The Navy Lark 1959 - 16mm Widescreen Print - 4k (just about)

The Navy Lark from 1959.
Film version of the popular BBC radio show about the incompetent crew of a Royal Navy ship.
Cast:
Cecil Parker as Commander Stanton
Ronald Shiner as Chief Petty Officer Banyard
Leslie Phillips as Lieutenant Pouter
Elvi Hale as Leading WREN Heather Stark
Nicholas Phipps as Captain Povey
Cardew Robinson as Lieutenant Binns
Gordon Jackson as Leading Seaman Johnson
Harold Kasket as Gaston Higgins
Hattie Jacques as Fortune Teller
Reginald Beckwith as CNI
Kenneth J. Warren as Brown
Wanda Ventham as Mabel
Richard Coleman as Lieutenant Bates
Llewellyn Rees as Admiral Troutbridge
Clive Morton as Rear Admiral
Gordon Harris as Group Captain
Van Boolen as Fred
Gordon Whiting as Commander
Tom Gill as Naval Commander
Walter Hudd as Naval Captain
Directed by:
Gordon Parry
Written by:
Laurie Wyman and Sid Colin
Produced by:
Herbert Wilcox
Cinematography:
Gordon Dines
Edited by:
Basil Warren
Music by:
Tommy Reilly and James Moody
Distributed by:
Twentieth Century-Fox
Release date:
1959
Runtime:
1 hour 22 minutes
Rating:
U
Converted from 16mm print
With many thanks to Fred Vintner at the Navy Lark Appreciation Society for access to the print

[@kingietk]

This was my favourite show on the radio when I was young

[@terencejay8845]

They've been playing it on BBC Radio4 Extra over the last couple of months.

[@ianmoseley9910]

The film seems significantly different

[@brianwood9913]

Filmed in summer 1958 at West Bay [Bridport Harbour] in Dorset. Parents had a mobile home at what is now Parkdean resort just by the harbour, spent many a happy holiday there. As a 10 year old I was allowed on board the ship HMS Reedham a Ham class inshore minesweeper. I have a couple of grainy b&w photos taken at the time.

[@stuartryan610]

The radio show began in 1959 yet this film made in 1958?

[@sUASNews]

I wondered if it was Golden Cap in the background of the opening snorkeling scene! The cliffs have changed a little since.

[@Anonymous-ib8so]

@@stuartryan610 Could be that film was made in 1958 and released in 1959 to coinicide with the radio show

[@stuartryan610]

@@Anonymous-ib8so possibly but it was said certain regular actors wouldn't take part in the film but if so then that makes even less sense

[@tamar5261]

I served on HMS aveley when I was a sea cadet, same type of ship. I loved it, I was only supposed to stay a week but I managed to stay an extra week because another boy failed to show.happy days

[@maxinejacobson4006]

Good old bit of nostalgia!😂

[@user-fi2qg4rv2q]

Bless you..I was thinking the same thing

[@richardfallon5507]

every Sunday on the BBC radio, , when I was a nipper , missing it was a serious crime,

[@sjbict]

The whole radio series is on YT from 1950s to 77 out of copyright 6 episodes each video

[@richardfallon5507]

@@sjbict thanks , good to know, I also have an extensive collection of the Goon Show , on CD,

[@seangannon193]

This is absolute history of British comedy

[@sthepaniebarcenas7155]

The incompetence reminds me of when I tried colossis io's AI real estate features.

[@mikelieber3357]

Thanks so much for this great funny movie. Real good humor and fun! 😂

[@colinbrigham8253]

Thank you fo4 the memory 😊

[@user-xz9dn2ub1x]

Nothing beats the navy lark I have 100 episodes on a mp3 disc of the radio show This film is great thank you 😮😮😮😮😅😊

[@gregaldworth1200]

Better every time I watch it!

[@scotisland]

Used to listen to it on the radio.

[@caseyjonessnr1200]

Excellent comedy movie. It is a shame that most of the radio cast were not present. 1:22:07

[@BroonParker]

Phillips was ever present. But the Navy Lark without CPO Pertwee? Unthinkable! Not a fan of Shiner at all.

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

Alledgedly, we have prejudice to thank for that.

[@stuartdiprose8382]

First I knew of a film, a real shame they couldn’t get the full radio cast, used to love the navy lark and still play some occasionally

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

​@@stuartdiprose8382They're all on here. Brilliant!

[@MrSoul88man]

Yes two of our three stars ! Pertwee , Barker AWOL ! I saw very young ,Wanda Ventham .Who was the mouth organ player ? Happydays

[@keithspraggs9338]

Just Lesley Phillips from the Radio Series I think it was impossible to replace the original cast cast their individual personalities made the radio series so enjoyable

[@comicmania2008]

Loved the movie, thanks.

[@neilreynolds3858]

Well done, old chap!

[@Leigh1836]

Funny as Heck...Good old fashioned comedy.

[@robderham1958]

This is really interesting. Thanks for sharing. Pretty sharp especially for scope. I recall seeing 16mm scop driver ed movies back in the early 80s. Even 35mm gets a little soft on detail at 2.85. Those old bw Kodak positive prints of this era can look really good still.

[@andyh4069]

It was filmed in 4x3. That's how it should be viewed.

[@keithmac7596]

AWESOME HUMOR

[@boblovell5789]

"Starboard lookout yer sir, we're just off the coast of Swansea. Me Ma runs a champion fish'n chip shop over there". Or, words to that effect. Loved this vid and of course the radio series.

[@timmytom]

Just brilliant

[@bobbydorou8438]

And of course the great BBC radio shows.

[@mibnsharpals]

This film shows everything what i love about English humor. He is 100% english humor.

[@user-ew1pc1ks2q]

Bet the Royal Navy wished they had audio of these escapades for training videos!

[@sjbict]

The Whole radio series is on YT

[@spudgunn8695]

I seem to remember that in the radio version when they were on the island, any visits from the superior officers were usually met with gunfire from leading seaman Goldstein "accidentally" using real ammo instead of saluting blanks! Lol

[@chrisg3517]

And Cmdr Stanton always losing his ‘wagglers’ and having his fishing disrupted!

[@kenallen768]

It’s no good without Jon Pertwee he made the navy lark so funny

[@redcardinalist]

You have to make the best with what you have. And her's a huge bit of nostalgia which we should be lucky to have

[@dougaldouglas8842]

Best days, and they were, even though tough times. Swap today for those days. People were straight, straight in every sense of the word.

[@hypsyzygy506]

No they weren't.

[@robertdick7839]

Not enjoyed a laugh like this for a long time

[@steves5172]

True comedy! There’s a lot of subtle naval gaffs included, absolutely priceless! Every Sunday glued to my father’s radio. I remember those mines being painted up (after disarming) and placed on our seafronts collecting donations for mariners. Do they still exist?

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Every culture has this sort of comic movie somewhere in the past. we french have something called la "7eme compagnie" (soldiers who are as hapless as these sailors and keep getting lost, ending up in all sorts of predicaments), and "Papa maman la bonne et moi". Times were not innocent, and there was a lot wrong with society then, but these funny movies reflect a lovely side of human nature.

[@baronteddyvonforsthoffer2567]

Fantastic movie. I made the mistake of watching it in bed with my wife. That horn had me laughing all night 😂

[@stinkydog5935]

very nice 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@jamesvickers5998]

Wonder why Pertwee and Barker weren’t in it?

[@gowdsake7103]

No idea and it was strange that the names were changed

[@Ethrianor]

Yeah, but which characters? Stanton, Fatso? Also Pertwee's memoirs allege that the producer wouldn't use Dennis Price because of his sexuality and wouldn't use Pertwee because of his objections to that reason. As a number of them use their real names they had to change a few of them anyway.

[@keithawhosoever5384]

​@@EthrianorIt never crossed my mind Dennis Price was a 'Brownhatter' 😕 But I shouldn't be surprised.

[@imwelshjesus]

No imagination, but I'm not surprised.@@keithawhosoever5384

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

Such a shame they didn't get the proper cast. I think the only original is lovable Leslie!

[@scopex2749]

LEFT HAND DOWN A BIT......... I was born in '59 but I heard repeats of this - in my childhood it was mainly ONLY the 'wireless' (no kids thats not something that automatically connects to your phone) it was RADIO! The Goons, Much Binding in the Marsh, ITMA, The Navy Lark.

[@garyfrancis6193]

Someone should have made a movie about this.

[@telemachus53]

To think we actually had the greatest empire in the history of the world with this lot!

[@timschroyer1257]

It is painfully obvious that some one saw this and went to America and wrote Mchale's Navy

[@user-tr5rp2bu9j]

Lovely place being there 3 times from tel.

[@logtothebase2]

its a shame Jon Pertwee isnt in this one, he was a stand out star of Radio Show, Ronald Shiner does a fair job as substitute though.

[@Anonymous-ib8so]

Agreed and Ronnie Barker as leading seamn=an Goldstein was great to

[@Rockdoc2174]

@@Anonymous-ib8soTaffy Goldstein was Tenniel Evans. Ronnie Barker played Fatso Johnson amongst others.

[@craigkdillon]

Some of the Carry On gang, I think. British humour before Monty Python

[@pingpong5000]

Goodo, British humour at its best, Wacko, What!

[@T7GZGameplay]

The Navy Lark (1959) - Blu-ray (T7GZ Home Video)

[@phonotical]

Resaving a video at a larger size does not make it 4k resolution

[@brunodesamber5714]

Very good movie🤪🤣👍

[@darrenleiberman6250]

If I'm honest they had me at "Left hand down a bit." 😅

[@bobbydorou8438]

Like many British 30 min. TV comic programmes, they never transfer well to the big screen, this is a case in point. Shame 😢

[@OlsenTheWonderDog]

The Chief understood military bureaucracies…he kept the Fulminator Mark III disposal grinding away in the bureaucracy…

[@rupertdippel]

fun movie

[@user-gt2jh1eb4l]

I was on HMS AVELEY POMEM1

[@jimfell7147]

Oh for those days when you could laugh at yourself and no one was offended, good clean fun. Able seaman ? chatting.

[@jas20per]

Sad to say that there was one actor missing from the original radio cast of the Navy Lark John Pertwee. So making something missing.

[@Phase52012]

Crikey! where you find this print? Where ever it was many thanks for sharing it.

[@henrykujawa4427]

Funny film. LOADS of familiar actors, including, I'm pretty sure, quite a few who aren't even listed at the IMDB in bit parts. The producer refused to hire Dennis Price from the radio show cast because he was GAY. What the hell does that have to do with his acting? In protest, Jon Pertwee refused to be in the film. GOOD FOR HIM. Price appeared in the 1961 film "VICTIM", which actually helped overturn an IMMORAL law in England that criminalized being gay. Cecil Parker was my favorite SAINT villain, in the film THE SAINT'S VACATION (1941). Wanda Ventham is so young in this... and what a sweet voice!

[@franktuckwell196]

I cannot imagine why i ever found this funny, its now just hard work.

[@cpa441]

just like only fools and horses been repeated so many times no longer funny, just comes over as silly. as do most of the carry on films.

[@Gwailo54]

Its humour has dated, as have many other comedies, plus we’re older and can anticipate most jokes and situations. Life was also simpler.

[@johnmehaffey9953]

Is there a link to the radio shows anywhere, it would be great to hear the original cast performances

[@fnordvelkor3386]

For some reason my reply disappeared - so without naming websites, you can find most on here.

[@sjbict]

Whole series is on YT just search Navy Lark series one

[@ukdave57]

Also being repeated on radio 4 extra along with Dads Army. My idea of comedy heaven

[@terencejay8845]

Radio4 Extra has been a real treat for me with a wide range of repeats, from comedy to heavy dramas. @@ukdave57

[@paulevans6306]

If you have ever seen on board documentaries on the Navy this isn't far off reality 😅

[@milesholtom7167]

No John pertwee. No Ronnie barker.

[@tomhaskett5161]

Brief appearance of Richard Caldicot

[@fuccasound3897]

no Pertwee?

[@seltaeb9691]

"Left hand down a bit.."

[@davidreid8075]

Tenielle Evans..

[@gowdsake7103]

Very strange with only one original character for sure not a film about the radio series The 2 who would have made it work sorry pardon awll gorn

[@Dibley8899]

Brilliant British comedy.

[@dingopisscreek]

The film bombed. Philips was the only one from the radio series. Why they thought that changing the cast would work is beyond me. It's like filming the Goon Show without the original cast.

[@jamesmaclennan4525]

Featuring Wanda Ventham aka Benedict Cumberbatch's Mum

[@papalaz4444244]

Pertwee would have made this work.

[@johnrider5701]

What happened to the original cast of character's? No Ronnie Barker or Jon Pertwee two very talented comedic actor's who would have made this a much better film..

[@Bill23799]

This is just how the Falklands War got started.

[@mfrickard]

Nice little film. Sadly no as funny as the original radio show. The only one that was from the radio show was Leslie Phillips. Names changed from original show too. But, aside from all that I enjoyed it very much.

[@davidfenn4444]

Left hand down a bit.

[@yves-reneguilland9708]

A qd ! = version > FRANCOPHONE < Sans doute . . . .JAMAIS ! ! !!

[@nicholasmurphy8634]

Well known faces, gentle humour but sadly we have moved on and this film is a museum piece.

[@bertiewooster3326]

You may have moved on mate ........

[@bazza945]

A visit to the museum reminds how our modern world has learned nothing from the past.

[@geraintwiggins9860]

It’s as funny today as it was then!

[@BroonParker]

​@geraintwiggins9860 unfortunately.

[@stewartmacdonald4824]

The film is so dated, but the radio version (still available if you look for it) is as good as ever.

[@ZENmud]

7:10 😂😂😂 Li'l leather Heather gets in a lather about her vie au naturel... yummy 😅

[@hamshackleton]

Quaintly stupid. The proper audio Navy Larks were much better.

[@davidwright8432]

What worked as a half hour radio comedy (on a good day) doesn't as a prolonged, tedious collection of tired cliches. It really helped to be about ten, and on seaside summer holiday. Now, not so much nostalgia as embarrassment.

[@BALOYBEACHBUM]

This must be a Bloody joke!

[@mikearakelian6368]

Going asleep already...

[@jacksugden8190]

Unbelievably unbearable to watch this clap-trap waste of time and energy film

[@davidclarke7122]

Then don't watch it.

[@jacksugden8190]

@@davidclarke7122 I did to form my opinion, or no point in watching it!.

[@davidclarke7122]

@@jacksugden8190 and what makes you think anyone else would be interested in your negative opinion? Stick to more modern movies, you may find them more to your liking

[@stewartmacdonald4824]

Try the original radio version. Much better and doesn't feel dated.

[@fredflintstoner596]

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"

[@andrewwatkins5279]

Just a touch showing it's Age??