The Dummy Talks (1943) Online

This is a typical backstage musical of the 1940s.However i think that it is of greater interest because of the fact that it features virtually all the main acts shown on the Bill at the beginning of the film.So we start with the Chinese acrobats,work our way through the adagio to the Ivy Benson Band and to Jack Warner.So if you are interested in British music hall of this period then this film is most definitely for you.Having said that you will have to go out of your way to find it.Your best bet being ebay.The plot is one of the typical murder mysteries and is little interest other than the humour extracted out of it by Claude Hulbert.

If you're looking for a hodge-podge of a backstage murder and a series of variety acts that might make up a British music hall revue, then this movie might be up your alley. Claude Hulbert (brother of the better-known Jack) silly-asses his way through a plot involving forged bank notes and finding out who murdered Manning Whiley. He also pines for and pursues Derna Hazel. This is a movie that tries to strike a balance between comedy and thrills. It does not, alas, come off very well, particularly compared to the trans-Atlantic LADY OF BURLESQUE from the same year.

Part of the problem is that for a variety show, the revue lacks variety. There are lots of acrobats and novelty skating acts, and one or two musical numbers, but they are an oddly assorted lot. Beryl Orde, a well-known comic impressionist of the era does some of her impressions, but they are obscure. Of more interest is Jack Warner. If you're more used to thinking of him as the world's oldest police constable from a couple of decades as Dixon of Green Docks, you'll find him very odd here as a man who reads silly letters from his brother and sings nonsense songs. He's an amusing, solid, believable presence and his later success seems quite likely given this fine screen debut.