Boredom, boredom...
Without sounding all 'When I were a lad, all the grass were green...' etc. Only in hindsight can we look back at those six weeks when the sun shone, well almost all the time...
First starting off with a movie which seems to be have forgotten by television, but after the event a glimpse of how good British comedy used to be...
In December 1973, a film came out which was to be a precursor to tales to come... At that time Britain need an escape from what was a very dull, depressing time. Like Ian Botham, there was a new hero needed and that hero was of the four legged variety. When the movie was first released, it didn't really pull its weight at the box office but having been on the shelf like most movies of the time. It was forgotten by people until New Years Day 1982, when Digby was sent for to help launch the new ITV franchises and was put on as a remedy to sore heads.
With appearances all through the eighties, especially on Bank Holidays but mostly as a way to fill the time where schools programmes would be without spending money on making new programmes, so it was an ideal solution for ITV really...
Digby, Digby...
Even then we haven't scratched the surface of why this film is enjoyable, it might not be the best film in the world. But as a romp, it ticks all the boxes...
Taking for a start the cast itself, starting with a post Carry On... and pre Disney and Harry Potter in America audiobook reader Jim Dale. Jim himself was a part of the Carry On from the mid-sixties right up to Carry On Again, Doctor with a gap until 1992's Carry On Columbus. He was family friendly and the kids loved his knockabout style, so he was the perfect choice to be the main human lead as Jeff Eldon, the scientist who accidently super-sizes Digby to extraordinary size leading to Digby, to be stolen by John Bluthal and Norman Rossington ready to be paraded a la King Kong in a circus...
Jack Black not included...
Along with Angela Douglas, who Jim had played opposite to her as Marshall P. Knutt in Carry On... Cowboy with her playing Annie Oakley. It seemed like the right chemistry had been found with young actor Richard Beaumont playing Billy White, Digby's child owner and friend of Jeff. Added to the mix were Milo O'Shea, Dinsdale Landen and also Victor Spinetti plus Bob Todd putting in turns to the film.
The interesting thing is the director of the film. Mr Joseph McGrath, who is better known as one of the Executive Producers on Pete and Dud's 'Not Only, But Also'. Having cut his teeth on Peter Sellers vehicles Casino Royale and The Magic Christian, he seemed like a natural choice to helm a film which need laughs and slapstick for the kids but also enough to keep the adults entertained at the same time.
But there's something missing, maybe a bit of pepper or spice if you will...
The added ingredient to make the film, that comes in the of a post-Goons Spike Milligan. Milligan is exceptional in the film as Dr. Harz, his little asides come close to stealing the film to add that surreal edge which is needed to keep the story going along at a good pace. If you ignore the attempt at German accent, Spike shows that he can hold it against the new generation and some of his peers as well. On reflection, he is always good at the smaller parts just popping up in films as a relief from the main action. But it wasn't to be him who got the better deal, Jim went onto do Disney films leading the way for Michael Crawford in Condorman it seems. Finally getting the recognition for his turn as the narrator on Pushing Daisies, he have moved to America... He made part of the school holidays pleasurable....
Here is the title music to the film, everyone sing along now!
Thanks Jim...
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