''Alf's Button'' is a 1930 British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

W. P. Kellino William Philip Gislingham (c. 1874 in London, England – 31 December 1957, in London, Middlesex, England) was a British music hall musician and acrobat (part of the Famous Kellinos) and, using the name W. P. Kellino, film director. He founded ...

and starring Tubby Edlin, Alf Goddard and

Nora Swinburne Leonora Mary Johnson (24 July 1902 – 1 May 2000), known professionally as Nora Swinburne, was an English actress who appeared in many British films. Early years Swinburne was born in Bath, Somerset, the daughter of Henry Swinburne Johnson ...

. It is an adaptation of the 1920 novel '' Alf's Button'' by William Aubrey Darlington. The film features some singing and dancing sequences in an early colour process, which is believed to be Pathécolor.

Premise

A Cockney soldier discovers that a button on his uniform was made from

Aladdin Aladdin ( ; ar, علاء الدين, ', , ATU 561, ‘Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with ''The Book of One Thousand and One Nights'' (''The Arabian Nights''), despite not being part o ...

's lamp. When rubbed, the button grants wishes.

Cast

* Tubby Edlin as Alf Higgins * Alf Goddard as Bill Grant *

as Lady Isobel Fitzpeter *

Polly Ward Polly Ward (born Byno Poluski; 30 June 1912–23 February 1987) was a British singer and actress. Filmography * '' The Marriage Business'' (1927) * '' Alf's Button'' (1930) * '' Harmony Heaven'' (1930) * '' His Lordship'' (1932) * '' Kentucky Mi ...

as Liz * Humberston Wright as Eustace the genie *

Annie Esmond Annie Esmond (27 September 1873 – 4 January 1945) was a British stage and film actress. Esmond was born in Surrey, England. She made her stage debut in pantomime in Sheffield in 1891 and later appeared on the American as well as British stage ...

as Mrs. Gaskins * Gypsy Rhouma as Lucy * Peter Haddon as Lieutenant Allen * Cyril McLaglen as Sergeant Major * Bruce Winston as Mustapha * Spencer Trevor as Lord Dunwater * Anton Dolin * Merle Oberon *

Jimmy Nervo Jimmy may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy * ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma * ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...

Teddy Knox Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Teddy ...

Preservation status

This film is believed to be held at the British Film Institute in London.

References

Bibliography

*David R. Sutton, ''A Chorus of Raspberries: British Film Comedy 1929–1939'' (

University of Exeter Press University of Exeter Press (UEP) is the academic press of the University of Exeter, England. In 2013, Liverpool University Press Liverpool University Press (LUP), founded in 1899, is the third oldest university press in England after Oxfor ...

, 2000)

External links