Off the Dole

Off the Dole
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Arthur Mertz
Produced by John E. Blakeley
Written by
  • John E. Blakeley
  • Arthur Mertz
Starring
Music by Arthur L Ward
Cinematography John W. Boyle
Edited by Dennis Cantlan
Production
company
Release date
 September 1935
Running time
 87 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

Off the Dole is a 1935 British film starring George Formby. Formby appeared as John Willie, a stage character originally developed by his father, George Formby, Sr.; Beryl Formby, Formby Jnr's wife, also appeared in the film.

Plot

John Willie has his dole money denied him for moonlighting and not trying to find work. His uncle asks him to take over his detective agency.

Cast

  • George Formby as John Willie
  • Beryl Formby as Grace, Charm and Ability
  • Constance Shotter as Irene
  • Dan Crisp as The Inimitable Dude
  • James Plant as Crisp and Debonaire
  • Stan Pell as The Most Inoffensive Parson
  • Stan Little as Little Jack
  • Tully Comber as Measured for his Part
  • Clifford McLaglen as A Villain and Proud of It
  • Wally Patch as Revels in his Part

Background/production

Off the Dole cost £3,000 to make, and earned £80,000 at the box office.[1] As with Formy's previous film, Boots! Boots! (1934), the film was in a revue format, and also showed Formby in the role of John Willie; Beryl was his co-star.[2][3] According to Formby's biographer, the cultural historian Jeffrey Richards, the two films "are an invaluable record of the pre-cinematic Formby at work".[4]

Notes and references

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Richards 2010, p. 198.
    2. ↑ "Off the Dole (1935)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
    3. ↑ Richards 2004.
    4. ↑ Richards 2010, p. 196.

    Sources

    • Richards, Jeffrey (2004). "Formby, George (1904–1961)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33205. Retrieved 27 May 2014. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
    • Richards, Jeffrey (2010). The Age of the Dream Palace: Cinema and Society in 1930s Britain. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-122-1.
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