Help Yourself (film)

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Help Yourself
Benita Hume and Martin Walker in the film[1]
Directed byJean Daumery
Written by
Based onSinners All by Jerome Kingston
Produced byIrving Asher
StarringBenita Hume
Martin Walker
D. A. Clarke-Smith
CinematographyCharles Van Enger
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Brothers Pictures
Release date
  • 21 March 1932 (1932-03-21)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Help Yourself is a lost 1932 British comedy film directed by Jean Daumery and starring Benita Hume, Martin Walker and D. A. Clarke-Smith.[2][3] It was written by John Hastings Turner and Roland Pertwee based on the novel Sinners All by Jerome Kingston. It was produced at Teddington Studios in London by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.

Preservation status

The British Film Institute has classed Help Yourself as a lost film.[4] Its National Archive holds a collection of stills but no film or video materials.[2]

Plot

While his aunt is away on the Riviera, bright young thing George Quinnock holds a Christmas open house party at his family castle. When some guests turn out to be crooks, after the Quinnock rubies, George and his friends go after the villains.

Cast

Reception

Film Weekly wrote: "Indulgent people may find it fairly amusing."[5]

Kine Weekly wrote: "An agreeable mixture of crime and comedy, which provides quite good fun. The characters are well varied and amuse, while the dialogue is decorated with many bright lines. ... Martin Walker is an easy hero, Benita Hume is good as the girl, while the supporting types are played with a good sense of comedy and character. ... The somewhat commonplace story gains fresh interest by being treated in a light vein, and additional strength results from clever characterisation. The dialogue, too, is bright, but there are times when it impedes the action. However, a fair sense of balance is preserved, and the picture as a whole represents diverting light fare of second-feature calibre."[6]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Amusing comedy with an idea which is a good twist of the familiar strange house-party-and-crooks theme. Interest droops here and there in otherwise strong piece, but, as it is, should go over with most popular hall patrons. ... Martin Walker gives an amusing, if slightly monotonous, study of the sem-inebriated George; Benita Hume is well suited to the role of Mary; and D. A. Clarke Smith is forceful as the 'Major' – the brains of the crook gang. Kenneth Kove is spread admirably over a 'damp string' role, and capable shows are given by Clifford Heatherley, D. Hay Petrie, Carol Coombe, Helen Ferrers, and O. B. Clarence."[7]

Picturegoer wrote: "It is a light, frothy entertainment which is conventional in plot. The dialogue is apt to be considered of too much importance and at times impedes the action considerably. It is acceptable, but far from brilliant entertainment, and may be relied upon to pass an hour, if not riotously, at least pleasantly."[8]

Picture Show wrote: "The cast do sterling work, the dialogue is polished and witty, and the direction resourceful."[1]

References

  1. "Help Yourself". Picture Show. 27 (700): 23. 1 October 1932. ProQuest 1880288302.
  2. "Help Yourself". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  3. "Help Yourself (1932)". BFI. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009.
  4. Eyles, Allen; Meeker, David, eds. (1992). "Help Yourself". Missing Believed Lost: The Great British Film Search. British Film Institute. p. 41. ISBN 0851703062.
  5. "Help Yourself". Film Weekly. 8 (199): 25-26. 5 August 1932. ProQuest 1705181596.
  6. "Help Yourself". Kine Weekly. 181 (1301): 29. 24 March 1932. ProQuest 2322674374.
  7. "Help Yourself". The Daily Film Renter (1593): 4. 22 March 1932. ProQuest 2594638450.
  8. "Help Yourself". Picturegoer. 2: 20. 24 September 1932. ProQuest 1771149083.