King Arthur Was a Gentleman
Encyclopedia
King Arthur Was a Gentleman is a 1942
British
, black-and-white
, comedy
, musical film
, directed
by Marcel Varnel
and starring Ronald Shiner
as Sargent and Arthur Askey
as Arthur King. It was produced
by Edward Black
, Maurice Ostrer and Gainsborough Productions.
, the plot involves the diminutive Arthur joining the army to prove himself to his girlfriend Susan (Evelyn Dall
), who is in the same unit as him. Here, his idealistic notions about King Arthur
prompt his messmates to trick him into believing that a sword they have dug up is the fabled Excaliber. Armed with this talisman Arthur strides forth to deal with the Wehrmacht
.
1942 in film
The year 1942 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Casablanca.-Events:...
British
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
, black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
, comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
, directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Marcel Varnel
Marcel Varnel
Marcel Varnel was a film director. He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in Paris, France.Varnel started his working life on the Paris stage but soon became a director of musical comedies. In 1925 he moved to New York working as director in several Broadway operettas, musicals and dramas for the...
and starring Ronald Shiner
Ronald Shiner
Ronald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
as Sargent and Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
as Arthur King. It was produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
by Edward Black
Edward Black
Edward Black may refer to:*Edward Black , Canadian minister and teacher*Edward Black , English film producer*Edward Junius Black, American politician, U.S. Representative for Georgia...
, Maurice Ostrer and Gainsborough Productions.
Plot summary
Set during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the plot involves the diminutive Arthur joining the army to prove himself to his girlfriend Susan (Evelyn Dall
Evelyn Dall
Evelyn Dall was an American singer and actress.-Career:Born in The Bronx, New York City Dall began her career in short films and in supporting roles on Broadway. In 1935, she was invited to become the female vocalist for Bert Ambrose and his Orchestra, in the UK, where she remained until 1946...
), who is in the same unit as him. Here, his idealistic notions about King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
prompt his messmates to trick him into believing that a sword they have dug up is the fabled Excaliber. Armed with this talisman Arthur strides forth to deal with the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
.
Cast
- Arthur AskeyArthur AskeyArthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
as Arthur King - Max BaconMax Bacon (actor)-Filmography:* Kicking the Moon Around * King Arthur Was a Gentleman * Miss London Ltd. * Bees in Paradise * Give Us the Moon * The Gambler and the Lady * Take a Powder...
as Maxie - Al Burnett as Slim
- Evelyn DallEvelyn DallEvelyn Dall was an American singer and actress.-Career:Born in The Bronx, New York City Dall began her career in short films and in supporting roles on Broadway. In 1935, she was invited to become the female vocalist for Bert Ambrose and his Orchestra, in the UK, where she remained until 1946...
as Susan Ashley - Vera FrancesVera francesVera Frances worked with actors with such as Arthur Askey, Tommy Handley, George Formby, Dinah Sheridan, John Mills, Alastair Sim.Vera's father was a props and special effects man for Gainsburough pictures, at Grove studio's in Shepherds Bush and put her forward for an audition in 'Back-Room Boy'...
as Vera - Peter GravesPeter Graves, 8th Baron GravesPeter George Wellesley Graves, 8th Baron Graves , was a British actor.Born in London, Graves was the son of Henry Algernon Claude Graves, 7th Baron Graves. Admiral Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves, was his great-great-great-grandfather...
as Lance - Brefni O'RorkeBrefni O'Rorke-Filmography:* The Ghost of St. Michael's * Love on the Dole * This Man Is Dangerous * Jeannie * Cottage to Let * Hatter's Castle * The Black Sheep of Whitehall...
as Colonel Duncannon - Anne Shelton as Gwen Duncannon
- Ronald ShinerRonald ShinerRonald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
as Sergeant - Jack TrainJack TrainJack Train was a British radio and film actor popular during the Second World War.Born in Plymouth, Train was on BBC radio in many productions, but his characters in the BBC series ITMA with Tommy Handley gave him fame...
as Jack - Victor FeldmanVictor FeldmanVictor Stanley Feldman was a British jazz musician, best known as a pianist.-Early history:...
- as young drummer with Maxie
Soundtrack
- Arthur Askey - "You Know What King Arthur Said"
- Arthur Askey - "Honey On My Mind"
- Anne Shelton - "Why Can't It Happen To Me?"
- Evelyn Dall - "You'll Love The Army"
- Evelyn Dall - "Got A Bee In My Bonnet"
- Evelyn Dall - "Actions Speak Louder Than Words"