BACK-ROOM BOY (1942) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Herbert Mason

Written by - J.O.C. Orton, Val Guest, Marriott Edgar

Starring - Arthur Askey

"Is Arthur Askey a forgotten British comedic genius or an outdated popular icon of the vaudeville and radio variety circle? Whatever may be the general consensus, Back-Room Boy can arguably be considered his best work, not least of all because it makes almost no use of dragging musical numbers that were prevalent in others of his vehicles. 

In Back-Room Boy, Askey plays an absent-minded British scientist who stumbles across a nest of Nazi spies on a deserted island off the Scottish coast. 

It is genuinely entertaining beyond being a piece of British slapstick comedy with more than slight influences and hints of late war Allied propaganda. Comedy and mystery mix quite naturally in this film to surprisingly entertaining and a times even exciting effects. 

The film's restricted setting of the lighthouse also provides an element of claustrophobia that enhances a solid atmosphere to a rather enjoyable comedy. 

Despite the scattered carelessness that are evident through some of the rushed plot developments, Back-Room Boy is mostly delightful, not least of all because of Askey whose antics may not altogether be free from being outdated, but who nevertheless is quite a charismatic and unique comedic lead, as his performance in this film proves, especially when given a screenplay with half a brain.

Comedy, UK