Dry Rot

Ronald Shiner - Alf Tubbe
Brian Rix - Fred Phipps
Peggy Mount - Sgt. Fire
Lee Patterson - Danby
Sid James - Flash Harry
Joan Sims - Beth
Heather Sears - Susan
Michael Shepley - Col. Wagstaff
Joan Haythorne - Mrs. Wagstaff
Miles Malleson - Yokel

Adapted by John Chapman from his own West End play that opened in the summer of 1954, director Maurice Elvey’s penultimate film is in keeping with many of the unexceptional low-budget comedies that occupied his twilight years. The script is creaky but there are bright performances from farceurs Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix and Sid James. Peggy Mount makes a relatively brief but nevertheless memorable appearance as an indomitable police sergeant.

After being cleaned out at the racecourse, three crooked bookmakers, Honest Alf (Ronald Shiner), Fred (Brian Rix) and Flash Harry (Sid James) plan to make a killing at the races by switching Sweet Lavender, an old nag they buy on their way home, for a French wonder horse The Cardinal. But when Sweet Lavender takes ill days before the big race, the trio resort to a second option of replacing the French jockey intended to ride The Cardinal with Fred. Unsurprisingly, the scheme doesn’t go quite according to plan.