Frank Randle

Documentary featuring a cavalcade of Northern comedy stars including the great Frank Randle, George Formby, Arthur Askey, Norman Evans and many more. The North of England has always enjoyed its own very particular brand of comedy, best seen today in Coronation Street. 80 years ago however Mancunian Studios produced feature films for the northern masses. Funny Up North tells the story of the Mancunian Studios, its eccentric owner John E Blakeley and its cavalcade of stars including such household names as Arthur Askey, Jimmy Jewell, George Formby and the legendary Frank Randle. Hosted by Professor Chris Lee, the authority on northern cinema, Funny Up North takes you on a journey from its humble beginnings to its sad demise in the 1960s.

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Shelly Rohde meets various celebrities to ask them which personal treasures they would seal away in a glass box for future generations. Guests include Hughie Green, Edward Heath and Victoria Wood.

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Classic British comedy following an accident-prone army Private, played by music hall legend Frank Randle in his final screen role, as he attempts to rescue a Corporal (played by icon Diana Dors) from the attentions of a predatory Sergeant-Major.

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Flatfoot Mason and his friends are the bane of the staff of the school at which Flatfoot is janitor - and where one of the pupils is Mason's long-lost daughter

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Joe Smart (Frank Randle) is a radio repairman who enters the political arena competing in an upcoming election against his own boss. Joe wins the election, but encounters loads of trouble in the process.

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The Rogers family head off by car to Blackpool where, after a musical interlude and fun on the prom, they have an adventure in a haunted house.

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When You Come Home was Randle’s seventh feature film, and sees him recount his life as a music hall odd job man to his grandaughter.

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Three sketches: Donovan and Byl perform comic acrobatics; Arnley and Gloria do a dance routine; Frank Randle plays an elderly shoe repairer.

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Musical romantic comedy about an orphan and the son of a Colonel and his snooty wife, who refuses to give them her blessing.

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Ex-army private Randle stands to receive a substantial inheritance from his uncle if he can prove he is of sound mind. However, his devious cousin tries to grab the money by having Randle committed to a psychiatric home.

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Private Randle (Frank Randle) and army pals, Privates Young (Dan Young) and Enoch (Robbie Vincent) are invited by Private Desmond (Pat McGrath) to spend some off-duty time at his stately home. Private Desmond is too busy courting an ATS girl (Antoinette Lupino) to notice the squaddies are running riot in his house.

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Army buddies help Private Trevor court the daughter of their commanding officer. All efforts fail - until a hero is revealed and the sergeant masquerades as a housekeeper!

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In a North of England training camp, lovestruck Corporal Kenyon (Harry Kemble) is framed and demoted in rank by a rival in love for the affections of the Adjutant's daughter. Four friends rally round to help clear the Corporal's name.

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Classic British comedy following an accident-prone army Private, played by music hall legend Frank Randle in his final screen role, as he attempts to rescue a Corporal (played by icon Diana Dors) from the attentions of a predatory Sergeant-Major.

Open details →

Ex-army private Randle stands to receive a substantial inheritance from his uncle if he can prove he is of sound mind. However, his devious cousin tries to grab the money by having Randle committed to a psychiatric home.

Open details →