''Gert and Daisy Clean Up'' is a 1942 British

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Maclean Rogers Maclean Rogers (13 July 1899 – 4 January 1962) was a British film director and screenwriter. Selected filmography Director * ''The Third Eye (1929 film), The Third Eye'' (1929) * ''The Mayor's Nest'' (1932) * ''Up for the Derby'' (1933) * ...

and starring

Elsie Waters Florence Elsie Waters (19 August 1893–14 June 1990) and her sister Doris Ethel Waters (20 December 1899–18 August 1978) were English comic actresses and singers who performed as a double act. They are remembered for creating the co ...

Doris Waters Florence Elsie Waters (19 August 1893–14 June 1990) and her sister Doris Ethel Waters (20 December 1899–18 August 1978) were English Comedienne, comic actresses and singers who performed as a double act. They are remembered for cre ...

and

Iris Vandeleur Iris Vandeleur (1884–1969) was a British stage and film actress. In 1951 she appeared in the BBC television series ''Sherlock Holmes'' as Mrs. Hudson, the landlady. In the West End she appeared in 1939 in Ian Hay Major (Honorary Major G ...

. It was written by Kathleen Butler and H. F. Maltby, with additional dialogue by Elsie and Doris Waters and Harry Gibbs.

Plot

Gert and Daisy are working in a restaurant but are sacked when the mayor is served yellow soap instead of cheese. They subsequently expose the black-marketing activities of local grocer Mr Perry.

Cast

as Gert *

as Daisy *

as Ma Butler * Elizabeth Hunt as Hettie *

Toni Edgar-Bruce Toni Edgar-Bruce (4 June 1892 – 28 March 1966) was a British actress, frequently seen on stage. Her theatre work included the original West End production of Somerset Maugham's '' The Circle'' in 1921. The actor-manager Edgar Bruce was h ...

as Mrs. Wilberforce *

Joss Ambler Joss Ambler (23 June 1900 – 1959) was an Australian-born British film and television actor. He usually played somewhat pompous and irascible figures of authority, particularly in comedy films. He was an effective foil to George Formby in both ...

as Mr. Perry *

Ralph Michael Ralph Michael (26 September 1907 – 9 November 1994) was an English actor. He was born as Ralph Champion Shotter in London. His film appearances included '' Dead of Night'', '' A Night to Remember'', '' Children of the Damned'', '' Grand Pri ...

as Jack Gregory *

Uriel Porter Uriel , Auriel ( ''ʾŪrīʾēl'', " El/God is my Flame"; ''Oúriḗl''; ''Ouriēl''; ; Geʽez and Amharic: or ) or Oriel ( ''ʾÓrīʾēl'', "El/God is my Light") is the name of one of the archangels who is mentioned in Rabbinic tradition ...

as Snow White *

Harry Herbert Harry Herbert (2 August 1934 – 19 January 2011) was an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and a Victorian policeman. Born in Warrnambool, he played in the Geelong team that holds the VFL/AFL record for the longest run ...

as Old Cheerful *

Angela Glynne Angela Glynne (7 September 1933 in Middlesex, England – 22 April 2008 in Northridge, California aged 74) was a British film actress. Selected filmography * '' Bank Holiday'' (1938) * '' Those Kids from Town'' (1942) * ''Gert and Daisy Clean ...

as girl *

Arthur Hambling Arthur Hambling (14 March 1888 – 6 December 1952) was a British actor, on stage from 1912, and best known for appearances in the films ''Henry V'' (1944) and ''The Lavender Hill Mob'' (1951). In 1939 he appeared in the West End in N.C. Hunte ...

as PC Albert Green *

Johnnie Schofield Johnnie William Schofield (10 March 1889 – 9 September 1955) was a British actor, known for '' The Middle Watch'' (1948), '' Tawny Pipit'' (1944) and '' Melody of My Heart'' (1936). Early life John William Schofield was born on 10 March 1889 ...

as policeman on night duty *

Douglas Stewart Douglas Stewart may refer to: *Douglas Stewart (poet) (1913–1985), Australian poet * Edward Askew Sothern (1826–1881), English actor who was sometimes known as Douglas Stewart * Douglas Stewart (equestrian) (1913–1991), British Olympic equestr ...

as mayor *

David Trickett David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Damas ...

as boy

Production

The film's sets were designed by the art director

Andrew Mazzei Andrew Mazzei (1887–1975) was a French-born British art director who designed the sets for more than sixty films during his career. Mazzei began his career in the late 1920s during the silent era including on the futuristic ''High Treason''. By ...

. It was shot at the

Riverside Studios Riverside Studios is an arts centre on the north bank of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, England. The venue plays host to contemporary performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production. Having opened in May 1976, th ...

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. It ...

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "A good rollicking farce into which a very topical message has been adroitly sandwiched. Elsie and Doris Waters give a characteristically buoyant performance as Gert and Daisy and they are supported by a cast who are at the same time very amusing and most naturally human. The film is efficiently directed and produced and the inclusion of several boisterous songs from Gert and Daisy and a negro spiritual, sung in a truly Robesonesque fashion by Uriel Porter, adds to its general appeal." '' Picture Show'' wrote: "Good, clean fun is provided by the latest adventures of Gert and Daisy which provide a comical commentary on war-time domestic life ... Elsie and Doris Waters are the life and soul of the film, and there is no lack of comedy situations and.typical repartee, and one or two catchy songs." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Rumbustuous farce with ebullient performances from the stars."

References

External links

* {{Maclean Rogers 1942 films British comedy films British black-and-white films 1942 comedy films Films shot at Riverside Studios Films set in London Butcher's Film Service films Films directed by Maclean Rogers Films scored by Percival Mackey 1940s English-language films 1940s British films English-language comedy films