Bell-Bottom George

George is an unwilling civilian during the war. When an enlisted friend switches clothes with him in order to go to a party, George finds himself mistakenly pressed into the navy, where he gets involved with pretty Ann Firth and caught up in a subplot involving German spies.

Varnel directed the last nine of George Formby's movies, and the collaboration shows its strains here. George's persona was that of the well-meaning, lower-class 'cheeky chappie' who seizes his infrequent, small opportunities and finally prevails, pausing every now and then to sing a song, accompanying himself on his ukulele -- actually an alto banjo. Varnel's specialty was as director of heartless farces with the Crazy Gang and the incomparable Will Hay. The result is a coarsening of George's character. Although Formby pulls it off, his character has lost some of his charm.