Comedy

Crime

Who Done It?

Ealing Studios

United Kingdom

English

Benny Hill

Belinda Lee

David Kossoff

Garry Marsh

Denis Shaw

Ernest Thesiger

George Margo

Frederick Schiller

Thorley Walters

Stratford Johns

Warwick Ashton

Norah Blaney

Charles Hawtrey

Nicholas Phipps

Peter Bull

Gibb McLaughlin

Ernest Jay

Harold Scott

Terence Alexander

Irene Handl

Arthur Lowe

Glyn Houston

Jeremy Hawk

Philip Stainton

Basil Dearden

T. E. B. Clarke

Michael Balcon

Michael Relph

David Tringham

E.R. Taylor

Philip Green

Otto Heller

Peter Tanner

Jim Morahan

Anthony Mendleson

Harry Frampton

Daphne Martin

Hal Mason

David Peers

Tom Pevsner

W. Simpson Robinson

Stephen Dalby

Alastair McIntyre

Leo Wilkins

Chic Waterson

Dock Mathieson

Jean Graham

The Dill Detective.

Who Done It? is out of Ealing Studios, directed by Basil Dearden and written by T.E.B. Clarke. It stars Benny Hill, Belinda Lee, David Kossof, Gary Marsh, George Margo, Ernest Thesiger and Denis Shaw. Music is by Philip Green and cinematography by Otto Heller.

Benny Hill's first foray into film has him playing Hugo Dill, an Ice Rink attendant who dreams of one day becoming a detective like those in the magazines he reads. When he wins a competition that sees him land £100 and a Bloodhound! He promptly sets up his own detective agency, which provides colourful chaos...

It came out as Ealing Sudios was entering its last furlong, the great studio's wonderful comedies behind them, this very much feels like a last throw of the dice whilst giving Hill's career a timely push. As it happens, and as we now know, Hill would find his fame and fortune in Television and not on film. This s amiable stuff for those after a bit of slapstick and prat falling. Basically Hill is thrust into a murderous plot involving spies, where he's out of his depth and not aware of what is really going on half the time, which sets it all up for mishaps, misadventures and misunderstandings.

Love interest and muscle foil (seriously) comes via the gorgeous Belinda Lee, sadly to lose her life in a road accident five years later, whilst a number of well known British acting faces are in and around the plot so we can play spot the star. The number of chaotic scenes involving chases and destruction of events and property etc are well played out, with the obligatory speed framing technique showing its face as well, and it builds to a frenetic last quarter of film that culminates at the old West Ham Stadium, a location familiar to Stock Car/Speedway/Greyhound enthusiasts before its closure in 1972. It's a finale that saves the film and rewards those who have stayed with the pic throughout its daft formulaic throes. 6/10

Who Done It? (1956) Original Trailer [FHD]

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Who Done It?

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Cast

Benny Hill

Belinda Lee

David Kossoff

Garry Marsh

Denis Shaw

Ernest Thesiger

George Margo

Frederick Schiller

Thorley Walters

Stratford Johns

Box office

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