SHEER FARCICAL COMEDY

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 3

SHEER FARCICAL COMEDY

ENGLAND "CRAZY GANG" FOB STATE All the slapstick humour of which England’s “ Crazy Gang ” is capable is given full sway in their latest offering, ‘ Alf’s Button Afloat,’ which will be released to-morrow at the State. This delightful team, consisting of three well-known stage and radio couples—Flaunagau and Allen, Nervo and Knox, and Naughton and Gold—have appeared before in British pictures, but it is safe to say that never before have they indulged in such sheer farcical comedy as they offer in this outstanding Gainsborough production.

The theme, the conversion of Aladdin’s magic lamp into a button, is not a new one, but in this instance the button happens to be sewn on to a naval uniform, which comes into the possession of the Crazy Gang when they unwittingly join the navy. Of course, it is rubbed unexpectedly by one of their number, who, when he sees the magic spirit, carelessly remarks. “ Strike me pink.” The literal translation of his wish is the start of a sei-ics of hilarious episodes, which rise to a glorious climax on the English hunting field, but not before the sextet has disorganised the whole of the Home Fleet, had their revenge on a sergeant of Marines, and robbed the Bank of England. So full of sparkling dialogue is this film that many of the jokes are lost in the ones that follow in rapid succession. There is a slight romantic theme running through the production, and even this is furthered by the gang and its obliging genie. Of the many incidents in ‘ Alf’s Button Afloat,’ which are perfect gems of comedy, is that in which the gang, called upon to entertain at a ship’s concert, summon the aid of their faithful friend, and as a result put on a delightful rendering of the famous sextet from ‘ Lucia de Lammermoor.’ The antics and costumes are those of this irrepressible gang, but_ the voices are those of magnificent singers, the result being a mixture of beautiful grand opera and clever clowning.