Galloping Major, The

1917. THE GALLOPING MAJOR (1951-ENGLAND). WITH BASIL RADFORD, JIMMY HANLEY, JANETTE SCOTT, A.E. MATTHEWS, JOYCE GRENFELL. APTLY DESCRIBED AT ITS OPENING AS A “FAIRY TALE ABOUT HORSERACING,” THIS VERY BRITISH COMIC YARN IS NOTHING LESS THAN A SHEER DELIGHT. CRACKERJACK CHARACTER COMEDIAN BASIL RADFORD, IN ONE Of HIS LAST ROLES, IS PERFECTLY CAST AS MAJOR ARTHUR HILL, A WIDOWER AND ARMY RETIREE WHO HAS SETTLED INTO AN UNEVENTFUL LIFE AS THE OWNER Of A NONE-TOO-PROfITABLE PET SHOP. HILL’S VERY SPECIAL LOVE IS RACEHORSES. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THEM, WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO OWN AND TRAIN ONE, AND HATCHES A SCHEME WHICH WILL ENABLE HIM TO DO JUST THAT. HE ORGANIZES A SYNDICATE, IN WHICH 300 SUBSCRIBERS WILL EACH YEAR LAY OUT ONE POUND, THE TOTAL SUM Of WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE PURCHASE Of MONTANA MIST, A PROMISING NAG. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A SERIES Of CLEVER COMIC SITUATIONS, BEGINNING WITH HILL’S ACCIDENTAL PURCHASE Of THE WRONG ANIMAL AT AUCTION. DO NOT DESPAIR, THOUGH: YOU CAN BET THAT THE ALTERNATE STEED WILL PROVE TO BE NOT QUITE READY FOR THE GLUE FACTORY. THE FILM IS AIDED IMMEASURABLY BY A TOP-NOTCH CAST Of BRITISH COMICS AND CHARACTER PERFORMERS, JIMMY HANLEY IS ESPECIALLY GOOD AS ONE Of THE MORE INVOLVED SYNDICATE MEMBERS; YOUNG JANETTE SCOTT DOES SWELL AS HILL’S HELPFUL DAUGHTER; AND A.E. MATTHEWS SPARKLES IN HIS BRIEF BIT AS A DECEPTIVELY CANTANKEROUS ARMY VETERAN WHOSE FINANCIAL CONÂTRIBUTION ALLOWS FOR THE HORSE’S PURCHASE. 82 MINUTES. COMEDY