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Scripted by Galton and Simpson and starring a host of familiar British comedy faces, The Bargee is also a valuable record of long-vanished life on the waterways, as Julian Upton explains.

Flushed with success from the first series of TV’s Steptoe and Son, writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson fashioned The Bargee, an amiable, water-bound vehicle for its star Harry H. Corbett, casting him as Hemel Pike, lothario of the waterways with a girl at every lock. Hemel is essentially Harold Steptoe afloat, but, with charisma to spare, Corbett is in his prime here; it’s refreshing to see him free of the ‘dirty old man’ and out in the open air. It doesn’t last long though; he soons finds that one of his conquests (the evergreen Julia Foster) is in ‘the family way’, fuelling the ire of her boisterous lock-keeper father (a memorable turn from Hugh Griffith), who forces Hemel to do the decent thing. Something akin to a post-Chatterley trial Ealing film, The Bargee has improved with age, lip-biting political incorrectness notwithstanding. It’s not just a showcase for a roster of burgeoning British comedy talent (Eric Sykes, Ronnie Barker, Derek Nimmo, Richard Briers), but also a beautifully photographed record of a long-vanished life on the English canals.

 

Julian Upton on 25th February 2010
View all 133 of Julian Upton's reviews

For anyone looking for a rip-roaring comedy, this isn't it. This is a superb film, yes there are some good laughs and some great lines but it's the films gentle nature... more >

For anyone looking for a rip-roaring comedy, this isn't it. This is a superb film, yes there are some good laughs and some great lines but it's the films gentle nature, beautiful film score and great location shots that stay in the memory. Hemel Pike (Harry H) is always portrayed in the films promo's as the 'Casanova of the canals', but it's Hemel's love affair with his job and the canals that always strikes a chord with me. The line he utters at the start says it all. When told he should leave the canals for life ashore, because the canal carrying days are in decline, he says with passion: 'The only way you will get me off the canal is to fill it in'

Canal enthusiasts will love this film for it's glorious location shoots. I recently visited the main location which is known in the film as 'Leg O' Mutton Lock, in reality Bulbourne Junction on the grand union and it hasn't changed a bit. There's a marvellous performance by Eric Sykes as the hapless mariner, in fact, every scene is so well crafted with a super script. Hugh Griffith is superb as ever, the scene with him and Derek Nimmo who plays the Doctor is a classic.

I wish they had retained the full screen adaption on the video though as you lose quite a bit of the action, I would have preferred the 'letterbox' version and been able to see it all. A wonderfully atmospheric film and now full of nostalgia. But I plea with someone to bring out the widescreen version maybe on DVD. < less

 

The Bargee (1964) is a fabulous 'travelling' film with great performances from all the actors involved. Harry H Corbett's portrayal of Hemel Pike, the Casanova of the ... more >

The Bargee (1964) is a fabulous 'travelling' film with great performances from all the actors involved. Harry H Corbett's portrayal of Hemel Pike, the Casanova of the canals, is enthralling, sensitive and funny but with an underlying pathos that makes this character work so well.

The film is also a wonderful, nostalgic and colourful slice of life on the canals in the early sixties when things moved at a far slower pace. < less

 

The Bargee is a gem of a film. Galton and Simpson (Corbett's writers from Steptoe & Son) created the story and wrote the strong script which cleverly combines comedy a... more >

The Bargee is a gem of a film. Galton and Simpson (Corbett's writers from Steptoe & Son) created the story and wrote the strong script which cleverly combines comedy and drama which allowed Corbett to shine as the obvious star of the film (many agree this is his best film role) and whilst this is undoubtedly his vehicle, there is an extremely strong supporting cast of a plethora of British character actors, in particular Eric Sykes as the totally incompetent mariner, a retired Commander struggling to come to terms with life in much smaller boats! Ronnie Barker, as Hemel's cousin, certainly gives Corbett a run for his money with every scene they share together and shows the early signs of the stardom that was to soon follow. Hugh Griffith is absolutely superb as Julia Foster's 'agressively-possessive' father and his scene in the pub when he challenges all-comers to a drinking competition is pure magic! And finally, Derek Nimmo makes a nice cameo as a 'wet-behind-the-ears doctor. The film is beautifully made and benefits greatly from being shot in Technicolor, giving the already nostalgic locations a dream-like veneer. The boats seen in the film are all genuine working barges, filmed with added poigniancy when you remember that the industry was finally killed-off by the extremely harsh winter the year this film was made. Give it a go - perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon - and enjoy being taken back to an altogether different age in this pleasing and gently amusing tongue-in-cheek tribute to those who plied their trade up and down Britian's waterways. A pure joy! < less