At an army reunion, a gang of mates think back to their time in France.
Bless 'Em All was an attempt to make a film star out of comic Hal Monty and as such is a valuable record of a long-forgotten act. He comes over as a cross between Danny Dyer and Harry Secombe - just a hyperactive Cockney wide-boy. It's a bit off-putting at first, and he never entirely relaxes into his role, but you get used to it. Several scenes are only there to show him do bits of his act. Perhaps the best bit is his impression of someone watching a silent film. Hardly topical twenty years after the arrival of the Talkies, but no doubt a large proportion of his audience could relate to it.
The rest of his material is even older. If you can't get to the punchline before the actors at least 50% of the time, then you aren't paying attention. This is basically panto material and as such it's easy to forgive the ancient gags particularly when they're delivered with such professionalism. You get pratfalls, buckets of slop and, inevitably, some comically-unconvincing drag. The only thing missing is a custard pie fight. Sadly, the linking material is dull with little in the way of plot to get us from one skit to the next.
Perhaps for modern audiences, Hal Monty gets overshadowed by the first film appearance of Max Bygraves. Other than being Max Bygraves he doesn't get to contribute much of note: sings a nice song nicely, has a pleasant demeanor, speaks his lines clearly, doesn't trip up over the furniture. He is however a fully-formed Max Bygraves and would remain unchanged for the next 50 years in showbiz. None of the rest of the cast went on to secure a place in the nation's hearts though they are all perfectly professional performers. However buried in crew list is the first screen credit for associate producer John Guillermin. He would, of course go on to direct such films as Towering Inferno and Death on the Nile.
Unfortunately, Bless 'Em All doesn't exist in its entirety. A truncated print was discovered in the Belgium with French and Dutch subtitles burned on. This is available on the bfi Player if you'd like to sample Mr Monty's act for yourself.
Script.: C. Boganny, Hal Monty
Director: Robert Jordan Hill
Players: Hal Monty, Max Bygraves, Jack Milroy, Les Ritchie, Patricia Linova, Stanley White, Sybil Amiel, Vic Ford, Christopher Sheen
