{{short description|1937 film directed by John Baxter}} {{Infobox film | name = Talking Feet | image = Talking_Feet_film_DVD_cover_(1937-2).png | caption = DVD cover | director = John Baxter | producer = John Barter | writer = Geoffrey Orme <br> Jack Francis <br> H. Fowler Mear | starring = Hazel Ascot <br> Enid Stamp-Taylor <br> Jack Barty | music = Kennedy Russell | cinematography = Jack Parker | editing = Michael Truman | studio = UK Films | distributor = Sound City Films | released = {{Film date|1937|11|08|df=yes}} | runtime = 71 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English }} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
'''''Talking Feet''''' is a 1937 British musical film directed by John Baxter and starring Hazel Ascot, Enid Stamp-Taylor and Jack Barty.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Talking Feet |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150052128 |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Talking Feet |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/53229 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114020803/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/53229 |archive-date=14 Jan 2009 |website=BFI}}</ref> It was written by Geoffrey Orme, Jack Francis and H. Fowler Mear.
== Plot == Hazel, the daughter of an East London fishmonger, is on her way to the rehearsal of a pantomime when her dog Patch is injured in a street accident. At a local hospital Dr Hood manages to save Patch's life. When Hazel discovers that Dr Hood's hospital may have to close, she helps the local community to raise funds to save it. Mr Shirley, the manager of a local theatre, is persuaded to allow his venue to be used for a fund-raising event. Hazel brings together a group of talented locals to create an exciting evening of entertainment. The fund-raising effort is a success, and so Dr Hood's hospital is saved.
Most of the second half of the film consists of the variety show, featuring performers of the day.
==Cast== * Hazel Ascot as Hazel Barker * Jack Barty as Joe Barker * Davy Burnaby as Mr Shirley * Enid Stamp Taylor as Sylvia Shirley * John Stuart as Dr Roger Hood * Ernest Butcher as Thomas * Edgar Driver as Titch * Muriel George as Mrs Gumley * Kenneth Kove as Lord Cedric Scattery * Robert English as Lord Langdale * Scott Sanders as Scotty McDonald * Jennie Gregson as Mrs Barker * Johnnie Schofield as stage door keeper * May Hallatt * William Heughan * John Turnbull * Freddie Watts * Mark Hambourg * The Scotch Kilties * The Dagenham Girl Pipers and Dancers * The Military Pipers * Corona Babes * The Minipiano Ensemble of 14 Juveniles * Garden Ray Girls * The Band of H.M. Royal Marines (Plymouth Division) * Billy Thorburn (uncredited)<ref name="BFIsearch" />
== Production == The film was made at Shepperton Studios<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Linda |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |title=British Films, 1927–1939 |publisher=British Film Institute |year=1986 |pages=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016015016/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> with sets were designed by John Bryan. ==Reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "The story is sentimental but human and the atmosphere is genuine. Hazel Ascot, on whom the film largely depends, can dance neatly enough, but her singing and acting are stilted and self-conscious. Jack Barty gives life to the film as her father and there is a pleasant glimpse of Dave Burnaby as Mr. Shirley. The audition scenes might well have been omitted and the final show might have been shortened."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1937 |title=Talking Feet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305804922 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=4 |issue=37 |pages=143 |id={{ProQuest|1305804922}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "The sentiment is honest, the parade of turns most of which are new, is handled with real showmanship, while the small star, Hazel Ascot, is refused any attempt at precocity. To use an American colloquialism, the film has "got something," and that something, represented by the warmth and variety of the entertainment, is closely allied to the box-office. The show is British to the core."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=8 July 1937 |title=Talking Feet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2339641961 |journal=Kine Weekly |volume=245 |issue=1577 |pages=21 |id={{ProQuest|2339641961}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
''Picture Show'' wrote: "Quite entertaining variety show."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 November 1937 |title=Talking Feet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1880289688 |journal=Picture Show |volume=38 |issue=967 |pages=20 |id={{ProQuest|1880289688}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
''Picturegoer'' wrote: "The main point about this picture is the screen debut of a new juvenile find, Hazel Ascot, who promises to do exceedingly well. ... Most of the appeal of the film relies on the "turns," which include some exceedingly good ones. The plot is very slight, but the artistes concerned make the most of it."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=7 November 1937 |title=Talking Feet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1776994522 |journal=Picturegoer |volume=7 |issue= |pages=26 |id={{ProQuest|1776994522}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Moderate musical."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=157}}</ref>
== Home media == ''Talking Feet'' was released on DVD by Renown Pictures on 11 Jun 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Talking Feet DVD |url=https://www.renownfilms.co.uk/product/talking-feet/ |publisher=Renown Pictures}}</ref>
== References == <references/>
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0029638}}
{{John Baxter}}
Category:1937 films Category:British musical comedy films Category:1937 musical comedy films Category:1937 English-language films Category:Films directed by John Baxter Category:Films shot at Shepperton Studios Category:Films set in London Category:British black-and-white films Category:1937 British films Category:English-language musical comedy films Category:Films scored by Kennedy Russell