Jumping for Joy (1956) User Reviews

Fun

[House-of_cards · 6/10 · 19 August 2021]

Some funny moment if you can get by the naievty of the Frankie Howerd !

Lighthearted slapstick

[enquiries-73746 · 7/10 · 29 June 2022]

I've systematically made my way through the British comedy films of the 50s and 60s but, somehow, missed this one.

Its very gentle humour, and the obvious fondness that Frankie has for the 'leading lady', make it well worth a watch.

Look out for the brilliant snippets with Gerald Campion, Arthur Mullard and Bill Frazer.

Glad I watched it!

Likeable vehicle for a comedy star

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 28 March 2020]

JUMPING FOR JOY is another likeable vehicle for Frankie Howerd, following on from the success of THE RUNAWAY BUS. This one features a typically slight story in which Howerd buys an old greyhound and tries to use it to win a fortune at the races, with the usual cast of befuddled authorities, kindly old ladies, and crooked gangsters trying to make it big themselves. The ensemble cast is as good as ever for a British film, with lots of cameos alongside familiar players like Lionel Jeffries and Stanley Holloway in bigger roles, and the cute dog helps. In the end, though, the film's joy comes from Howerd alone, who is on fine form throughout.

A lame effort

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 9 May 2020]

With the actors featuring in the cast you would expect a far better film.Lionel Jefferies attempts a cockney accent but sounds as if he had a cold.Tony Wright seems to be carved out of oak.The script remains resolutely mirthless.The only good thing is the jaunty title number.

Limp and very weak comedy film

[geoffm60295 · 2/10 · 31 May 2022]

Jumping for Joy is one of those chaotic, anarchic and 'slap stick' films, which during the 50's, often featured Norman Wisdom. However, Frankie Howard takes the leading role, but Howard, who plays Willie Joy, comes across as a bland and slow witted type village idiot, but without the Wisdom mannerisms, energy and acrobatics.

The thin storyline revolves around greyhound racing and betting skullduggery with a cast of well known British character actors, all playing stereotypical eccentrics. Howard, isn't good enough to carry the film, and although on stage, TV and radio, he attracted a large audience, Howard didn't have that charisma or personality of a Norman Wisdom to retain interest of a cinema audience. It doesn't help matters when you have banal and cliched dialogue together with cobbled together 'Keystone cop' type, mayhem scenes, designed to promote mirth, but spectacularly fails. Essentially, the supporting cast do their their best with their cardboard and one dimensional roles, but they are defeated by an inane script and actors behaving like dim adolescents. This sort of film was outdated even when it was released in 1956 and since then it has become one of those museum pieces which people look at when reflecting about the demise of the British film industry.

Silly, but intriguing

[calvertfan · 9/10 · 3 April 2002]

Willie Joy buys a dog to make his girl happy; it's a greyhound whose owner doesn't want it because it's no good on the track anymore. He ends up being kicked out of his house and living with a punter in his train, who hatches an elaborate money making scheme. But in amongst this, Willie's dog gets well again and he starts training it for the races, and he somehow ends up mixed up with a whole lot of crooked gangsters and a dog doping ring!

Movie is definitely funny - don't miss a minute of the blind old lady who mistakes Willie for "Percy", and can't drive unless someone else is in the car to let her know when another car might be in her way.. 9/10 - watch it if you can!