DON'T PANIC CHAPS

UK, 1959, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Dennis Price, George Cole, Thorley Walters.
Directed by George Pollock.

Don’t Panic Chaps is typical British humour, parody on war and English attitudes, with a touch of the 'Carry On' style. George Cole is very good at this kind of humour. Dennis Price appears surprisingly as a German officer. There are quite some good comic situations. However there is some criticism of the futility of war when British and Germans are marooned and forgotten on an island and learn to live together. Directed by George Pollock who made the Miss Marple films in the sixties.

1. The tone of the title, British military, ironic comedy? A good army comedy?

2. Audience expectations of British comedy and its style, the presentation of the war with comic touch? Conventional or better?

3. Black and white photography, European locations, music? The atmosphere of war and remoteness from the war?

4. How credible the plot? The bumbling of the British forces? The obtuseness of officials about invasions and information? The garrison on the island, the parallel with the Germans also left on the island? The suspicions and hostilities and the mutual agreement to survive on the island? The arrival of the girl? The rescue and its rigmarole?
Credible enough for the purposes of the comedy?

5. The presentation of the British and their typical types: Finch and his archaeology and awkwardness, the Commander and his pompousness? Aykroyd and the girls, getting out of work? The Sergeant and his hostility? What comment is being made on the British soldier and his attitudes and background?

6. The parallel with the Germans: the Commander and his elegance and enjoyment of life, the cook, the suspicious German. the archaeological Professor?

7. The character of the girl and her not speaking English, communication in Italian via Finch, the effect especially with the swimming, the party, having to hide her from the rescuers?

8. The character touches and caricature of the officials - in the planning sequences, the training of the hopeless recruits and the actual launching and going on the island, the rescue and the meal etc.?

9. Comment on the comedy touches in the various characters? Their interaction?

10. The themes of anti-war, the futility of war, human nature in common wherever it be?