Educated Evans

BFI Most Wanted: the hunt for Britain's missing films

Directed by William Beaudine, 1936

Max Miller film about a dubious tipster who is invited to become a society race-horse trainer, eventually foiling characters more crooked than he is.

Max Miller (in top hat) as Educated Evans

Credits

Director Production Company Producer Screenplay Photography	William Beaudine Warner Bros First National Irving Asher Frank Launder Robert Edmunds Basil Emmot
Cast: Max Miller (Evans), Nancy O'Neil (Mary), Clarice Mayne (Emily Hackitt), Albert Whelan (Sgt Challoner)
86 mins, 7,789 feet, sound, black & white

Why are we so keen to find it?

Max Miller's biographer, John M. East, suggests that the star refused to heed advice and adapt his technique or slow down, and his extant film performances do not serve his reputation well. This film is wanted because it has Miller playing a role where the fast-talking patter reportedly shows him at something like his best, as audiences at his live shows would have known. It is also an early example of Frank Launder's writing, and is notable too for art director Peter Proud, who had a long and distinguished career. As a further curiosity, it features the genuine racing tipster and sometime Soho character Ras Prince Monolulu.

What's it about?

Educated Evans, a cockney racing tipster, is asked to train the racehorse of the Hackitts, a couple who aspire to climb socially. Evans has no stables, and keeps the horse in a mews he shares with penniless Mary and her brother. Many of the laughs are derived from his needing to keep up appearances, and to this end he offers a string of wisecracks. The horse turns out to be stolen, and Evans outwits the real crooks and ends up in the money.

Last seen?

It was trade screened on 31 August 1936 and scheduled for release on 15 February 1937, but delayed until 1 March.

What else do we know about it?

The character of Evans was created by the breathlessly prolific author Edgar Wallace. A sequel, Thank Evans, appeared in 1938, and the comedian Charlie Chester reprised the character in a 1957-58 BBC television series, also called Educated Evans.

Does anything survive?

The BFI Stills, Posters and Designs collection holds a selection of stills. There are significant contemporaneous trade reviews of the film, as well as one in the Monthly Film Bulletin. A production still appeared in Picture Show in October 1936.

Reviews

Reviews were very positive. Kine Weekly (3 September 1936) commended it as an "excellent popular booking, one which to use its own vernacular is already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report (August 1936) agreed. "The plot... has a distinctly funny side," it announced, praising "the star's ability to draw to life the plausible, glib-tongued, tipster created by Edgar Wallace." It added: "though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade as displayed by a past master". The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Report of (September 1936) was similarly impressed: "Max Miller is in excellent form in the name part".

David Sharp, Head Librarian, BFI National Library