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4.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Boots! Boots! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Alright, so if you're stumbling onto Boots! Boots! today, you're probably either already a card-carrying George Formby devotee or you’ve got a serious soft spot for old British musicals. For those folks, yeah, it’s worth a watch. You’ll get exactly what you expect: that cheeky grin, that banjo-ukulele strum, and tunes that stick in your head whether you want them to or not. Everyone else? You might find it a bit of a… well, a curiosity, perhaps. It’s definitely not for folks who need slick, modern storytelling or anything too serious.
It’s a George Formby film, through and through. So, you’re basically signing up for a series of musical numbers strung together with a plot that’s thinner than old tissue paper. But that’s kinda the point, isn't it? It’s all about Formby’s unique charm and how he delivers those songs.
Formby himself is just… Formby. He’s got this incredible knack for making you smile, even when the gags are pretty predictable. His expressions are just perfect, especially when he’s trying to be earnest but you can see the mischief in his eyes. There's a scene, I think it's early on, where he’s trying to impress someone, and his left eyebrow just does this little dance. You almost miss it, but it’s so Formby.
And the songs! Oh man, the songs. They are absolutely the core here. You get a good handful, all in his signature style. They’re catchy, often a bit silly, and always delivered with that distinctive Lancashire twang. You can tell he’s really enjoying himself up there.
One number really stands out: 'Little Ukulele.' 🎶 It’s quite something. You can almost feel the air shift a bit in the room when he starts that one. There’s this understated naughtiness to it, and the way he winks at the camera, you know exactly what’s going on without anyone saying it out loud. It’s got a bit of a reputation, that song, and watching it, you kinda get why. It’s playful, but there's a definite edge to it for its time. He’s very subtle with it, but you definitely pick up on the vibe. It makes you wonder what audiences back then really thought.
His wife, Beryl Formby, pops up too. She’s got a certain presence, not quite as effervescent as George, but she holds her own. It’s sweet to see them together, even if her role sometimes feels a bit… secondary. Like she’s there to support, which is lovely, but you don't get many moments where she truly shines on her own, outside of reacting to George’s antics.
The whole thing has this undeniable quaintness. The sets are simple, the camera work is straightforward, and it feels very much like a filmed stage show at times. You can almost smell the old theatre seats. 🎭 This isn't a bad thing; it adds to the charm. But it also means it can feel a bit slow-going if you're used to faster-paced films.
The pacing is a mixed bag. Some of the musical numbers absolutely fly by, full of energy. Then there are bits in between where the plot tries to move forward, and those parts can drag a bit. Like, there’s a scene where two characters are just walking down a corridor for what feels like an eternity, and you’re just waiting for Formby to burst into song again.
The supporting cast? Well, they’re mostly there to set up Formby’s jokes or be impressed by his singing. Tonie Forde and Lilian Keyes do their jobs, but you don’t really connect with them much. They’re more like props, really, which is fine for this kind of movie. You’re not watching it for deep character studies, are you?
There's a moment when a background extra trips over something unseen. It's probably just a mistake, but they kept it in. It adds to the slightly unpolished, 'live' feel. I kinda liked that. It felt human. Nobody's trying too hard to be perfect, and that's refreshing.
So, yeah, Boots! Boots! is definitely a film for the fans. If you enjoy George Formby’s particular brand of cheerful, ukulele-driven entertainment, you’ll have a grand old time. It's a snapshot of a different era of entertainment, simple and direct. For those curious about the history of British musicals, it's a neat little piece of the puzzle.
It’s not going to blow your mind with cinematic innovation. But it’ll probably leave you humming 'Little Ukulele' for the rest of the day. And sometimes, that’s all you really need from a movie, isn’t it? Just a bit of a grin and a catchy tune.
IMDb 7.2
1919
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