The Navy Lark (film) - Revision history

Kurt at 23:48, 10 February 2023

2023-02-10T23:48:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:48, 10 February 2023
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	~~{{For\|the radio programme\|The Navy Lark}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2014}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=July 2014}}~~
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = The Navy Lark		\| name = The Navy Lark
	\| image = The Navy Lark (film).jpg		\| image = The Navy Lark (film).jpg
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| director = [[w:Gordon Parry (film director)\|Gordon Parry]]		\| director = [[Gordon Parry (film director)\|Gordon Parry]]
	\| producer = [[w:Herbert Wilcox\|Herbert Wilcox]]		\| producer = [[Herbert Wilcox\|Herbert Wilcox]]
	\| writer = Laurie Wyman<br>[[w:Sid Colin\|Sid Colin]]		\| writer = Laurie Wyman<br>[[Sid Colin\|Sid Colin]]
	\| narrator =		\| narrator =
	\| starring =		\| starring =
	\| music = [[w:Tommy Reilly (harmonica player)\|Tommy Reilly]]		\| music = [[Tommy Reilly (harmonica player)\|Tommy Reilly]]
	\| cinematography = [[w:Gordon Dines\|Gordon Dines]]		\| cinematography = [[Gordon Dines\|Gordon Dines]]
	\| editing = Basil Warren		\| editing = Basil Warren
	\| distributor = [[w:Twentieth Century-Fox\|Twentieth Century-Fox]]		\| distributor = [[Twentieth Century-Fox\|Twentieth Century-Fox]]
	\| released = {{Film date\|1959}}		\| released = {{Film date\|1959}}
	\| runtime = 78 minutes		\| runtime = 78 minutes
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	}}		}}

	'''''The Navy Lark''''' is a 1959 British [[w:comedy film\|comedy film]] based on ''[[w:The Navy Lark\|The Navy Lark]]'' radio series broadcast on the [[w:BBC Light Programme\|BBC Light Programme]].<ref name = "nyt">{{cite web \| url = https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005132927/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| url-status = dead \| archive-date = 2009-10-05 \| department = Movies & TV Dept. \| work = [[w:The New York Times\|The New York Times]] \| publisher = [[w:Baseline (database)\|Baseline]] & [[w:All Movie Guide\|All Movie Guide]] \| author = Eleanor Mannikka \| date = 2009 \| title = The Navy Lark (1959)\| access-date=2008-08-30}}</ref> It featured [[Cecil Parker]], [[Ronald Shiner]] and [[w:Leslie Phillips\|Leslie Phillips]], [[w:Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] and [[Hattie Jacques]]. It was filmed mainly at [[w:West Bay, Dorset\|West Bay]], [[w:Bridport\|Bridport]], [[w:Dorset\|Dorset]]. Only Phillips had appeared on the radio version – all other parts were recast.<ref name="hello">''Hello: The Autobiography'', Leslie Phillips, Orion, 2006</ref> The film was produced at [[w:Walton-on-Thames\|Walton-on-Thames]].		'''''The Navy Lark''''' is a 1959 British [[comedy film\|comedy film]] based on ''[[The Navy Lark\|The Navy Lark]]'' radio series broadcast on the [[BBC Light Programme\|BBC Light Programme]].<ref name = "nyt">{{cite web \| url = https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005132927/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| url-status = dead \| archive-date = 2009-10-05 \| department = Movies & TV Dept. \| work = [[The New York Times\|The New York Times]] \| publisher = [[Baseline (database)\|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide\|All Movie Guide]] \| author = Eleanor Mannikka \| date = 2009 \| title = The Navy Lark (1959)\| access-date=2008-08-30}}</ref> It featured [[Cecil Parker]], [[Ronald Shiner]] and [[Leslie Phillips\|Leslie Phillips]], [[Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] and [[Hattie Jacques]]. It was filmed mainly at [[West Bay, Dorset\|West Bay]], [[Bridport\|Bridport]], [[Dorset\|Dorset]]. Only Phillips had appeared on the radio version – all other parts were recast.<ref name="hello">''Hello: The Autobiography'', Leslie Phillips, Orion, 2006</ref> The film was produced at [[Walton-on-Thames\|Walton-on-Thames]].

	==Plot==		==Plot==
	Captain Povey has built a reputation for shutting down redundant naval bases, and now has his eye on the [[w:minesweeping\|minesweeping]] detachment on Boonsey (a fictional [[w:Channel Islands\|Channel Island]], {{convert\|55\|mi\|abbr=on}} off [[w:Portsmouth\|Portsmouth]]). Arriving on inspection, he is told tales of finding many [[w:Naval mine\|mines]] in the sea there and, not believing them, goes out in the minesweeper HMS ''Compton'' (played by HMS ''[[w:HMS Reedham (M2723)\|Reedham]]''). The crew were supposed to find "Bessy", a mine-shaped object used to collect Lifeboat funds but found a real mine instead, which Pouter bashes about in an effort to take it apart. Released, it explodes nearby and this convinces Povey that the incompetents there are not up to the job and he decides on using a competent crew to do the job.		Captain Povey has built a reputation for shutting down redundant naval bases, and now has his eye on the [[minesweeping\|minesweeping]] detachment on Boonsey (a fictional [[Channel Islands\|Channel Island]], {{convert\|55\|mi\|abbr=on}} off [[Portsmouth\|Portsmouth]]). Arriving on inspection, he is told tales of finding many [[Naval mine\|mines]] in the sea there and, not believing them, goes out in the minesweeper HMS ''Compton'' (played by HMS ''[[HMS Reedham (M2723)\|Reedham]]''). The crew were supposed to find "Bessy", a mine-shaped object used to collect Lifeboat funds but found a real mine instead, which Pouter bashes about in an effort to take it apart. Released, it explodes nearby and this convinces Povey that the incompetents there are not up to the job and he decides on using a competent crew to do the job.

	Chief Petty Officer Banyard uses his "Pullson's Fulminator Mark III" trick (it does not exist) to delay their decommissioning and what started off as a thin folder goes around the military offices and comes back to Povey's office as a mountain of paper work. He sees through it and goes back to the island only to be told there has been an outbreak of "[[w:Yellow Fever\|Yellow Fever]]" there. He is taken in and leaves but decides to return and the trick is revealed as life is back to normal there. Now more than ever he is determined to shut them all down.		Chief Petty Officer Banyard uses his "Pullson's Fulminator Mark III" trick (it does not exist) to delay their decommissioning and what started off as a thin folder goes around the military offices and comes back to Povey's office as a mountain of paper work. He sees through it and goes back to the island only to be told there has been an outbreak of "[[Yellow Fever\|Yellow Fever]]" there. He is taken in and leaves but decides to return and the trick is revealed as life is back to normal there. Now more than ever he is determined to shut them all down.

	Gaston Higgins, a Frenchman, owns the local bar and when he gets drunk he talks of revolution and kicking the British off the island. They decide to use him and say they are under siege from revolutionaries. Povey knows this is another trick and officially gives them three days to leave the island, but his bosses and the government believe the story when they get reports from a reporter, Lieutenant Binns, who was sent there to take photographs. Questions are asked by the British and French governments and Povey's career is on the line as he is told to sort this out as the British do not run from the French.		Gaston Higgins, a Frenchman, owns the local bar and when he gets drunk he talks of revolution and kicking the British off the island. They decide to use him and say they are under siege from revolutionaries. Povey knows this is another trick and officially gives them three days to leave the island, but his bosses and the government believe the story when they get reports from a reporter, Lieutenant Binns, who was sent there to take photographs. Questions are asked by the British and French governments and Povey's career is on the line as he is told to sort this out as the British do not run from the French.

	Povey goes to the island and a fake attack on Gaston and his men is launched but Povey finds out it was all a hoax. Ready to hand out [[w:court martial\|court martial]]s all round, Povey is confronted with a picture Binns took of him leading an all-out attack on what is now known to be a hoax, which will be front-page news across the world tomorrow. Stanton talks him into seeing sense and Povey, with his career in tatters if it gets out, tears up his report. He leaves and life goes back to normal on the island. On the way back to Portsmouth, their boat hits another real sea mine and Povey, Binns and the others are left to swim back to base.		Povey goes to the island and a fake attack on Gaston and his men is launched but Povey finds out it was all a hoax. Ready to hand out [[court martial\|court martial]]s all round, Povey is confronted with a picture Binns took of him leading an all-out attack on what is now known to be a hoax, which will be front-page news across the world tomorrow. Stanton talks him into seeing sense and Povey, with his career in tatters if it gets out, tears up his report. He leaves and life goes back to normal on the island. On the way back to Portsmouth, their boat hits another real sea mine and Povey, Binns and the others are left to swim back to base.

	==Cast==		==Cast==
	* [[Cecil Parker]] as Commander Stanton		* [[Cecil Parker]] as Commander Stanton
	* [[Ronald Shiner]] as Chief Petty Officer Banyard		* [[Ronald Shiner]] as Chief Petty Officer Banyard
	* [[w:Leslie Phillips\|Leslie Phillips]] as Lieutenant Pouter		* [[Leslie Phillips\|Leslie Phillips]] as Lieutenant Pouter
	* [[w:Elvi Hale\|Elvi Hale]] as Leading WREN Heather Stark		* [[Elvi Hale\|Elvi Hale]] as Leading WREN Heather Stark
	* [[Nicholas Phipps]] as Captain Povey		* [[Nicholas Phipps]] as Captain Povey
	* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Lieutenant Binns		* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Lieutenant Binns
	* [[w:Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] as Leading Seaman Johnson. Jackson actually was born in Glasgow, where his character in the film was born.		* [[Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] as Leading Seaman Johnson. Jackson actually was born in Glasgow, where his character in the film was born.
	* [[w:Harold Kasket\|Harold Kasket]] as Gaston Higgins		* [[Harold Kasket\|Harold Kasket]] as Gaston Higgins
	* [[Hattie Jacques]] as Fortune Teller		* [[Hattie Jacques]] as Fortune Teller
	* [[Reginald Beckwith]] as CNI		* [[Reginald Beckwith]] as CNI
	* [[w:Kenneth J. Warren\|Kenneth J. Warren]] as Brown		* [[Kenneth J. Warren\|Kenneth J. Warren]] as Brown
	* [[w:Wanda Ventham\|Wanda Ventham]] as Mabel.		* [[Wanda Ventham\|Wanda Ventham]] as Mabel.
	* [[w:Richard Coleman\|Richard Coleman]] as Lieutenant Bates		* [[Richard Coleman\|Richard Coleman]] as Lieutenant Bates
	* [[w:Llewellyn Rees\|Llewellyn Rees]] as Admiral Troutbridge. This is a nod to the radio series where the ship is called HMS Troutbridge, the ship being named after the Admiral.		* [[Llewellyn Rees\|Llewellyn Rees]] as Admiral Troutbridge. This is a nod to the radio series where the ship is called HMS Troutbridge, the ship being named after the Admiral.
	* [[w:Clive Morton\|Clive Morton]] as Rear Admiral		* [[Clive Morton\|Clive Morton]] as Rear Admiral
	* [[w:Gordon Harris (actor)\|Gordon Harris]] as Group Captain		* [[Gordon Harris (actor)\|Gordon Harris]] as Group Captain
	* Van Boolen as Fred		* Van Boolen as Fred
	* Gordon Whiting as Commander		* Gordon Whiting as Commander
	* [[w:Tom Gill (actor)\|Tom Gill]] as Naval Commander		* [[Tom Gill (actor)\|Tom Gill]] as Naval Commander
	* [[w:Walter Hudd\|Walter Hudd]] as Naval Captain. 12 months after the release of this film, he played the Admiral aboard HMS Hood in the film Sink the Bismarck (1960).		* [[Walter Hudd\|Walter Hudd]] as Naval Captain. 12 months after the release of this film, he played the Admiral aboard HMS Hood in the film Sink the Bismarck (1960).

	==Relationship to Radio Series==		==Relationship to Radio Series==

	According to [[Jon Pertwee]]'s co-written memoir, published shortly after his death in 1996, the film was also supposed to star Pertwee and [[Dennis Price]], both of whom were key members of the cast in the original radio series. However, according to Pertwee this did not happen as the film's producer [[w:Herbert Wilcox\|Herbert Wilcox]] refused to employ Price "because he was gay." Pertwee stated that he was among those who objected to Price not being in the film and believed that this contributed to his own replacement in the cast by Shiner. Pertwee noted that the film "bombed" and believed that this was due to the fact that audiences did not consider the film to be ''The Navy Lark'' due to the absence of himself, Price and fellow radio series cast member [[Stephen Murray (actor)\|Stephen Murray]].<ref name="PertweeHowe">{{cite book \|last1=Pertwee \|first1=Jon \|last2=Howe \|first2=David J. \|title=I am the Doctor:Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir \|date=1996 \|publisher=Doctor Who Books, Virgin Publishing Ltd \|location=London \|isbn=1-85227-621-5\|page=20}}</ref> A nod to the radio series appears during the fake revolution in the news headlines of ''[[w:The Daily Telegraph\|The Daily Telegraph]]'' referring to "Admiral Troutbridge".		According to [[Jon Pertwee]]'s co-written memoir, published shortly after his death in 1996, the film was also supposed to star Pertwee and [[Dennis Price]], both of whom were key members of the cast in the original radio series. However, according to Pertwee this did not happen as the film's producer [[Herbert Wilcox\|Herbert Wilcox]] refused to employ Price "because he was gay." Pertwee stated that he was among those who objected to Price not being in the film and believed that this contributed to his own replacement in the cast by Shiner. Pertwee noted that the film "bombed" and believed that this was due to the fact that audiences did not consider the film to be ''The Navy Lark'' due to the absence of himself, Price and fellow radio series cast member [[Stephen Murray (actor)\|Stephen Murray]].<ref name="PertweeHowe">{{cite book \|last1=Pertwee \|first1=Jon \|last2=Howe \|first2=David J. \|title=I am the Doctor:Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir \|date=1996 \|publisher=Doctor Who Books, Virgin Publishing Ltd \|location=London \|isbn=1-85227-621-5\|page=20}}</ref> A nod to the radio series appears during the fake revolution in the news headlines of ''[[The Daily Telegraph\|The Daily Telegraph]]'' referring to "Admiral Troutbridge".

	==References==		==References==

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-11-12T19:43:29Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:43, 12 November 2022
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	[[Category:1959 films]]		[[Category:1959 films]]
	[[Category:1959 comedy films]]		[[Category:1959 comedy films]]
	~~[[Category:British comedy films]]~~
	[[Category:Films directed by Gordon Parry]]		[[Category:Films directed by Gordon Parry]]
	[[Category:Films set on fictional islands]]		[[Category:Films set on fictional islands]]
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	[[Category:1950s English-language films]]		[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
	[[Category:1950s British films]]		[[Category:1950s British films]]
			[[Category:British comedy films]]
			[[Category:British military comedy films]]
			[[Category:British maritime comedy films]]

Kurt at 19:37, 12 November 2022

2022-11-12T19:37:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:37, 12 November 2022
Line 2:		Line 2:
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2014}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2014}}
	{{Use British English\|date=July 2014}}		{{Use British English\|date=July 2014}}

	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = The Navy Lark		\| name = The Navy Lark
	~~\| image_size =~~		\| image = The Navy Lark (film).jpg
	\| image = The Navy Lark ~~FilmPoster~~.~~jpeg~~
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| director = [[Gordon Parry (film director)\|Gordon Parry]]		\| director = [[w:Gordon Parry (film director)\|Gordon Parry]]
	\| producer = [[Herbert Wilcox]]		\| producer = [[w:Herbert Wilcox\|Herbert Wilcox]]
	\| writer = Laurie Wyman<br>[[Sid Colin]]		\| writer = Laurie Wyman<br>[[w:Sid Colin\|Sid Colin]]
	\| narrator =		\| narrator =
	\| starring =		\| starring =
	\| music = [[Tommy Reilly (harmonica player)\|Tommy Reilly]]		\| music = [[w:Tommy Reilly (harmonica player)\|Tommy Reilly]]
	\| cinematography = [[Gordon Dines]]		\| cinematography = [[w:Gordon Dines\|Gordon Dines]]
	\| editing = Basil Warren		\| editing = Basil Warren
	\| distributor = [[Twentieth Century-Fox]]		\| distributor = [[w:Twentieth Century-Fox\|Twentieth Century-Fox]]
	\| released = {{Film date\|1959}}		\| released = {{Film date\|1959}}
	\| runtime = 78 minutes		\| runtime = 78 minutes
Line 24:		Line 22:
	}}		}}

	'''''The Navy Lark''''' is a 1959 British [[comedy film]] based on ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' radio series broadcast on the [[BBC Light Programme]].<ref name = "nyt">{{cite web \| url = https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005132927/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| url-status = dead \| archive-date = 2009-10-05 \| department = Movies & TV Dept. \| work = [[The New York Times]] \| publisher = [[Baseline (database)\|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]] \| author = Eleanor Mannikka \| date = 2009 \| title = The Navy Lark (1959)\| access-date=2008-08-30}}</ref> It featured [[Cecil Parker]], [[Ronald Shiner]] and [[Leslie Phillips]], [[Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] and [[Hattie Jacques]]. It was filmed mainly at [[West Bay, Dorset\|West Bay]], [[Bridport]], [[Dorset]]. Only Phillips had appeared on the radio version – all other parts were recast.<ref name="hello">''Hello: The Autobiography'', Leslie Phillips, Orion, 2006</ref> The film was produced at [[Walton-on-Thames]].		'''''The Navy Lark''''' is a 1959 British [[w:comedy film\|comedy film]] based on ''[[w:The Navy Lark\|The Navy Lark]]'' radio series broadcast on the [[w:BBC Light Programme\|BBC Light Programme]].<ref name = "nyt">{{cite web \| url = https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005132927/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview \| url-status = dead \| archive-date = 2009-10-05 \| department = Movies & TV Dept. \| work = [[w:The New York Times\|The New York Times]] \| publisher = [[w:Baseline (database)\|Baseline]] & [[w:All Movie Guide\|All Movie Guide]] \| author = Eleanor Mannikka \| date = 2009 \| title = The Navy Lark (1959)\| access-date=2008-08-30}}</ref> It featured [[Cecil Parker]], [[Ronald Shiner]] and [[w:Leslie Phillips\|Leslie Phillips]], [[w:Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] and [[Hattie Jacques]]. It was filmed mainly at [[w:West Bay, Dorset\|West Bay]], [[w:Bridport\|Bridport]], [[w:Dorset\|Dorset]]. Only Phillips had appeared on the radio version – all other parts were recast.<ref name="hello">''Hello: The Autobiography'', Leslie Phillips, Orion, 2006</ref> The film was produced at [[w:Walton-on-Thames\|Walton-on-Thames]].

	==Plot==		==Plot==
	Captain Povey has built a reputation for shutting down redundant naval bases, and now has his eye on the [[minesweeping]] detachment on Boonsey (a fictional [[Channel Islands\|Channel Island]], {{convert\|55\|mi\|abbr=on}} off [[Portsmouth]]). Arriving on inspection, he is told tales of finding many [[Naval mine\|mines]] in the sea there and, not believing them, goes out in the minesweeper HMS ''Compton'' (played by HMS ''[[HMS Reedham (M2723)\|Reedham]]''). The crew were supposed to find "Bessy", a mine-shaped object used to collect Lifeboat funds but found a real mine instead, which Pouter bashes about in an effort to take it apart. Released, it explodes nearby and this convinces Povey that the incompetents there are not up to the job and he decides on using a competent crew to do the job.		Captain Povey has built a reputation for shutting down redundant naval bases, and now has his eye on the [[w:minesweeping\|minesweeping]] detachment on Boonsey (a fictional [[w:Channel Islands\|Channel Island]], {{convert\|55\|mi\|abbr=on}} off [[w:Portsmouth\|Portsmouth]]). Arriving on inspection, he is told tales of finding many [[w:Naval mine\|mines]] in the sea there and, not believing them, goes out in the minesweeper HMS ''Compton'' (played by HMS ''[[w:HMS Reedham (M2723)\|Reedham]]''). The crew were supposed to find "Bessy", a mine-shaped object used to collect Lifeboat funds but found a real mine instead, which Pouter bashes about in an effort to take it apart. Released, it explodes nearby and this convinces Povey that the incompetents there are not up to the job and he decides on using a competent crew to do the job.

	Chief Petty Officer Banyard uses his "Pullson's Fulminator Mark III" trick (it does not exist) to delay their decommissioning and what started off as a thin folder goes around the military offices and comes back to Povey's office as a mountain of paper work. He sees through it and goes back to the island only to be told there has been an outbreak of "[[Yellow Fever]]" there. He is taken in and leaves but decides to return and the trick is revealed as life is back to normal there. Now more than ever he is determined to shut them all down.		Chief Petty Officer Banyard uses his "Pullson's Fulminator Mark III" trick (it does not exist) to delay their decommissioning and what started off as a thin folder goes around the military offices and comes back to Povey's office as a mountain of paper work. He sees through it and goes back to the island only to be told there has been an outbreak of "[[w:Yellow Fever\|Yellow Fever]]" there. He is taken in and leaves but decides to return and the trick is revealed as life is back to normal there. Now more than ever he is determined to shut them all down.

	Gaston Higgins, a Frenchman, owns the local bar and when he gets drunk he talks of revolution and kicking the British off the island. They decide to use him and say they are under siege from revolutionaries. Povey knows this is another trick and officially gives them three days to leave the island, but his bosses and the government believe the story when they get reports from a reporter, Lieutenant Binns, who was sent there to take photographs. Questions are asked by the British and French governments and Povey's career is on the line as he is told to sort this out as the British do not run from the French.		Gaston Higgins, a Frenchman, owns the local bar and when he gets drunk he talks of revolution and kicking the British off the island. They decide to use him and say they are under siege from revolutionaries. Povey knows this is another trick and officially gives them three days to leave the island, but his bosses and the government believe the story when they get reports from a reporter, Lieutenant Binns, who was sent there to take photographs. Questions are asked by the British and French governments and Povey's career is on the line as he is told to sort this out as the British do not run from the French.

	Povey goes to the island and a fake attack on Gaston and his men is launched but Povey finds out it was all a hoax. Ready to hand out [[court martial]]s all round, Povey is confronted with a picture Binns took of him leading an all-out attack on what is now known to be a hoax, which will be front-page news across the world tomorrow. Stanton talks him into seeing sense and Povey, with his career in tatters if it gets out, tears up his report. He leaves and life goes back to normal on the island. On the way back to Portsmouth, their boat hits another real sea mine and Povey, Binns and the others are left to swim back to base.		Povey goes to the island and a fake attack on Gaston and his men is launched but Povey finds out it was all a hoax. Ready to hand out [[w:court martial\|court martial]]s all round, Povey is confronted with a picture Binns took of him leading an all-out attack on what is now known to be a hoax, which will be front-page news across the world tomorrow. Stanton talks him into seeing sense and Povey, with his career in tatters if it gets out, tears up his report. He leaves and life goes back to normal on the island. On the way back to Portsmouth, their boat hits another real sea mine and Povey, Binns and the others are left to swim back to base.

	==Cast==		==Cast==
	* [[Cecil Parker]] as Commander Stanton		* [[Cecil Parker]] as Commander Stanton
	* [[Ronald Shiner]] as Chief Petty Officer Banyard		* [[Ronald Shiner]] as Chief Petty Officer Banyard
	* [[Leslie Phillips]] as Lieutenant Pouter		* [[w:Leslie Phillips\|Leslie Phillips]] as Lieutenant Pouter
	* [[Elvi Hale]] as Leading WREN Heather Stark		* [[w:Elvi Hale\|Elvi Hale]] as Leading WREN Heather Stark
	* [[Nicholas Phipps]] as Captain Povey		* [[Nicholas Phipps]] as Captain Povey
	* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Lieutenant Binns		* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Lieutenant Binns
	* [[Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] as Leading Seaman Johnson. Jackson actually was born in Glasgow, where his character in the film was born.		* [[w:Gordon Jackson (actor)\|Gordon Jackson]] as Leading Seaman Johnson. Jackson actually was born in Glasgow, where his character in the film was born.
	* [[Harold Kasket]] as Gaston Higgins		* [[w:Harold Kasket\|Harold Kasket]] as Gaston Higgins
	* [[Hattie Jacques]] as Fortune Teller		* [[Hattie Jacques]] as Fortune Teller
	* [[Reginald Beckwith]] as CNI		* [[Reginald Beckwith]] as CNI
	* [[Kenneth J. Warren]] as Brown		* [[w:Kenneth J. Warren\|Kenneth J. Warren]] as Brown
	* [[Wanda Ventham]] as Mabel.		* [[w:Wanda Ventham\|Wanda Ventham]] as Mabel.
	* [[Richard Coleman]] as Lieutenant Bates		* [[w:Richard Coleman\|Richard Coleman]] as Lieutenant Bates
	* [[Llewellyn Rees]] as Admiral Troutbridge. This is a nod to the radio series where the ship is called HMS Troutbridge, the ship being named after the Admiral.		* [[w:Llewellyn Rees\|Llewellyn Rees]] as Admiral Troutbridge. This is a nod to the radio series where the ship is called HMS Troutbridge, the ship being named after the Admiral.
	* [[Clive Morton]] as Rear Admiral		* [[w:Clive Morton\|Clive Morton]] as Rear Admiral
	* [[Gordon Harris (actor)\|Gordon Harris]] as Group Captain		* [[w:Gordon Harris (actor)\|Gordon Harris]] as Group Captain
	* Van Boolen as Fred		* Van Boolen as Fred
	* Gordon Whiting as Commander		* Gordon Whiting as Commander
	* [[Tom Gill (actor)\|Tom Gill]] as Naval Commander		* [[w:Tom Gill (actor)\|Tom Gill]] as Naval Commander
	* [[Walter Hudd]] as Naval Captain. 12 months after the release of this film, he played the Admiral aboard HMS Hood in the film Sink the Bismarck (1960).		* [[w:Walter Hudd\|Walter Hudd]] as Naval Captain. 12 months after the release of this film, he played the Admiral aboard HMS Hood in the film Sink the Bismarck (1960).

	==Relationship to Radio Series==		==Relationship to Radio Series==

	According to [[Jon Pertwee]]'s co-written memoir, published shortly after his death in 1996, the film was also supposed to star Pertwee and [[Dennis Price]], both of whom were key members of the cast in the original radio series. However, according to Pertwee this did not happen as the film's producer [[Herbert Wilcox]] refused to employ Price "because he was gay." Pertwee stated that he was among those who objected to Price not being in the film and believed that this contributed to his own replacement in the cast by Shiner. Pertwee noted that the film "bombed" and believed that this was due to the fact that audiences did not consider the film to be ''The Navy Lark'' due to the absence of himself, Price and fellow radio series cast member [[Stephen Murray (actor)\|Stephen Murray]].<ref name="PertweeHowe">{{cite book \|last1=Pertwee \|first1=Jon \|last2=Howe \|first2=David J. \|title=I am the Doctor:Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir \|date=1996 \|publisher=Doctor Who Books, Virgin Publishing Ltd \|location=London \|isbn=1-85227-621-5\|page=20}}</ref> A nod to the radio series appears during the fake revolution in the news headlines of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' referring to "Admiral Troutbridge".		According to [[Jon Pertwee]]'s co-written memoir, published shortly after his death in 1996, the film was also supposed to star Pertwee and [[Dennis Price]], both of whom were key members of the cast in the original radio series. However, according to Pertwee this did not happen as the film's producer [[w:Herbert Wilcox\|Herbert Wilcox]] refused to employ Price "because he was gay." Pertwee stated that he was among those who objected to Price not being in the film and believed that this contributed to his own replacement in the cast by Shiner. Pertwee noted that the film "bombed" and believed that this was due to the fact that audiences did not consider the film to be ''The Navy Lark'' due to the absence of himself, Price and fellow radio series cast member [[Stephen Murray (actor)\|Stephen Murray]].<ref name="PertweeHowe">{{cite book \|last1=Pertwee \|first1=Jon \|last2=Howe \|first2=David J. \|title=I am the Doctor:Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir \|date=1996 \|publisher=Doctor Who Books, Virgin Publishing Ltd \|location=London \|isbn=1-85227-621-5\|page=20}}</ref> A nod to the radio series appears during the fake revolution in the news headlines of ''[[w:The Daily Telegraph\|The Daily Telegraph]]'' referring to "Admiral Troutbridge".

	==References==		==References==
	~~<references />~~		{{reflist}}

	==External links==		==External links==
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	*{{Internet Archive film \| TheNavyLark1959 \| The Navy Lark}}		*{{Internet Archive film \| TheNavyLark1959 \| The Navy Lark}}

	~~{{Gordon Parry}}~~
	~~{{Herbert Wilcox}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Navy Lark, The}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Navy Lark, The}}

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{{For|the radio programme|The Navy Lark}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}

{{Infobox film
| name = The Navy Lark
| image_size =
| image = The Navy Lark FilmPoster.jpeg
| caption =
| director = [[Gordon Parry (film director)|Gordon Parry]]
| producer = [[Herbert Wilcox]]
| writer = Laurie Wyman<br>[[Sid Colin]]
| narrator =
| starring =
| music = [[Tommy Reilly (harmonica player)|Tommy Reilly]]
| cinematography = [[Gordon Dines]]
| editing = Basil Warren
| distributor = [[Twentieth Century-Fox]]
| released = {{Film date|1959}}
| runtime = 78 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
}}

'''''The Navy Lark''''' is a 1959 British [[comedy film]] based on ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' radio series broadcast on the [[BBC Light Programme]].<ref name = "nyt">{{cite web | url = https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005132927/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/103688/The-Navy-Lark/overview | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2009-10-05 | department = Movies & TV Dept. | work = [[The New York Times]] | publisher = [[Baseline (database)|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]] | author = Eleanor Mannikka | date = 2009 | title = The Navy Lark (1959)| access-date=2008-08-30}}</ref> It featured [[Cecil Parker]], [[Ronald Shiner]] and [[Leslie Phillips]], [[Gordon Jackson (actor)|Gordon Jackson]] and [[Hattie Jacques]]. It was filmed mainly at [[West Bay, Dorset|West Bay]], [[Bridport]], [[Dorset]]. Only Phillips had appeared on the radio version – all other parts were recast.<ref name="hello">''Hello: The Autobiography'', Leslie Phillips, Orion, 2006</ref> The film was produced at [[Walton-on-Thames]].

==Plot==
Captain Povey has built a reputation for shutting down redundant naval bases, and now has his eye on the [[minesweeping]] detachment on Boonsey (a fictional [[Channel Islands|Channel Island]], {{convert|55|mi|abbr=on}} off [[Portsmouth]]). Arriving on inspection, he is told tales of finding many [[Naval mine|mines]] in the sea there and, not believing them, goes out in the minesweeper HMS ''Compton'' (played by HMS ''[[HMS Reedham (M2723)|Reedham]]''). The crew were supposed to find "Bessy", a mine-shaped object used to collect Lifeboat funds but found a real mine instead, which Pouter bashes about in an effort to take it apart. Released, it explodes nearby and this convinces Povey that the incompetents there are not up to the job and he decides on using a competent crew to do the job.

Chief Petty Officer Banyard uses his "Pullson's Fulminator Mark III" trick (it does not exist) to delay their decommissioning and what started off as a thin folder goes around the military offices and comes back to Povey's office as a mountain of paper work. He sees through it and goes back to the island only to be told there has been an outbreak of "[[Yellow Fever]]" there. He is taken in and leaves but decides to return and the trick is revealed as life is back to normal there. Now more than ever he is determined to shut them all down.

Gaston Higgins, a Frenchman, owns the local bar and when he gets drunk he talks of revolution and kicking the British off the island. They decide to use him and say they are under siege from revolutionaries. Povey knows this is another trick and officially gives them three days to leave the island, but his bosses and the government believe the story when they get reports from a reporter, Lieutenant Binns, who was sent there to take photographs. Questions are asked by the British and French governments and Povey's career is on the line as he is told to sort this out as the British do not run from the French.

Povey goes to the island and a fake attack on Gaston and his men is launched but Povey finds out it was all a hoax. Ready to hand out [[court martial]]s all round, Povey is confronted with a picture Binns took of him leading an all-out attack on what is now known to be a hoax, which will be front-page news across the world tomorrow. Stanton talks him into seeing sense and Povey, with his career in tatters if it gets out, tears up his report. He leaves and life goes back to normal on the island. On the way back to Portsmouth, their boat hits another real sea mine and Povey, Binns and the others are left to swim back to base.

==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 (actor)|Gordon Jackson]] as Leading Seaman Johnson. Jackson actually was born in Glasgow, where his character in the film was born.
* [[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. This is a nod to the radio series where the ship is called HMS Troutbridge, the ship being named after the Admiral.
* [[Clive Morton]] as Rear Admiral
* [[Gordon Harris (actor)|Gordon Harris]] as Group Captain
* Van Boolen as Fred
* Gordon Whiting as Commander
* [[Tom Gill (actor)|Tom Gill]] as Naval Commander
* [[Walter Hudd]] as Naval Captain. 12 months after the release of this film, he played the Admiral aboard HMS Hood in the film Sink the Bismarck (1960).

==Relationship to Radio Series==

According to [[Jon Pertwee]]'s co-written memoir, published shortly after his death in 1996, the film was also supposed to star Pertwee and [[Dennis Price]], both of whom were key members of the cast in the original radio series. However, according to Pertwee this did not happen as the film's producer [[Herbert Wilcox]] refused to employ Price "because he was gay." Pertwee stated that he was among those who objected to Price not being in the film and believed that this contributed to his own replacement in the cast by Shiner. Pertwee noted that the film "bombed" and believed that this was due to the fact that audiences did not consider the film to be ''The Navy Lark'' due to the absence of himself, Price and fellow radio series cast member [[Stephen Murray (actor)|Stephen Murray]].<ref name="PertweeHowe">{{cite book |last1=Pertwee |first1=Jon |last2=Howe |first2=David J. |title=I am the Doctor:Jon Pertwee's Final Memoir |date=1996 |publisher=Doctor Who Books, Virgin Publishing Ltd |location=London |isbn=1-85227-621-5|page=20}}</ref> A nod to the radio series appears during the fake revolution in the news headlines of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' referring to "Admiral Troutbridge".

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0198814}}
*{{Internet Archive film | TheNavyLark1959 | The Navy Lark}}

{{Gordon Parry}}
{{Herbert Wilcox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Navy Lark, The}}
[[Category:1959 films]]
[[Category:1959 comedy films]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Gordon Parry]]
[[Category:Films set on fictional islands]]
[[Category:Military humor in film]]
[[Category:CinemaScope films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Sid Colin]]
[[Category:Films based on radio series]]
[[Category:Films shot in Dorset]]
[[Category:Films set in the Channel Islands]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]