Up to His Neck

Just as Top of the Form rehashed a Will Hay classic, this reunion between Ronald Shiner and director John Paddy Carstairs was indebted to another 1930s hit, Jack Ahoy! with Jack Hulbert. Detailed to guard naval supplies, Shiner is abandoned on a South Sea island, only to be installed as king. However, his whereabouts are discovered and he's ordered to train a fighting force to help recover a stolen submarie. Naturally, the mission is botched - but not as badly as the comedy. Shiner's wisecracking finagling passes muster, but the patronising depiction of the islanders most certainly does not.