OHMS

UK, 1937, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Wallace Ford, John Mills, Anna Lee.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

OHMS is an unusual choice for action director, American Raoul Walsh. He had just made Klondike Annie with Mae West. However, this is a pleasant English comedy – very much the military style with a lot of pomp and circumstance in parades, especially before the king. (The film was released at the time of the abdication of Edward VIII.)

The film opens in New York with Wallace Ford as a small-time racketeer and Grace Bradley as his girlfriend. To escape what could have been a murder charge, he takes a passport and finds himself stowing away to England – being welcomed there and expected to join the army. John Mills portrays his buddy, Anna Lee is his girlfriend. However, Wallace Ford was a character actor rather than a leading man (though he has the opportunity to sing and tapdance here) and finally gives his life for the others so that John Mills and Anna Lee can be happy ever after.

This was popular film-making of the 1930s. Walsh was to make The Roaring Twenties and Dark Command in 1939 and 1940 and become a much more high profile director in the following decades.

1.An entertaining British comedy? American director? Serious overtones?

2.The title, the emphasis on British style, His Majesty? The American title: You’re In The Army Now?

3.Black and white photography, New York, the bright lights, the clubs, stage and performance? The contrast with Britain, London, military style, camps, the theatre? The transition to China – and the big action sequence in the last part of the film? Musical score?

4.The story of Jimmy Tracy: small-time racketeer, conman, his relationship with Jean, in the club, his gambling, coming across Jimmy Dean, his death, the police after him, taking the passport? Jean helping to disguise him against the police? His running out on her, going to London? Sally meeting him, Bert and his friendship, expected to join the army? His training, success, the year passing? The visitor from Winnipeg too drunk to recognise him? The story about his way with the girls and Sally’s jealousy? Going to China, the performance in London, his song and dance, the irony of Bert getting Jean to help out? Sally seeing them together? Jimmy and his wanting to escape, stow away, on the wrong boat? Discovered by Bert? Court martial, in the brig? In China, his going upriver to save Sally? His heroism – almost being shot? The attack on the building, his final standing in front of Sally and Bert and saving them? His final words about the meaning of his life?

5.Sally, wealthy, her father being the regimental sergeant major? Childhood friends with Jimmy? Not recognising Tracy as being not the true Jimmy Dean? Her infatuation with him? Yet her friendship with Bert? The year passing, the socials? The visitor from Winnipeg and her jealousy? Bert and his almost proposal? Their going to China, her going upcountry, caught in the siege? The choice between Jimmy and Bert? Jimmy giving his life? Happy ending?

6.John Mills as Bert, bright young Englishman, military, the training, friendship with Jimmy, helping him? Attraction to Sally? The various escapades, the boxing, Jimmy and his standing in and winning the bout? Disguising his face so that the visitor from Winnipeg wouldn’t recognise him? Bert and his continued attentions, having to report Jimmy when he stowed away? In China, the final attack?

7.Jean, singing and dancing in New York, Jimmy running out on her? In London, on stage, dancing with him? Her marrying the sugar daddy?

8.The background of the British, the sergeant major, the officials? The military parades, the pomp and circumstance? On His Majesty’s Service?