Variety Jubilee *** (1943, Reginald Purdell, Ellis Irving, Lesley Brook, George Robey, Charles Coburn) – Classic Movie Review 12,644

The very entertaining 1943 British musical film Variety Jubilee depicts life in a London music hall from 1892 to World War Two, and is of great archival and nostalgia interest thanks to the precious glimpses of the artistes it includes. 

Director Maclean Rogers’s 1943 British musical film Variety Jubilee is unimaginatively assembled, perhaps, but it is still very entertaining, and above all of very considerable archival and nostalgia interest thanks to the precious glimpses of the artistes it includes. It depicts life in a London music hall from 1892 to World War Two, chronicling three generations of a family of music hall owners.

It is a look back at some of the famous names who have trodden the boards of British variety, framed in a fictional story about two variety artistes, Joe and Kit, (played by Reginald Purdell and Ellis Irving), who become partners in running a music hall at the turn of the last century.

Boer War (1899 – 1902) wounds end Joe’s dancing career and he goes to work at the Burn’s Music Hall, which he and Kit then buy. The two are close friends, and Kit even marries Joe’s dancing partner Evelyn (Lesley Brook). Kit’s son dies in World War One and music halls lose their popularity. Joe and Kit’s business fails, and Kit and his wife die in poverty. Then in World War Two, Kit’s (Irving)’s grandson joins the RAF and revives the old music hall under the watchful eye of a now ancient Joe (Purdell).

Featured artistes include the great George Robey, Charles Coborn at the age of 91, the glorious sand-dancing trio Wilson, Keppel and Betty, The Ganjou Brothers and Juanita, the Band of the Coldstream Guards, plus Marie Lloyd Jnr as her famous music hall star mum Marie Lloyd.

The cast include Reginald Purdell, Ellis Irving, Lesley Brook, George Robey, Charles Coborn, Ella Retford, Slim Rhyder, Betty Warren, Tom E Finglass, John Rorke, George Merritt, Arthur Hambling, Pat McGrath, Louis Bradfield Charles Shadwell, Joan Winters, Nat D Ayer, Wilson, Keppel and Betty, The Ganjou Brothers, and Marie Lloyd Jnr.

Variety Jubilee is directed by Maclean Rogers, runs 92 minutes, is made and released by Butcher’s Film Services, is written by Kathleen Butler, based on a story by Mabel Constanduros, is shot in black and white by Geoffrey Faithfull, is produced by F W Baker, and is scored by Percival Mackey.

It was made at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, West London.

Release date: 14 June 1943.

The cast are Reginald Purdell as Joe Swan, Ellis Irving as Kit Burns, Lesley Brook as Evelyn Vincent, Betty Warren as Florrie Forde, Tom E Finglass as Eugene Stratton, John Rorke as Gus Elen, Marie Lloyd Jr as Marie Lloyd, George Robey as himself, Charles Coborn as himself, Ella Retford as herself, Charles Shadwell as himself, Joan Winters as herself, Nat Ayer as himself, Slim Rhyder as himself, Tessa Deane as herself, Wilson, Keppel and Betty as Themselves, Band of the Coldstream Guards as Themselves, Peter Noble as Chairman, Louis Bradfield as Chris Burns, Amy Dalby as Suffragette, Arthur Hambling as Commissionaire, Bryan Herbert as Guest at Theatre Opening, Vi Kaley as Evelyn’s Dresser, David Keir as Theatre Bar Patron, Pat McGrath as Kit Burns Jr, and George Merritt as Music Hall Chairman.

George Robey (20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954) was famed as one of the greatest music hall performers.

British music hall singer and comedian Charles Coborn (4 August 1852 – 23 November 1945) was known largely for the comic songs ‘Two Lovely Black Eyes’ and ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’. He played in Variety Jubilee at the age of 91, two years before his death. Born Colin Whitton McCallum in Stepney, East London, he took his stage name from Coborn Road, near Mile End.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,644

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