''London Entertains'' is a 1951 British quasi-documentary film that combines a travelogue around London with film of various variety stars including

The Goons ''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September 19 ...

and Bobby Breen. The film was conceived by

Jimmy Grafton James Douglas Grafton, (19 May 1916 – 2 June 1986) was a producer, writer and theatrical agent. He served in World War II as an officer in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during O ...

and produced and directed by

Edwin John Fancey Edwin John Fancey (1902–1980) was a British film producer and film distributor, distributor.Chibnall & McFarlane p.117 He owned the production company E.J. Fancey Productions, and the distribution company DUK (film distributor), DUK. He speciali ...

. The film uses the pretext of girls returning from a Swiss

finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

and setting up an agency called ''At Your Service'' to show tourists to London around the sites of the 1951 Festival of Britain. They are aided by BBC radio presenter Eamonn Andrews who uses his show-business contacts to get the girls in to see variety shows. Entertainment locations visited include the Windmill Theatre and ''Grafton's'', the public house owned by the film's writer Jimmy Grafton, where ''The Goon Show'' (then known as ''Crazy People'') was recorded. The film also includes footage of actress Gloria Swanson touring the construction site of the

Royal Festival Hall The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I l ...

and the

Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues in London, England, on the South Bank of the River Thames (between Hungerford Bridge and Waterloo Bridge). It comprises three main performance venues (the Royal Festival Hall including the Nat ...

. The actresses playing the girls were members of the Eastbourne Girls Choir.

References

{{reflist British documentary films 1951 documentary films British black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films