Hi Gang! (film)

1941 British film by Marcel Varnel

For the radio series, see Hi Gang! (radio series).

Hi Gang!

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Marcel Varnel
Written by|

* Bebe Daniels (radio series)
* Ben Lyon (radio series)
* Marriott Edgar
* Val Guest
* J. O. C. Orton
* Howard Irving Young

Produced by| Edward Black
Starring|

* Bebe Daniels
* Ben Lyon
* Vic Oliver
* Moore Marriott

Cinematography| Jack E. Cox
Edited by| R. E. Dearing
Music by| Louis Levy

Production
company

Gainsborough Pictures

Distributed by| General Film Distributors

Release date

| 27 December 1941

Running time

| 100 minutes
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English

Hi Gang! is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon and Vic Oliver.[1] It was a spin-off from the popular BBC radio series Hi Gang!.

## Production[edit]

The film was made by Gainsborough Pictures at Lime Grove Studios, London. The film's art direction was by Walter W. Murton.

## Plot[edit]

Two married reporters in New York City working for rival radio networks engage in cut-throat competition, assisted by an incompetent with big ideas. A publicity stunt by the couple to adopt a British evacuee boy live on air goes wrong and they end up adopting Albert, a rowdy pub landlord's son and his cantankerous Uncle Jerry. They all travel to England in the mistaken belief that Albert is the son of Lord Amersham.

## Cast[edit]

* Bebe Daniels as the Liberty Girl
* Ben Lyon as the Liberty Girl's other half
* Vic Oliver as The nuisance with the ideas
* Moore Marriott as Uncle Jerry
* Graham Moffatt as Albert Tomlin
* Felix Aylmer as Lord Amersham
* Percy Parsons as Hergensheimer
* Diana Beaumont as Hergensheimer's secretary
* Jacques Brown as Botticelli
* Mavis Villiers as Botticelli's decretary
* Maurice Rhodes as Little Ben
* Richard George as policeman
* Georgina Mackinnon as Mrs Endicott
* MacDonald Parke as attorney
* Esme Percy as Lord Chamberlain
* Ben Williams as Elmer

## Critical reception[edit]

Monthly Film Bulletin said "Those who like the radio feature Hi Gang will enjoy this film version, though it is not until near the end that the actual broadcast programme is introduced. The story is, of course, farcical and the dialogue is full of wisecracks – some old, some new. All members of the cast play their allotted parts with zest and under competent direction the fun is kept going."[2]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Brightish lark."[3]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Icky farce based faintly on a wartime radio variety series, notable only for preserving the three stars involved."[4]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Hi Gang!". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
2. ^ "Hi Gang!". Monthly Film Bulletin. 8 (85): 161. 1941 - via ProQuest.
3. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 217\. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
4. ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 463\. ISBN 0586088946.

## External links[edit]

* Hi Gang! at IMDb

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Films directed by Marcel Varnel

* The Silent Witness (1932)
* Chandu the Magician (1932)
* Infernal Machine (1933)
* Freedom of the Seas (1934)
* Girls Will Be Boys  (1934)
* Royal Cavalcade (1935)
* Dance Band (1935)
* The Loves of Madame Dubarry (1935)
* No Monkey Business (1935)
* Public Nuisance No. 1 (1936)
* All In (1936)
* Good Morning, Boys  (1937)
* O-Kay for Sound  (1937)
* Oh, Mr Porter! (1937)
* Convict 99 (1938)
* Alf's Button Afloat  (1938)
* Hey! Hey! USA (1938)
* Old Bones of the River (1938)
* Ask a Policeman (1939)
* Where's That Fire? (1939)
* The Frozen Limits (1939)
* Band Waggon (1940)
* Let George Do It! (1940)
* Neutral Port (1940)
* Gasbags (1941)
* The Ghost of St. Michael's (1941)
* Turned Out Nice Again (1941)
* I Thank You (1941)
* South American George (1941)
* Hi Gang! (1941)
* Much Too Shy (1942)
* King Arthur Was a Gentleman (1942)
* Get Cracking (1943)
* Bell-Bottom George  (1944)
* He Snoops to Conquer (1944)
* I Didn't Do It (1945)
* George in Civvy Street (1946)
* This Man Is Mine (1946)

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