Champagne Charlie **** (1944, Tommy Trinder, Stanley Holloway, Betty Warren, Austin Trevor, Jean Kent, Guy Middleton, Frederick Piper, Harry Fowler) – Classic Movie Review 7080

Director Alberto Cavalcanti’s 1944 British comedy Champagne Charlie is lit up by its genius in providing perfect roles for Ealing Studios’ resident London comedians Trinder and Holloway in an original screenplay tale of rival music-hall singers in 1860s England. The feud between their two rival music halls is put aside when they come together to combat closure by the local authorities.

Holloway and Trinder are both smashing as the Great Vance and as George Leybourne (Champagne Charlie), who made the title song Champagne Charlie popular, and the evocation of the Victorian London setting and songs is clearly a labour of love for director Cavalcanti.

It also stars Betty Warren as Bessie Bellwood, the owner of one of the music halls, Jean Kent as her daughter Dolly who is in love with a nobleman, Harry Fowler as backstage assistant ‘Orace, Austin Trevor as The Duke, Guy Middleton as Tipsy Swell, Peter De Greef [Greeff] as his son Lord Petersfield, and Frederick Piper as Learoyd.

This underrated, mostly forgotten Ealing Studios comedy is as entertaining as it is fascinating, and takes its honoured place in The Definitive Ealing Studios Collection.

Stanley Holloway (1890–1982).

It is future star Kay Kendall’s third uncredited bit-part film, and other future stars Hazel Court (in her uncredited film debut, as Tipsy Champagne Drinker) and James Robertson Justice (uncredited, as Patron) also appear in small roles.

Also in the cast are Leslie Clarke, Eddie Phillips, Robert Wyndham, Andrea Malandrinos, Drusilla Wills, Norman Pierce, Joe Carr, Vida Hope, Phyllis Morris, Paul Bonifas, Eric Boon, Vernon Greeves, George Hirste, Aubrey Mallalieu, Billy [Bill] Shine, Patricia Gennett, Ted Finch, Monti DeLyle and Richard Harrison.

Tommy Trinder (1909–1989).

Champagne Charlie is directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, runs 107 minutes, is made by Ealing Studios, released by Associated British Film Distributors, is written (original screenplay) by Austin Melford, Angus MacPhail [Macphail] and John Dighton, is shot in black and white by Wilkie Cooper, is produced by Michael Balcon and John Croydon (associate producer), and is scored by Ernest Irving, with Art Direction by Michael Relph.

It is one of the 16 discs in The Definitive Ealing Studios Collection DVD. The films are: Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Ladykillers, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Man in the White Suit, The Magnet, Passport to Pimlico, The Titfield Thunderbolt, Whisky Galore, Champagne Charlie, Dead of Night, The Maggie, Scott of the Antarctic, Nicholas Nickleby, Went The Day Well, and It Always Rains on Sunday.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7080

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