Underneath the Arches *** (1937, Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen) – Classic Movie Review 13,447

Underneath the Arches (1937 film).

Director Redd David’s 1937 British comedy film Underneath the Arches stars Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen, along with Stella Moya, Lyn Harding and Edmund Willard.

Underneath the Arches is an amusing, quite pleasing vehicle for Crazy Gang team leaders Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen, with a fantastical farcical plot about cockney down-and-outs Bud and Ches, who sleep out underneath the arches in London, finding a new dockside place to kip and accidentally stowing away aboardship. The boat embarks for South America, where they become accidental heroes when they rescue a secret gas formula from the revolutionary baddies there.

Thanks to Flanagan and Allen’s exuberance and likeability, and some good gags, Underneath the Arches is often still very funny.

The title is taken from their famous signature song ‘Underneath the Arches’.

The screenplay by H Fowler Mear is based on Alison Booth’s story.

It runs 72 minutes but the 1948 reissue version is only 52 minutes.

Release date: 23 February 1937.

It follows A Fire Has Been Arranged (1935).

The cast

The cast are Bud Flanagan as Bud, Chesney Allen as Ches, Stella Moya as Anna, Lyn Harding as Pedro, Edmund Willard as Chief Steward, Enid Stamp-Taylor as Dolores, Edward Ashley as Carlos, and Aubrey Mather as Professor.

Underneath the Arches is directed by Redd David, runs 72 minutes, is made by Twickenham Studios, is released by Wardour Films, is written by H Fowler Mear, based on Alison Booth’s story, is shot in black and white by Sydney Blythe, is produced by Julius Hagen, and is scored by W L Trytel.

Bud Flanagan (born Chaim Reuben Weintrop, 14 October 1896 – 20 October 1968)

‘Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler?’

Bud Flanagan’s last recording was Jimmy Perry and Derek Taverner’s theme song for the British sitcom Dad’s Army ‘Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler?’, recorded by Pye on 27 February 1968 shortly before his death, aged 72, on 20 October 1968. He was paid 100 guineas (£105).

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,447

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