Keep Fit *** (1937, George Formby, Kay Walsh, Guy Middleton) – Classic Movie Review 11,602

Director Anthony Kimmins’s 1937 British comedy musical film Keep Fit stars George Formby, who was at his British box-office peak and certainly is fit to play an incompetent barber’s assistant, George Green, who is confused with an athlete.

George dreams of a better physique and sings the catchy ‘Biceps, Muscle and Brawn’. He becomes fit and gets nifty at sports, catches a thief and gets the girl, beautiful manicurist Joan Allen (Kay Walsh) after challenging his muscle-bound rival to a boxing match.

This funny comedy is a pleasant Formby vehicle, amusingly written and directed, sending up the then current vogue for keep fit in Britain and the sinister-sounding League of Health and Beauty.

George sings three top songs: ‘Biceps, Muscle and Brawn’, ‘I Don’t Like’ and ‘Keep Fit’, all written by George Formby, Harry Gifford and Fred E Cliffe.

Kay Walsh got along well with Formby, so well that they had a brief fling during filming.

LEANING ON A LAMP-POST from the 1937 film FEATHER YOUR NEST.

The cast are George Formby as George Green, Kay Walsh as Joan Allen, Guy Middleton as Hector Kent, George Benson as Ernie Gill, Gus McNaughton as Echo publicity manager, Evelyn Roberts as Mr Barker, Aubrey Mallalieu as Magistrate, Edmund Breon as Sir Augustus Marks, Hal Gordon as Reporter, Hal Walters as Racing Tough, C Denier Warren as Editor, Edgar Driver as Boat Hire Owner, Leo Franklyn as Racing Tough, Robert Nainby as Judge at the Gym, Julian Vedey as Hairdressing Dept Head, Jack Vyvian as Boat Hire Man, D J Williams as Editor of The Gazette and Bob Gregory.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,602

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