some of the music-hall artists are very amateurish."[6]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Crude and witless British musical extravaganza, with a provincial musical setting. ... Here we have a pathetic attempt to make a British Helzapoppin. Intentions are honourable, but wit and showmanship are completely lacking. Its laughs can be counted on a mittened-hand. We say no more, except to remind the provincial and industrial exhibitor that it has star value and carries the feature quoted ticket."[7]
In The British 'B' Film Chibnall and McFarlane call the film a "lame comedy".[1]
References
- ^ a b Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "What Do We Do Now?". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "What Do We Do Now?". Kine Weekly. 341 (1997): 45. 26 July 1945. ProQuest 2687783999.
- ^ "The possibility of happiness. The Carry On films represented the best of England. Or was it the worst? Peter Bradshaw on the life of the saddest act in the history of British cinema". www.newstatesman.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Wright, Adrian (2023). Melody in the Dark: British Musical Films, 1946–1972. Boydell Press. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-1783277490.
- ^ "What Do We Do Now?". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 13 (145): 3. 1 January 1946. ProQuest 1305813699.
- ^ "What Do We Do Now?". Kine Weekly. 347 (2022): 26. 17 January 1946. ProQuest 2676995503.