Zeus

Band Waggon (1940)

• Director
  • Marcel Varnel
• Writers
  • John Watt(written and devised by)
  • Harry S. Pepper(written and devised by)
  • Gordon Crier(written and devised by)
• Stars
  • Arthur Askey
  • Jack Hylton and His Band
  • Richard Murdoch

  The Band Waggon was the BBC radio series that catapulted diminutive comic Arthur Askey to stardom as "Big-Hearted Arthur". This filmization adds a modern touch by taking place during a television broadcast (the BBC was beaming out a regular schedule of TV programs until the War broke out). Askey and his stooge Richard Murdoch take over an ancient castle to convert it to a video center. Jack Hylton's band is to be the main attraction-and in 1940, Hylton was a far bigger name than Askey, so guess who got top billing on most marquees. The castle is alleged to be haunted, but the nocturnal disturbances are actually the handiwork of Nazi spies. From here on, it's every man for himself.