Convict 99 (1938)

6.8 ? Sep 26, 1938 1h 31m

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Overview

A disgraced school master, Benjamin Twist, is mistaken for a tough prison governor and assigned the charge of a prison for particularly hardened criminals. Believing he is being sent to a school rather than a prison, he celebrates accordingly only to find that his drunkenness accidently lands him on the wrong side of the prison bars. The Governorship is eventually restored to him, and he sets about popularising himself amongst the convicts by turning a blind eye to their shady dealings.

Overview

Genres

Comedy

Release Date

September 26, 1938

Rating

6.8 /10

Runtime

1h 31m

Will Hay

Dr. Benjamin Twist

Moore Marriott

Jerry The Mole

Graham Moffatt

Albert Brown

Googie Withers

Lottie

Peter Gawthorne

Sir Cyril

Basil Radford

Deputy Governor

Wilfred Walter

Max Slessor

Dennis Wyndham

Head Warder

Alf Goddard

Sykes

Basil McGrail

Bates

Kathleen Harrison

Mabel

Roddy McDowall

Jimmy

Teddy Brown

Slim Charlie

Bertha Belmore

Tiara Lady

George Merritt

Patrolman

Roy Emerton

John Benjamin

Leonard Sharp

Convict

Garry Marsh

Johnson

CinemaSerf

6.0/10

Nov 13, 2022

When it turns out that "Twist" (Will Hay) is no good as an headmaster he is turfed out and looking for a new job! An administrative mix up sees him appointed the governor a prison, and after another which sees him temporarily behind the bars, he tries to ingratiate himself with the prisoners and, predictably, they run rings round him as he is soon well out of his depth. Will Hay had good comedy timing and together with a decent cast of regulars manages to raise a laugh or two, but the film is way too long and the joke doesn't really sustain it for ninety minutes. That said, though, it is still quite watchable, if only to remind us was made us laugh in the simpler, less cynical days before the second world war.

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