''Not So Dusty'' is a 1956 black and white British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Maclean Rogers Maclean Rogers (13 July 1899 – 4 January 1962) was a British film director and screenwriter. Selected filmography Director * '' The Third Eye'' (1929) * ''The Mayor's Nest'' (1932) * '' Up for the Derby'' (1933) * ''The Crime at Blossoms' ...

and starring Bill Owen,

Leslie Dwyer Leslie Gilbert Dwyer (28 August 1906 – 26 December 1986) was an English film and television actor. Career He was born in Catford, the son of the popular music hall comedian Johnny Dwyer, and acted from the age of ten and appeared in his firs ...

and

Joy Nichols Joy Eileen Nichols (17 February 1925 – 23 June 1992) was an Australian-British comedian, actress and singer who also worked in the United States. She was best known as one of the stars of ''Take It From Here'' on BBC Radio. Biography Nichols, ...

Plot

Two London dustmen ( rubbish collectors) Dusty and Nobby, serving the borough of

Twickenham Twickenham is a suburban district in London, England. It is situated on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965, and the boroug ...

spot a couple in an apartment block robbing a book from the woman's sister. The crime is temporarily delayed by the maid. Inexplicably they find a diamond brooch in the bin outside the property. They enter the building to return it just as the owner, Miss Duncan, returns. This allows Dusty to meet Lobelia, the maid. He asks her out to the pictures. Instead of cash Miss Duncan gives them a book on the philosophy of

Diogenes Diogenes ( ; grc, Διογένης, Diogénēs ), also known as Diogenes the Cynic (, ) or Diogenes of Sinope, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynicism (philosophy). He was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea ...

as a reward. This is the same book which the couple were trying to steal. An American is seeking the book offering $5000 (£500). Meanwhile the book starts to travel. Nobby's son Derek takes it to a bookseller as part of a bundle of old books which needs to be in groups of six. Nobby and Dusty have to break into the bookseller to retrieve it. This is thought to be a valuable book and they have to thwart the attempts of some criminals to con them out of it. Mrs Lincoln eventually tracks them and gives them £500 for the book. However, it is revealed that the American seeks volume 1 and they have volume 2 which is worthless. Volume 2 is tracked and they rush to the airport to get the American the copy just in time. He writes a cheque for more money.

Cast

* Bill Owen as "Dusty" Grey *

as Lobelia, Miss Duncan's maid *

as Nobby Clarke * Harold Berens as Driver *

Roddy Hughes Rhodri Henry Hughes (19 June 1891 – 22 February 1970) was a Welsh theatre, film and television actor, who appeared in over 80 films between 1932 and 1961. Selected filmography * ''Mr. Bill the Conqueror'' (1932) * ''Reunion'' (1932) * '' Say ...

as J.C. Layton *

Ellen Pollock Ellen Pollock (29 June 1902 – 29 March 1997) was a British character actress who mainly appeared on stage in London's West End. She also appeared in several films and TV productions. A devotee of Bernard Shaw, she was president of the Shaw S ...

as Agatha Lincoln *

Bill Shine William Shine (born July 4, 1963) is a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. He spent most of his career as a producer and executive at Fox News. Most recently, he was c ...

as Alistair Lincoln *

Wally Patch Walter Sydney Vinnicombe (26 September 1888 – 27 October 1970) was an English actor and comedian. He worked in film, television and theatre. Biography Vinnicombe was born in Willesden, Middlesex and began working on the music hall stages in ...

as Burrows the concierge at Miss Duncan's home *

Dandy Nichols Dandy Nichols (born Daisy Sander; 21 May 1907 – 6 February 1986) was an English actress best known for her role as Else Garnett, the long-suffering wife of the character Alf Garnett who was a parody of a working class Tory, in the BBC sit ...

as Mrs. Clarke, Nobby's wife *

William Simons Clifford William Cumberbatch Simons (17 November 1940 – 21 June 2019) was a Welsh-born actor best known for his role as PC Alf Ventress in '' Heartbeat'', a role he played for 18 years, from 1992 to 2010. Early life Simons was born on 17 Novem ...

as Derek Clarke *

Totti Truman Taylor Totti Truman Taylor, born Dorothy Leah Truman (7 September 1915 – 5 March 1981), was a British actress. Her mother’s 2nd husband’s surname was Taylor, and this is where her stage name came from. In 1953, she played Aunt Sally in the BBC telev ...

as Charlotte Duncan * Tony Quinn as Elmer J. Cobb * Diana Chapman as Receptionist * Scott Sanders as Lancelot Barnaby Pennington the bookseller * Michael McKeag as 2nd Actor * Alexis de Galien as Head waiter * George Roderick as 1st Waiter * John Moore as 2nd Waiter

Production

The film was made at

Twickenham Studios Twickenham Studios (formerly known as Twickenham Film Studios) is a film studio in St Margarets, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, that is used by various motion picture and television companies. It was established in 1913 by Ralph ...

and on location around London. It is a remake of a 1936 film of the same title which had also been directed by Maclean Rogers.

, who had written and starred in the earlier film, appears in a small role in the remake.

References

Bibliography

* Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. ''The British 'B' Film''. Palgrave MacMillan, 2011.

External links

* 1956 films 1956 comedy films British comedy films Films directed by Maclean Rogers Films set in London Remakes of British films Films shot in London Films shot at Twickenham Film Studios 1950s English-language films 1950s British films British black-and-white films {{1950s-UK-comedy-film-stub