Somewhere In Politics | BFI Most Wanted BFI National Archive

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

Somewhere in Politics (aka A Full House)

Directed by John E. Blakeley, 1948

Knockabout comedy featuring the madcap talents of music hall star Frank Randle.

Joe Smart (Frank Randle) clearly thinks that women like his wife Daisy (Tessie O'Shea) should stay out of politics.

Credits

Director Production Company Script Photography Editor Art Director Musical Arrangements	John E. Blakeley Mancunian Film Corporation Harry Jackson Ernest Palmer and Ben R. Hart Dorothy Stimson Joseph Gomersall Fred Harris and Fred Bonelli
Cast: Frank Randle (Joe Smart); Tessie O'Shea (Daisy Smart); Josef Locke (Councillor Willoughby); Syd and Max Harrison (Tony and Arthur Parker); Anthony Oakley (Howard); Sally Barnes (Marjorie Willoughby); Sonny Burke (Reg Smart); Jimmy Clitheroe (Sonny)
108 mins, 9,900 feet, sound, black & white.

Why are we so keen to find it?

The Mancunian Film Corporation was the only regional film studio in Britain, making mainly comedy films that featured music hall stars doing their turns. Several Mancunian films are missing, among them this one, a vehicle for the hugely popular northern comic Frank Randle. Alongside him were the equally successful comedy performer Tessie O'Shea and Josef Locke, billed as 'Britain's greatest tenor'. The aim of Mancunian was never to make great quality films but to capture on film the acts of these stars to bring them to a wider audience; one additional benefit has been the recording of these acts for posterity.

This was the fifth in the studio's series of Somewhere in... films, but the first to be shot in Manchester itself. All of them starred Randle, whose presence was considered a surefire selling point.

What's it about?

For most Mancunian films, a well thought out plot was not a particularly high priority as they were mainly carried by the enthusiasm of the star turns. To-Day's Cinema sums it up thus:

Crazy story of comedian Frank Randle's election as town councillor. Narration proceeds nimbly along lines of unabashed knockabout comedy, involving house let to two tenants, domestic slapstick, marital bickering, rowdy meeting of women's guild and variety versatility at election rally.

The press book for the film contains a very detailed run down of the plot, of which this is an abridged version:

On arriving at their new house prepared to move in, Joe and Daisy Smart find that by some error the house had also been let to Martha Parker and her brothers Tony and Arthur. High words ensue between the rival tenants until peace is restored by Marjorie Willoughby, daughter of Willoughby, the Estate Agent who is looking over the property in the company of Reg, Joe's son. She suggests that they share the house, which is quite big enough for two families, a suggestion that is not too well received until Daisy and Martha discover that they are both members of the local Women's Freedom Guild of which Daisy is President. Then the ladies strike up an immediate friendship, and in spite of continued protests from the mere males, decide to share the tenancy and the two lots of furniture are moved in.

The Smarts and the Parkers settle down in their new home, but the agitations and meetings of the Women's Freedom Guild add greatly to the discomfort of the working men who are employed as alleged radio mechanics at Willoughby's Radio Stores, until Joe is persuaded by Daisy to accept nomination for the Council at the next Election in opposition to Councillor Willoughby. To further his election chances, Joe determines to enlist the aid of influential Lady Hazelmere and seizes the opportunity when he is sent to repair her television set. A hilarious attempted love scene follows, interrupted by the inopportune arrival of Daisy, who is also seeking Lady Hazelmere's aid on behalf of the Women's Freedom Guild.

Willoughby is furious with Joe for his opposition, but Howard, his rascally General Manager, tells Willoughby not to worry as he thinks he has a means of ensurnig that Joe will not be elected.

Reg, a clerk at a local Bank, becomes suspicious of Howard, who pays a large number of £5 notes into Willoughby's account - while Howard's own account is growing out of all proportion to his means. It is later confirmed that some of the £5 notes are forgeries, but Howard cleverly frames Joe, who in spite of his protestations of innocence, is threatened that the Police will be informed unless he withdraws from the election.

The election campaign goes on, however, and Joe and his supporters, including Tony and Arthur and Daisy and her Women's Freedom Guild gatecrash a Willoughby Supporters' Rally at his "Blue Moon Hotel Ballroom."

On Polling Day, Joe's gang sets off on a last minute canvassing campaign, but as the votes are being counted, Willoughby reminds Joe of his intention to inform the Police unless Joe withdraws before midnight.

Meanwhile, Reg's suspicions are aroused on overhearing Howard making a telephone call, and he is successful in unmasking Howard as the forger, and with Police assistance catch him red-handed.

Joe is cleared, wins the election by a narrow majority and is sportingly congratulated by Willoughby, who invites him to the "Blue Moon Hotel" to celebrate. He celebrates not wisely but too well, and tipsily but happily returns home to the waiting Daisy to be upbraided for his first excursion into "Somewhere in Politics."

Last seen?

The film was released in November 1948. A short made from it, entitled Full House, came out in 1960, so the feature must still have been in existence at that time.

What else do we know about it?

In the film, tenor Josef Locke performs his signature tune 'Violetta' as well as a medley of Irish airs. It was his film debut, as well as that of comedy duo Syd and Max Harrison. Randle and Locke were reportedly great drinking companions.

According to a book about Mancunian, Hooray for Jollygood, Locke earned £1,000 a week on the film. Randle, who was also a director of the studio and therefore eligible for a cut of the profits, took home £850 per week. Director Blakeley booked them both into local theatres during the filming to earn some extra income.

The book relates an anecdote about the hot day in June when shooting on the film finished and the studio doors were opened to let in some air. Several musical instruments were lying around from an earlier scene and apparently the cast picked them up and marched down the road playing. A huge crowd gathered to watch and the traffic stopped; this incident sums up the atmosphere at John E. Blakeley's 'Fun Factory', as it was dubbed.

Does anything survive?

An 18-minute short from the film, entitled Full House, was released in June 1960 and a print of this exists and is held by the North West Film Archive. The BFI holds a press book on the film, and a set of stills was supplied for this site by the family of John E. Blakeley.

Reviews

The Monthly Film Bulletin devoted just three sentences to the film, demonstrating the view of many southerners towards Mancunian's output: "The provinces will probably enjoy this knockabout comedy, though many Londoners will fail to see the point."

To-Day's Cinema is less sniffy. While acknowledging the "workmanlike direction" and "adequate production standards," the reviewer is enthusiastic about the humour and performances. He concludes:

"In addition to the untiring inventiveness of the star in grimace and tumble, the escapades are served by the clowning of Tessie as Randle's electioneering wife - she also heaves her 'two-ton' around in abandoned dance - by the singing of sentimental ditty by Josef Locke, and by the lunacies of Syd and Max in song and sally. It is all put over with pace and vigour, and will doubtless register heartily with the legion of Randle fans."

Jo Botting, Curator (Fiction), BFI National Archive

You can find more about British films of the late 1940s, including entries on surviving films and video clips for users in UK schools, colleges, universities and public libraries, at BFI Screenonline. You can also view similar titles at the BFI Mediatheques.