On the Fiddle - Revision history

Kurt at 03:20, 29 September 2024

2024-09-29T03:20:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:20, 28 September 2024
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	\| image = On the Fiddle.jpg		\| image = On the Fiddle.jpg
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| director = [[~~w:Cyril Frankel\|~~Cyril Frankel]]		\| director = [[Cyril Frankel]]
	\| producer = [[~~w:Benjamin Fisz\|~~Benjamin Fisz]]		\| producer = [[Benjamin Fisz]]
	\| screenplay = Harold Buchman		\| screenplay = Harold Buchman
	\| based_on = {{based on\|''[[~~w:Stop at a Winner\|~~Stop at a Winner]]''\|[[~~w:R.F. Delderfield\|~~R.F. Delderfield]]}}		\| based_on = {{based on\|''[[Stop at a Winner]]''\|[[R.F. Delderfield]]}}
	\| music = [[~~w:Malcolm Arnold\|~~Malcolm Arnold]]		\| music = [[Malcolm Arnold]]
	\| editing = [[w:Peter R. Hunt\|Peter Hunt]]		\| editing = [[Peter R. Hunt\|Peter Hunt]]
	\| cinematography = [[~~w:Edward Scaife\|~~Edward Scaife]]		\| cinematography = [[Edward Scaife]]
	\| starring = {{ubl\|[[Sean Connery]]\|[[Alfred Lynch]]\|[[Cecil Parker]]\|[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]\|[[Stanley Holloway]]\|[[Kathleen Harrison]]\|[[Eleanor Summerfield]]\|[[Eric Barker]]\|[[Terence Longdon]]\|[[Alan King]]}}		\| starring = {{ubl\|[[Sean Connery]]\|[[Alfred Lynch]]\|[[Cecil Parker]]\|[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]\|[[Stanley Holloway]]\|[[Kathleen Harrison]]\|[[Eleanor Summerfield]]\|[[Eric Barker]]\|[[Terence Longdon]]\|[[Alan King]]}}
	\| studio = Coronado Productions		\| studio = Coronado Productions
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	\| budget =		\| budget =
	}}		}}
	'''''On the Fiddle''''' (released as '''''Operation Snafu''''' and '''''Operation War Head''''' in the United States) is a 1961 British [[~~w:comedy film\|~~comedy film]] directed by [[~~w:Cyril Frankel\|~~Cyril Frankel]] and starring [[Sean Connery]], [[Alfred Lynch]], [[Cecil Parker]], [[Stanley Holloway]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Mike Sarne]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Kathleen Harrison]], [[Victor Maddern]] and [[John Le Mesurier]]. It was based on the 1961 novel ''[[~~w:Stop at a Winner\|~~Stop at a Winner]]'' by [[~~w:R.F. Delderfield\|~~R.F. Delderfield]] who served in the [[~~w:RAF\|~~RAF]] in World War II.		'''''On the Fiddle''''' (released as '''''Operation Snafu''''' and '''''Operation War Head''''' in the United States) is a 1961 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Cyril Frankel]] and starring [[Sean Connery]], [[Alfred Lynch]], [[Cecil Parker]], [[Stanley Holloway]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Mike Sarne]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Kathleen Harrison]], [[Victor Maddern]] and [[John Le Mesurier]]. It was based on the 1961 novel ''[[Stop at a Winner]]'' by [[R.F. Delderfield]] who served in the [[RAF]] in World War II.

	It was Sean Connery's tenth film, released the year before his big breakthrough as [[~~w:James Bond\|~~James Bond]] in the 1962 film ''[[w:Dr. No (film)\|Dr No]]''.		It was Sean Connery's tenth film, released the year before his big breakthrough as [[James Bond]] in the 1962 film ''[[Dr. No (film)\|Dr No]]''.

	==Plot==		==Plot==
	During the [[~~w:Second World War\|~~Second World War]], [[~~w:spiv\|~~spiv]] Horace Pope is taken to court for street peddling. In mitigation, he tells the magistrate he is working in the [[black market]] only while waiting to enlist in the war effort. On hearing this plea, the magistrate calls his bluff and forces him to sign up.		During the [[Second World War]], [[spiv]] Horace Pope is taken to court for street peddling. In mitigation, he tells the magistrate he is working in the [[black market]] only while waiting to enlist in the war effort. On hearing this plea, the magistrate calls his bluff and forces him to sign up.

	Pope joins the [[~~w:RAF\|~~RAF]]. Very quickly, he makes friends with the easy going, but loyal, Pedlar Pascoe who happily goes along with all of his scams, which mainly involve taking money for leave passes and for organising postings close to home. The pair do their utmost to make a bit on the side and avoid being sent into action.		Pope joins the [[RAF]]. Very quickly, he makes friends with the easy going, but loyal, Pedlar Pascoe who happily goes along with all of his scams, which mainly involve taking money for leave passes and for organising postings close to home. The pair do their utmost to make a bit on the side and avoid being sent into action.

	Their record eventually catches up with them, but by that time they've been sent on a mission to [[occupied France]], where they continue their scams, selling food and supplies to the grateful newly-liberated French.		Their record eventually catches up with them, but by that time they've been sent on a mission to [[occupied France]], where they continue their scams, selling food and supplies to the grateful newly-liberated French.
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	==References==		==References==
	~~<references/>~~		{{reflist}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==

Kurt at 04:27, 9 February 2023

2023-02-09T04:27:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:27, 8 February 2023
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	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2016}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=June 2016}}~~
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	~~\| name = On the Fiddle~~
	~~\| image_size =~~
	\| image = On the Fiddle.jpg		\| image = On the Fiddle.jpg
	\| caption =		\| caption =
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	===Filming===		===Filming===
	The fighting scenes in the woods were shot in and around "The Sandpit" on [[Horsell Common]] near [[Woking, Surrey]]. Interiors were completed at [[Shepperton Studios]], [[Surrey]].		The fighting scenes in the woods were shot in and around "The Sandpit" on [[Horsell Common]] near [[Woking, Surrey]]. Interiors were completed at [[Shepperton Studios]], [[Surrey]].
	~~<!-- At 14 years old. I watched them shooting scenes at the sandpits. Bob Neumann -->~~

	===US release===		===US release===
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	*{{BFI Explore\|4ce2b6b236426\|On the Fiddle}}		*{{BFI Explore\|4ce2b6b236426\|On the Fiddle}}
	*{{IMDb title\|0055262}}		*{{IMDb title\|0055262}}
	* {{rotten-tomatoes\|on_the_fiddle}}		*{{rotten-tomatoes\|on_the_fiddle}}
	*{{BBFC title\|AFF002808\|On the Fiddle}}		*{{BBFC title\|AFF002808\|On the Fiddle}}
	* [http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/film/on_the_fiddle/ British Comedy Guide: ''On the Fiddle'']		*[http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/film/on_the_fiddle/ British Comedy Guide: ''On the Fiddle'']

	[[Category:1961 films]]		[[Category:1961 films]]

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-12-05T18:30:15Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:30, 5 December 2022
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	*{{BBFC title\|AFF002808\|On the Fiddle}}		*{{BBFC title\|AFF002808\|On the Fiddle}}
	* [http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/film/on_the_fiddle/ British Comedy Guide: ''On the Fiddle'']		* [http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/film/on_the_fiddle/ British Comedy Guide: ''On the Fiddle'']

	~~{{Cyril Frankel}}~~

	[[Category:1961 films]]		[[Category:1961 films]]

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-10-18T19:49:22Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 18 October 2022
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	[[Category:1961 films]]		[[Category:1961 films]]
	[[Category:British war comedy films]]		[[Category:British war comedy films]]
			[[Category:British comedy films]]
	[[Category:1961 comedy films]]		[[Category:1961 comedy films]]
	[[Category:Films based on British novels]]		[[Category:Films based on British novels]]

Kurt at 19:45, 18 October 2022

2022-10-18T19:45:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:45, 18 October 2022
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	~~{{Redirect\|Operation Snafu\|the 1970 film starring Jason Robards and Peter Falk\|Rosolino Paternò, soldato...}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2016}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2016}}
	{{Use British English\|date=June 2016}}		{{Use British English\|date=June 2016}}

Kurt at 19:44, 18 October 2022

2022-10-18T19:44:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:44, 18 October 2022
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	\| name = On the Fiddle		\| name = On the Fiddle
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| image = ~~On_the_Fiddle_1961_quad_poster~~.jpg		\| image = On the Fiddle.jpg
	\| caption = ~~Original UK [[film poster#Film poster sizes\|quad size poster]]~~		\| caption =
	\| director = [[Cyril Frankel]]		\| director = [[w:Cyril Frankel\|Cyril Frankel]]
	\| producer = [[Benjamin Fisz]]		\| producer = [[w:Benjamin Fisz\|Benjamin Fisz]]
	\| screenplay = Harold Buchman		\| screenplay = Harold Buchman
	\| based_on = {{based on\|''[[Stop at a Winner]]''\|[[R.F. Delderfield]]}}		\| based_on = {{based on\|''[[w:Stop at a Winner\|Stop at a Winner]]''\|[[w:R.F. Delderfield\|R.F. Delderfield]]}}
	\| music = [[Malcolm Arnold]]		\| music = [[w:Malcolm Arnold\|Malcolm Arnold]]
	\| editing = [[Peter R. Hunt\|Peter Hunt]]		\| editing = [[w:Peter R. Hunt\|Peter Hunt]]
	\| cinematography = [[Edward Scaife]]		\| cinematography = [[w:Edward Scaife\|Edward Scaife]]
	\| starring = {{ubl\|[[Sean Connery]]\|[[Alfred Lynch]]\|[[Cecil Parker]]\|[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]\|[[Stanley Holloway]]\|[[Kathleen Harrison]]\|[[Eleanor Summerfield]]\|[[Eric Barker]]\|[[Terence Longdon]]\|[[Alan King]]}}		\| starring = {{ubl\|[[Sean Connery]]\|[[Alfred Lynch]]\|[[Cecil Parker]]\|[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]\|[[Stanley Holloway]]\|[[Kathleen Harrison]]\|[[Eleanor Summerfield]]\|[[Eric Barker]]\|[[Terence Longdon]]\|[[Alan King]]}}
	\| studio = Coronado Productions		\| studio = Coronado Productions
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	\| budget =		\| budget =
	}}		}}
	'''''On the Fiddle''''' (released as '''''Operation Snafu''''' and '''''Operation War Head''''' in the United States) is a 1961 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Cyril Frankel]] and starring [[Sean Connery]], [[Alfred Lynch]], [[Cecil Parker]], [[Stanley Holloway]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Mike Sarne]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Kathleen Harrison]], [[Victor Maddern]] and [[John Le Mesurier]]. It was based on the 1961 novel ''[[Stop at a Winner]]'' by [[R.F. Delderfield]] who served in the [[RAF]] in World War II.		'''''On the Fiddle''''' (released as '''''Operation Snafu''''' and '''''Operation War Head''''' in the United States) is a 1961 British [[w:comedy film\|comedy film]] directed by [[w:Cyril Frankel\|Cyril Frankel]] and starring [[Sean Connery]], [[Alfred Lynch]], [[Cecil Parker]], [[Stanley Holloway]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Mike Sarne]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Kathleen Harrison]], [[Victor Maddern]] and [[John Le Mesurier]]. It was based on the 1961 novel ''[[w:Stop at a Winner\|Stop at a Winner]]'' by [[w:R.F. Delderfield\|R.F. Delderfield]] who served in the [[w:RAF\|RAF]] in World War II.

	It was Sean Connery's tenth film, released the year before his big breakthrough as [[James Bond]] in the 1962 film ''[[Dr. No (film)\|Dr No]]''.		It was Sean Connery's tenth film, released the year before his big breakthrough as [[w:James Bond\|James Bond]] in the 1962 film ''[[w:Dr. No (film)\|Dr No]]''.

	==Plot==		==Plot==
	During the [[Second World War]], [[spiv]] Horace Pope is taken to court for street peddling. In mitigation, he tells the magistrate he is working in the [[black market]] only while waiting to enlist in the war effort. On hearing this plea, the magistrate calls his bluff and forces him to sign up.		During the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]], [[w:spiv\|spiv]] Horace Pope is taken to court for street peddling. In mitigation, he tells the magistrate he is working in the [[black market]] only while waiting to enlist in the war effort. On hearing this plea, the magistrate calls his bluff and forces him to sign up.

	Pope joins the [[RAF]]. Very quickly, he makes friends with the easy going, but loyal, Pedlar Pascoe who happily goes along with all of his scams, which mainly involve taking money for leave passes and for organising postings close to home. The pair do their utmost to make a bit on the side and avoid being sent into action.		Pope joins the [[w:RAF\|RAF]]. Very quickly, he makes friends with the easy going, but loyal, Pedlar Pascoe who happily goes along with all of his scams, which mainly involve taking money for leave passes and for organising postings close to home. The pair do their utmost to make a bit on the side and avoid being sent into action.

	Their record eventually catches up with them, but by that time they've been sent on a mission to [[occupied France]], where they continue their scams, selling food and supplies to the grateful newly-liberated French.		Their record eventually catches up with them, but by that time they've been sent on a mission to [[occupied France]], where they continue their scams, selling food and supplies to the grateful newly-liberated French.

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-10-18T15:01:07Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 10:01, 18 October 2022
(No difference)

en>Bearcat: /* External links */recat

2022-09-24T19:57:34Z

External links: recat

New page

{{Redirect|Operation Snafu|the 1970 film starring Jason Robards and Peter Falk|Rosolino Paternò, soldato...}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = On the Fiddle
| image_size =
| image = On_the_Fiddle_1961_quad_poster.jpg
| caption = Original UK [[film poster#Film poster sizes|quad size poster]]
| director = [[Cyril Frankel]]
| producer = [[Benjamin Fisz]]
| screenplay = Harold Buchman
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Stop at a Winner]]''|[[R.F. Delderfield]]}}
| music = [[Malcolm Arnold]]
| editing = [[Peter R. Hunt|Peter Hunt]]
| cinematography = [[Edward Scaife]]
| starring = {{ubl|[[Sean Connery]]|[[Alfred Lynch]]|[[Cecil Parker]]|[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]|[[Stanley Holloway]]|[[Kathleen Harrison]]|[[Eleanor Summerfield]]|[[Eric Barker]]|[[Terence Longdon]]|[[Alan King]]}}
| studio = Coronado Productions
| distributor = {{ubl|[[Anglo Amalgamated]] (UK)|[[American International Pictures]] (US)}}
| released = {{film date|df=y|1961|10|10|UK}}
| runtime = 86 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
}}
'''''On the Fiddle''''' (released as '''''Operation Snafu''''' and '''''Operation War Head''''' in the United States) is a 1961 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Cyril Frankel]] and starring [[Sean Connery]], [[Alfred Lynch]], [[Cecil Parker]], [[Stanley Holloway]], [[Eric Barker]], [[Mike Sarne]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Kathleen Harrison]], [[Victor Maddern]] and [[John Le Mesurier]]. It was based on the 1961 novel ''[[Stop at a Winner]]'' by [[R.F. Delderfield]] who served in the [[RAF]] in World War II.

It was Sean Connery's tenth film, released the year before his big breakthrough as [[James Bond]] in the 1962 film ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr No]]''.

==Plot==
During the [[Second World War]], [[spiv]] Horace Pope is taken to court for street peddling. In mitigation, he tells the magistrate he is working in the [[black market]] only while waiting to enlist in the war effort. On hearing this plea, the magistrate calls his bluff and forces him to sign up.

Pope joins the [[RAF]]. Very quickly, he makes friends with the easy going, but loyal, Pedlar Pascoe who happily goes along with all of his scams, which mainly involve taking money for leave passes and for organising postings close to home. The pair do their utmost to make a bit on the side and avoid being sent into action.

Their record eventually catches up with them, but by that time they've been sent on a mission to [[occupied France]], where they continue their scams, selling food and supplies to the grateful newly-liberated French.

They unexpectedly become heroes, after killing a group of German soldiers who had them pinned down in a forest. They are decorated by the American forces, to whom they've been attached, and their commanding officer (who has a sneaking admiration for their schemes), tears up their record of crimes.

==Full cast==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Alfred Lynch]] as Horace Pope
* [[Sean Connery]] as Pedlar Pascoe
* [[Cecil Parker]] as Group Captain Bascombe
* [[Stanley Holloway]] as Cooksley
* [[Alan King]] as Technical Sergeant Buzzer
* [[Eric Barker]] as Doctor
* [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]] as Trowbridge
* [[Kathleen Harrison]] as Mrs Cooksley
* [[Beatrix Lehmann]] as Lady Edith
* [[Eleanor Summerfield]] as Flora McNaughton
* [[Miriam Karlin]] as WAAF Sergeant
* [[Terence Longdon]] as Air Gunner
* [[Victor Maddern]] as First Airman
* [[Harry Locke]] as Huxtable
* [[John Le Mesurier]] as Hixon
* [[Viola Keats]] as Sister
* Peter Sinclair as Mr Pope
* Edna Morris as Lil
* [[Thomas Heathcote]] as Sergeant
* [[Brian Weske]] as Corporal
* [[Jack Lambert (British actor)|Jack Lambert]] as Police Constable
* [[Cyril Smith (actor)|Cyril Smith]] as Ticket Collector
* [[Simon Lack]] as Flight Lieutenant Baldwin
* [[Graham Stark]] as Sergeant Ellis
* [[Jean Aubrey]] as WAAF Corporal
* [[Jack Smethurst]] as Dai Tovey
* [[Priscilla Morgan]] as Gwynneth Tovey
* Richard Hart as P.O. Trumper
* Ian Whittaker as Lancing
* Stuart Saunders as Sarge
* Monty Landis as Conductor
* [[Kenneth J. Warren]] as Dusty
* [[Neil Hallett]] as 1st Australian
* [[Patsy Rowlands]] as Evie
* [[Bill Owen (actor)|Bill Owen]] as Corporal Gittens
* [[Harold Goodwin (English actor)|Harold Goodwin]] as Corporal Reeves
* [[Barbara Windsor]] as Mavis
* Toni Palmer as Ivy
* [[Ann Beach]] as Iris
* Gary Cockrell as U.S. Snowdrop
* [[Michael Sarne]] as German Officer

{{Div col end}}

==Production==

===Writing===
The film was adapted by Harold Buchman from the 1961 novel ''Stop at a Winner'' by [[R. F. Delderfield]] who served in the RAF during World War II.

===Filming===
The fighting scenes in the woods were shot in and around "The Sandpit" on [[Horsell Common]] near [[Woking, Surrey]]. Interiors were completed at [[Shepperton Studios]], [[Surrey]].


===US release===
[[File:On the Fiddle FilmPoster.jpeg|thumb|right|150px|The US poster tried to make it seem more like a James Bond film than a comedy.]]
The film was not released in the United States until 21 May 1965, retitled "''Operation Snafu''"<ref name=USrelease>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055262/releaseinfo IMDb: ''On the Fiddle (1961) - Release Info''] Linked 2014-08-10</ref> and later "''Operation War Head''"<ref name=USrelease/> by the US distributor [[American International Pictures]]. The only purpose of the US release was to capitalise on the popularity of Sean Connery, who by then had become world-famous as James Bond in ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr No]]'', ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]'' and ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]''. The titles, as well as the advertising campaign, downplayed the comedic aspects of the film as well as Connery's original second-billing. During a 1961 trip to England [[Alan King]] made a brief appearance in the film and forgot about it until the American release gave him second billing.<ref>pp. 138-169 Chase, Chris ''Name Dropping'' Simon and Schuster, 4 Sep. 1997</ref> He and Connery would work together again on ''[[The Anderson Tapes]].''

==Reception==
Reviewing the film in ''[[The New York Times]]'', following its 1965 US release, Howard Thompson noted that the release was "an obvious cash-in" on Connery's popularity as James Bond, but found it, "a friendly little wartime comedy from England." He wrote that, "The wonder is that a picture with a story already done, gag by gag, a hundred times is so easy to take. It is, though — flip, friendly, brisk and a wee bit cynical in its take-it-or-leave-it jauntiness", and concluded that, "The film is familiar and trifling, but it's perky."<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A07E0D8123CE733A25751C2A9639C946491D6CF New York Times, 22 May 1965: ''Screen: 'Operation Snafu': Comedy and New Stage Show at Paramount''] Re-linked 2014-08-10</ref>

==References==
<references/>

== External links ==
*{{BFI Explore|4ce2b6b236426|On the Fiddle}}
*{{IMDb title|0055262}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|on_the_fiddle}}
*{{BBFC title|AFF002808|On the Fiddle}}
* [http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/film/on_the_fiddle/ British Comedy Guide: ''On the Fiddle'']

{{Cyril Frankel}}

[[Category:1961 films]]
[[Category:British war comedy films]]
[[Category:1961 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films based on British novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Cyril Frankel]]
[[Category:Films scored by Malcolm Arnold]]
[[Category:British World War II films]]
[[Category:Military humor in film]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:Films shot at Shepperton Studios]]
[[Category:American International Pictures films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s British films]]