On the Fiddle (1961)

Director:

Cyril Frankel

Writers:

R.F. Delderfield (novel)
Harold Buchman (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 May 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's Sean Connery again! Warm lips or hot lead - he's after action not medals!

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Buddy | WWII | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Alfred Lynch	...	Horace Pope
Sean Connery	...	Pedlar Pascoe
Cecil Parker	...	Group Capt. Bascombe
Stanley Holloway	...	Mr. Cooksley
Alan King	...	Top Sgt. Buzzer
Eric Barker	...	Doctor
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Trowbridge
Kathleen Harrison	...	Mrs. Cooksley
Eleanor Summerfield	...	Flora McNaughton
Terence Longdon	...	Air Gunner
Victor Maddern	...	First Airman
Harry Locke	...	Huxtable
John Le Mesurier	...	Hixon
Viola Keats	...	Sister
Peter Sinclair	...	Mr. Pope

Also Known As:

Operation Snafu (USA)
Operation War Head (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:A

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Coronado Productions

Trivia:

In 1965, at the height of the James Bond craze, American International Pictures released this movie in the U.S.A. as "Operation Snafu". The title, as well as the advertising campaign, downplayed the comedic aspects of the film, and by highlighting Sean Connery's appearance, suggested it was an espionage thriller in the tradition of the 007 films that were then breaking box-office records worldwide.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Trailer Cinema (1992) (TV)

Fun Service Comedy

This is a perfectly charming little service comedy, with the added bonus of co-starring Sean Connery just before he attained fame in the role of James Bond. Even better, Connery plays totally against type, as a low-key version of Gomer Pyle -- an ingenuous, somewhat stupid-but-likeable serviceman. Alfred Lynch is the real star, though, playing a weasel-y British version of Sgt. Bilko, running numerous scams with his dim-witted buddy Connery. It's funny. Imagine American service sitcoms such as "McHale's Navy" and "Sgt. Bilko" crossed with the gently loopy charms of Ealing Comedies, and you'll get an idea of the tone of this film.