On the Fiddle (1961)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

"On the Fiddle" is a good enough film for those who have an hour and a half to spare. Sean Connery was just 1 year away from becoming one of the biggest stars of our time when he made this war comedy/drama. Apparently, it was "On the Fiddle" that led to his being considered for James Bond. Alfred Lynch - largely forgotten today - takes the lead as a fast thinking lovable rogue who knows every dodge there is. Sean Connery is cast as Lynch's slightly dimwitted but loyal friend as they both share various experiences during the second world war. The tone is kept quite lighthearted until about the last 20 minutes of the film. Then both characters are confronted by how truly horrific war is. This film disappeared from everyone's radar apart from rare television broadcasts. The pace is pretty good and the film is a lively one. The joint leads work well together and they carry the film most effectively. All kinds of familiar actors crop up along the way: Stanley Holloway, Kathleen Harrison, Kenneth J. Warren, Hugh Lloyd (of Tony Hancock fame) and others. Alfred Lynch is given the chance to display a more tragic side to his character and it shows there is more to his character than just being a cockney spiv. This is worth a look.

'On the Fiddle' is OK, and won't let you down on a quiet afternoon. It's more interesting for the fact that it's a comedy war film from the point of view of the average soldier, and the officers who do appear are shown as complete idiots. Nowadays this is a given, but in 1960, when the UK still had conscription, to make a film like this was to take sides in the social changes that were happening. It's a forerunner of 'Kelly's Heroes' on a tiny budget, and it looks like it was fun to make, so you can't judge it too harshly. And there are few better than Sean Connery at buddy movies. In a way, it shows how Bond constrained Connery for the years he did it, and I wish there were more films of the time with him not wearing a toupee or being a psychopathic MCP.

When he is pulled up in court for selling stuff on the street, Horace Pope says he was only doing it while waiting to enlist. The judge calls his bluff and forces him to sign up. Pope makes friends with the easy going but loyal Pedlar Pascoe, who happily goes along with all of his scams in an effort to avoid the front lines and make a bit on the side. However, his scams cause trouble where he goes and there are only so many places he can go before France beckons.I watched this film recently in a sort of tribute to it's main star Alfred Lynch, who sadly died over the Christmas holiday 2003. I had never seen this film of his before and didn't even know when it was made. The reason I mention that is because this film feels like one of those Norman Wisdom films where the English cheeky chappy unwittingly does heroics in the war, all with a `blimey gov'ner' and so on. Instead this was made in the 1960's, although I can't think why. The basic plot sets up a series of little amusing scams before the sudden heroics that we all know will come sooner or later. While it is rarely hilarious, it is amusing at turns and is worth watching as long as you don't expect too much of it.Lynch plays a character that wouldn't have really worked in the 1940's as, regardless of his later heroics, he is really far too cowardly and weasely to be a wartime hero - but 15 years later it can be overlooked. He does OK and is a standard cockney type - although it is strange seeing him taking the lead role over Connery. Connery was only a year away from being the legend he now is with Bond and plays totally against what would now be considered type. He is a little bit simple but good hearted; while the role is hard to swallow now, he does play it well. The support cast is surprisingly deep considering the material; Parker, Le Mesurier, Owen and Windsor are among the famous faces.Overall this is an enjoyable film that is never hilarious but has the amusing, music hall air of a propaganda movie from 15 years older. I wonder how this film was received as it must have seemed outdated even the day it was released - watching it now is probably better cause it is just an `old' film. It's not great but the cast is famous and the comedy is gentle and old fashioned - an average film but still worth seeing.

Sean, you know I think that you are absolutely the greatest actor in the world, but I can't commend you for this. Comedy just isn't your strong suit.However, it wasn't all your fault. Some of the stuff was just too hard to understand. Alfred Lynch did a decent job, but you gotta wonder where the lines came from from the beginning.Once again, Sean... I apologize.