Helter Skelter

I picked up this unusual DVD, very, very cheap at Deptford market which I thought I would give it a look because I used to like Jimmy Edwards when I was very young and I also noticed that it was written by Patrick Campbell I also thought I liked. It turns out of course that Campbell, back in the day, he had a serious speech impediment and nevertheless delighted TV audiences then. In this film we have the lovely Carol Marsh and here had a bad case of hiccups and that was more or less the story although I noticed that she had been in Brighton Rock (1948) and later Horror of Dracula (1958). Unfortunately I didn't find Jimmy Edwards so wonderful but most of the other comedians were astonishing and Ralph Thomas was really good getting this in and around with some intelligent and brilliant situations. Later on he would direct the 'Doctor' films and some of the early 'Carry on' ones as well. Of course it is the funny men really in this one as, Jon Pertwee, Terry-Thomas (astonishing), Wilfred Hyde-White (someone has fun with his name having a turn as Dr Jekyll and Hyde!), Michael Medwin, Harry Secombe (splendid and before his rather fat days) and Richard Wattis. Great and very funny and especially creative like the silent film joke and the people having fun with the radio and people could not be seen. I even found that Naunton Wayne was uncredited in this and I'd see him just last night with Obsession the same year.

This is a riotous and sometimes chaotic comedy that was probability years ahead of its time. The story is a straightforward romantic comedy about a woman who can't cure her hiccoughs, she is told that a fright will cure her ills so she visits a haunted house.

However what differentiates this film from comedies of this time is that it is littered with cameo roles from some of the all times greats of British film comedy.... Terry-Thomas, Wilfred Hyde-White, Jimmy Edwards and Jon Pertwee (twice) to name a few.

This film is directed by Ralph Thomas of the 'Doctor' films and it is easy to see many parallels with those classic movies.

A mad cap comedy with many stars taking very small parts. The story line is pretty weak but the fast pace and non stop incidents makes this a very entertaining film and the time goes quickly.

When I first saw the film, 'Helter Skelter', I saw the connection. When David Tomlinson appeared as Nick Martin, Special Investigator, heard nightly on the BBC I thought of 'Dick Barton, Special Agent'. The film was made in 1948 at the height of Dick Barton's popularity. There were thoughts at that time what would happen if Dick Barton (played by Noel Johnson) failed to turn up for an episode? Virtually the whole of Britain stopped at 18.45 each evening during winter to hear the next instalment. And look what happened in the film: Nick's girlfriend was accidentally looked in one of the rooms at the BBC and wasn't found in time for the programme so Nick refused to go on air. The whole country stopped. No-one went to the football or the races. I haven't seen any comments on the connection but anyone who heard 'Dick Barton' at that time would have recognised it. Only 'The Devil's Galop' was missing. Great film with old-time stars!

I saw this film many many years ago on television with my parents. As a child I used to watch Richard Hearne as Mr Pastry in his comedy shows on television and quite liked those.

So I was intrigued by this film when it was shown to see what it would be like. The omens were quite promising, it was written by Patrick Campbell who I knew from the many times he was a captain on Call My Bluff (the other captain was Frank Muir and it was hosted by Robert Robertson). It was directed by Ralph Thomas who directed many popular British films of the 50s and 60s (Campbell's Kingdom and some of the Doctor films), It starred David Tomlinson (best known for the father in Mary Poppins).

I think the film was supposed to be a comedy, about the efforts made to try and stop a girl from hiccupping.

I and my parents found the film to be completely unfunny and we did not even manage a smile at any time. It was so bad that I have never forgotten this film and have no hesitation in saying that, of the many thousands of films I have seen, this stands out as the worst film of all.

I see that a DVD of this film is due to be released in April in the UK. I will not be buying a copy.