My Old Dutch
1934Moving family drama of the life of a working-class Hackney couple over 40 years, inspired by the famous music hall song This moving family drama - with time for some laughs - portrays the life and hardships of a working class Hackney couple over a span of 40 years. Our intrepid couple (wonderfully played by Betty Balfour and Michael Hogan) have to face everything life throws at them with fortitude, from the Great War (a son in the RAF and zeppelin raids) to a raging oil fire during the Great Strike. The inimitable Gordon Harker provides sterling support. The film the couple watch at the cinema is the 1915 version of My Old Dutch, starring Albert Chevalier (writer of the original music hall song) and Florence Turner. As the complete silent film is now believed to be lost, this 1934 version contains the only surviving footage.
Acted in
Betty Balfour
as Lil
Gordon Harker
as Ernie
Bill Shine
as Cousin Arry
Frank Pettingell
as Uncle Alf
Robert Nainby
as Grandpa
Peter Gawthorne
as Mr. Paraday
Glennis Lorimer
as Valerie Paraday
Mickey Brantford
as Jim
Florrie Forde
as Aunt Bertha
Finlay Currie
as Mo
John Singer
as Jim as a child
Vi Kaley
as Neighbour (uncredited)
Eric Pavitt
as Boy
Michael Hogan
as Bert