Off the Dole: George Formby, Bathing Belles, and pure chaos

Is it worth the watch?

If you're into old-school British comedy that feels like it was put together on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, you’ll probably find something to like here. George Formby is doing his usual thing, and if that grates on your nerves, skip this immediately. People who hate musical numbers popping up in the middle of a private detective investigation will definitely want to stay far away. Everyone else? It’s a weird, slightly messy artifact of a different time.

Watching Off the Dole is less like watching a movie and more like watching a variety show that forgot it was supposed to have a plot. One minute we're looking into a serious case about a kid getting hurt, and the next we’re staring at the 16 Boy Choristers or some group called the Twilight Blondes. It’s jarring, but I kind of respect the total lack of restraint.

The detective agency stuff is mostly just an excuse to have Formby bumble into rooms he shouldn't be in. There’s this one sequence with a nudist husband that feels like it dragged on for about three hours, even if it was probably only sixty seconds. The pacing is… well, let's just say it doesn't exist.

It’s not as slick as Wolf's Clothing, that's for sure. It feels way more like a collection of sketches glued together by someone who ran out of tape halfway through. Sometimes it works, mostly it’s just chaotic.

Random observations:

• The sheer number of "Belles" and "Blondes" credited is honestly impressive. It’s like they just wanted to fill the screen with as many people as possible.
• Formby’s face when he realizes he’s in over his head? Classic.
• The sound quality in the outdoor scenes is wild. You can hear every single gust of wind hitting the mic.
• The plot about the schoolteacher is actually kind of dark for a movie that features this many bathing beauties.

I found myself zoning out during the songs just to wonder who on earth decided to cast The 24 Bathing Belles in a detective comedy. It makes absolutely no sense. But honestly, that’s why I kept watching. It’s a total mess, but it’s a confident one.

If you’re coming here looking for a tight mystery, you’re in the wrong place. If you want to see someone get hit in the head with a prop and then immediately break into a song about a ukulele, you’ve hit the jackpot. It’s silly. It’s old. It’s slightly broken. I’m okay with that. 🤷‍♂️