Old Bones of the River
Encyclopedia
Old Bones of the River is a comedy film released in 1938
starring British actor
Will Hay
with Moore Marriott
and Graham Moffatt
and directed by Marcel Varnel
. The film is a spoof of the 1935 movie, Sanders of the River
, and has been described as "the most comprehensive trashing of the British Empire ever put on celluloid."
.
As he arrives (still trying to learn the native language via recordings), Professor Tibbetts is tricked into sneaking a gin still
into the country by a local prince.
Later, Tibbetts makes his way to Kombooli High, where his students wear Eton
collars alongside their native garb and Tibbetts finds himself sporting a mortarboard and safari shorts due to the heat.
When the Commissioner falls ill with a dose of malaria
, Tibbetts is forced to take over his duties, which include collecting the taxes. Upriver, he finds an old paddlesteamer operated by Harbottle (Moore Marriott
) and Albert (Graham Moffatt
) and the threesome rescue a baby from death by sacrifice
.
Unfortunately, they also manage to precipitate a native uprising...
1938 in film
The year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,...
starring British actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Will Hay
Will Hay
William Thomson "Will" Hay was an English comedian, actor, film director and amateur astronomer.-Early life:He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, in north east England, to William R...
with Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
and Graham Moffatt
Graham Moffatt
Graham Moffatt was a British character actor and comedian.Born in Hammersmith, London, he is best known for a number of films where he appeared with Will Hay and Moore Marriott as 'Albert': an insolent, overweight, overgrown-schoolboy type character, loosely reminiscent of Billy Bunter.His first...
and directed 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...
. The film is a spoof of the 1935 movie, Sanders of the River
Sanders of the River
Sanders of the River is a 1935 film directed by Zoltán Korda, based on the stories of Edgar Wallace. It was later spoofed in the 1938 Will Hay film Old Bones of the River, which also featured the characters of Commissioner Sanders, Captain Hamilton and Bosambo seen in this film, but played by...
, and has been described as "the most comprehensive trashing of the British Empire ever put on celluloid."
Synopsis
Hay plays Professor Benjamin Tibbetts, representative of the Teaching & Welfare Institution for the Reformation of Pagans (otherwise known as T.W.I.R.P for short), and dedicated to spreading education amongst the natives of colonial AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
As he arrives (still trying to learn the native language via recordings), Professor Tibbetts is tricked into sneaking a gin still
Pot still
A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
into the country by a local prince.
Later, Tibbetts makes his way to Kombooli High, where his students wear Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
collars alongside their native garb and Tibbetts finds himself sporting a mortarboard and safari shorts due to the heat.
When the Commissioner falls ill with a dose of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, Tibbetts is forced to take over his duties, which include collecting the taxes. Upriver, he finds an old paddlesteamer operated by Harbottle (Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott
Moore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
) and Albert (Graham Moffatt
Graham Moffatt
Graham Moffatt was a British character actor and comedian.Born in Hammersmith, London, he is best known for a number of films where he appeared with Will Hay and Moore Marriott as 'Albert': an insolent, overweight, overgrown-schoolboy type character, loosely reminiscent of Billy Bunter.His first...
) and the threesome rescue a baby from death by sacrifice
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals or people to God or the gods as an act of propitiation or worship.While sacrifice often implies ritual killing, the term offering can be used for bloodless sacrifices of cereal food or artifacts...
.
Unfortunately, they also manage to precipitate a native uprising...
Cast
- Will HayWill HayWilliam Thomson "Will" Hay was an English comedian, actor, film director and amateur astronomer.-Early life:He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, in north east England, to William R...
as Professor Benjamin Tibbetts - Moore MarriottMoore MarriottMoore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
as Jerry Harbottle - Graham MoffattGraham MoffattGraham Moffatt was a British character actor and comedian.Born in Hammersmith, London, he is best known for a number of films where he appeared with Will Hay and Moore Marriott as 'Albert': an insolent, overweight, overgrown-schoolboy type character, loosely reminiscent of Billy Bunter.His first...
as Albert - Robert AdamsRobert Adams (actor)Robert Adams was a British actor of stage and screen. He was the founder and director of the Negro Repertory Arts Theatre, one of the first professional black theatre companies in Britain.-Early years:...
as Bosambo - Jack LondonJack London (athlete)John Edward "Jack" London was a British athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres.He competed for Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, Netherlands in the 100 metres where he won the silver medal...
as M'Bapi - Wyndham Goldie as Commissioner Sanders
- Jack LiveseyJack LiveseyJack Livesey was a British film actor. He was the son of Sam Livesey and the brothers of Barry Livesey and Roger Livesey.-Selected filmography:* The Passing of the Third Floor Back * Old Bones of the River...
as Captain Hamilton