''Off the Dole'' is a 1935 British film starring

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he s ...

. Formby appeared as John Willie, a stage character originally developed by his father, George Formby, Sr.; Beryl Formby, Formby Jnr's wife, also appeared in the film.

Plot

John Willie has his dole money denied him for moonlighting and not trying to find work. His uncle asks him to take over his detective agency.

Cast

as John Willie *Beryl Formby as Grace, Charm and Ability *

Constance Shotter Constance Ada Shotter, Lady Taylor (5 October 1911 – 1989) was a British actress who appeared in several films in the 1930s. Shotter was born in London. By 1926 she was a chorus dancer, appearing in ''The Midnight Follies a Dinner, Dancing and ...

as Irene *Dan Crisp as The Inimitable Dude *James Plant as Crisp and Debonaire *Stan Pell as The Most Inoffensive Parson *Stan Little as Little Jack *Tully Comber as Measured for his Part * Clifford McLaglen as A Villain and Proud of It *

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 Revels in his Part

Background/production

''Off the Dole'' cost £3,000 to make, and earned £80,000 at the box office. As with Formy's previous film, '' Boots! Boots!'' (1934), the film was in a revue format, and also showed Formby in the role of John Willie; Beryl was his co-star. According to Formby's biographer, the cultural historian

Jeffrey Richards Jeffrey Richards (born c.1945)Chris Arno"Fast Forward: Jeffrey Richards" ''The Guardian'', 11 January 2005 is a British historian. Educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, he is Professor of Cultural History at Lancaster University. A leading cul ...

, the two films "are an invaluable record of the pre-cinematic Formby at work".

Notes and references

Notes References

Sources

* * 1935 films 1935 comedy films British comedy films British black-and-white films Films shot in Greater Manchester 1930s English-language films 1930s British films {{1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub