Old Mother Riley Joins Up
| Old Mother Riley Joins Up | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Maclean Rogers |
| Written by | Kathleen Butler Maisie Sharman Con West |
| Story by | Jack Marks |
| Produced by | John Corfield |
| Starring | Arthur Lucan Kitty McShane Martita Hunt |
| Cinematography | James Wilson |
| Edited by | James Corbett |
| Music by | Ronnie Munro |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Anglo-American Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Old Mother Riley Joins Up is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane, Martita Hunt, Bruce Seton and Garry Marsh.[1][2] It was written by Kathleen Butler, Maisie Sharman and Con West.
Plot summary
[edit]Old Mother Riley works as a nurse before volunteering for the Auxiliary Territorial Service. With the help of her daughter Kitty and Kitty's boyfriend Lieutenant Travers, she thwarts a plan by enemy agents to steal important secret documents.[3]
Cast
[edit]- Arthur Lucan as Mrs Riley
- Kitty McShane as Kitty Riley
- Glen Alyn as Pauline
- Dorothy Dewhurst as Mrs Rayful
- Martita Hunt as Commandant
- H. F. Maltby as Gen. Hogsley
- Garry Marsh as Dr. Leach
- Bryan Powley as Mr Rayful
- Bruce Seton as Lt. Travers
- Jeanne Stuart as Nurse Wilson
Production
[edit]It was the first Old Mother Riley movie made for British National.[4] Filming took place in August 1939.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]Kine Weekly wrote: "The humour never aspires to subtlety; rather has it a welcome and wholesome vulgarity. Grand pantomime by Arthur Lucan and ambitious atmosphere of a box-office topicality are, in fact, its strong suits. Eager and versatile supporting teamwork cannot, however, be ignored. In a word, the show is a robust, ribald romp, just the stuff to give the troops. Cast-iron star comedy bet for the masses."[6]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Full of slapstick, with slender romance, entire footage is dominated by Arthur Lucas's popular characterisation. Goes straight for its fun in customary style, with plenty of 'custard-pie ' action, and makes hearty laughter for the army of 'Mother Riley' fans. There is no subtlety about 'Old Mother Riley,' but the series of farces featuring this popular dame have a big market, and the latest episode is shrewdly put together to give the customers just what they want. Its humour is broad; and its incident hearty, and Arthur Lucan invests the character with so much energy that the pace never flags."[7]
TV Guide called the film, "a tolerable romp that kept patriotic English fires burning during the early part of WW II."[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Old Mother Riley Joins Up". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
- ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | Old Mother Riley Joins Up (1940)BFI | Film & TV Database | Old Mother Riley Joins Up (1940)". BFI. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley Joins up". Kinematograph Weekly. 19 October 1939. p. 6.
- ↑ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2025). "Forgotten British Film Moguls: Lady Yule". Filmink. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ↑ "ARP Farce". Kinematograph Weekly. 24 August 1939. p. 27.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley Joins Up". Kine Weekly (1697): 10. 26 October 1939. ProQuest 2339762676.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley Joins Up". The Daily Film Renter (3879): 8. 23 October 1939. ProQuest 3327058068.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley Joins Up Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
