''Radio Pirates'', also known as ''Big Ben Calling'', is a 1935 British

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

directed by Ivar Campbell and starring Leslie French, Mary Lawson and Enid Stamp-Taylor. It was written by

Donovan Pedelty Donovan Pedelty (1903–1989) was a British journalist, screenwriter and film director. During the 1930s, Pedelty specialised in making quota quickies with Irish themes. These were generally not well received by critics.Chibnall p.31 Filmograp ...

, with music and lyrics by Mark Lubbock, and made at

Shepperton Studios Shepperton Studios is a film studio located in Shepperton, Surrey, England, with a history dating back to 1931. It is now part of Pinewood Group, the Pinewood Studios Group. During its early existence, the studio was branded as Sound City (not ...

Plot

To save themselves from financial ruin, the owner of a radio shop and his friends start a pirate radio station. The police pursue them and they end up in the tower of Big Ben.

Cast

* Leslie French as Leslie * Mary Lawson as Mary * Willie Jenkins as Billy Brooks * Enid Stamp-Taylor * Hughie Green * Kenneth Kove * Roy Fox and his band as themselves * Teddy Brown * Edgar Driver (uncredited) * Frederick Lloyd (uncredited) * John Turnbull (uncredited) * Fanny Wright (uncredited) * Sally Gray (uncredited)

Reception

'' Kine Weekly'' wrote: "Happy, friendly radio musical romance, a trifle loose in construction but admirably presented and richer in ideas and ingenuity than many of its successful predecessors." '' Picturegoer'' wrote: "Net a very well constructed story, but one which has some ingenuity of idea, bright gags, and good 'turns' ... Hughie Green gives some exceedingly clever imitations, and both Roy Fox and his Band and Teddy Brown are in excellent form. Farcical situations are well nandled and cabaret settings lavish."

References

External links

* 1935 films 1935 musical films British musical films Films set in England Films shot at Shepperton Studios Films directed by Ivar Campbell British black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s British films English-language musical films {{UK-musical-film-stub