Title:LESLIE HENSON'S SHOW FOR THE TROOPS IN FRANCE "RUNNING RIOT" [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BDY 11
Other titles:
Summary: Unedited and uncensored newsreel rushes showing a variety concert performance for troops serving with the British Expeditionary Force in northern France organised by the music hall performer and theatrical impresario Leslie Henson featuring himself and the music hall and stage stars Violet Loraine and Binnie Hale.
Description: Well-lit interior shots with natural sound on film showing male and female members of the cast of the "Running Riot" show on stage singing a version of ' Heigh-Ho' from the soundtrack of the 1937 Walt Disney cartoon, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', at which point the music hall comedian Leslie Henson (1891-1957), dressed up as a dwarf, begins his comedy routine. Violet Loraine (1886-1956), another popular music hall star, performs her First World War hit, 'If You Were the Only', followed by Binnie Hale who sings a number with Leslie Henson. The show's troupe of four chorus girls in short frilly skirts does an imitation of the Can-Can. Violet Loraine returns to the stage and jokes with her audience that the song she is about to perform for them is one their fathers used to sing in the last war. She then performs 'If You Were the Only' and gets the audience of British soldiers to join in. All of the cast join in a final number before the curtain comes down for the last time.
Production Details: British Movietone News (Production company)
Cotter, J (Production individual)
Gray, M (Production individual)
Henson, Leslie Lincoln18911957Comic actor and producer, co-founder of ENSA (Production cast)
Loraine, Violet18861956British music hall star, "If You Were The Only Girl In The World" (Production cast)
Hale, Binnie18991984 (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Henson, Leslie Lincoln (person)
Hale, Binnie (person)
Loraine, Violet (person)
British Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: France (geography)
Phoney War 1939-1940, Second World War (event)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
ENSA 1939-1945 (theme)
France and the Low Countries 1939-1940 (theme)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: None
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 911 ft; Running time: 10 mins 7 secs
BCY 11 ((I) LEWIS GUN POST AND VARIOUS DUGOUTS; (II) COLDSTREAM GUARDS FELLING TREES AND GATHERING TWIGS FOR REVETTING; (III) LESLIE HENSON CONCERT PARTY [Allocated Title])
BBY 11 (LESLIE HENSON'S SHOW TO THE TROOPS IN FRANCE - "RUNNING RIOT" [Allocated Title])
