Patrick George Callaghan

The Bargee 1963 ...Is a gorgeous romp around the canals of England and features Harry H. Corbett as The Casanova of the Canals with ‘a bird in every lock’ Harry plays Hemel Pike a narrow boat trader who won’t give-up his way of life on the water until one of his women becomes pregnant and he is forced by her drunk of a father to try and find work on land. A colourful film created by the writing team of Galton and Simpson, it also finds room for the talents of Ronnie Barker, Hugh Griffith and Eric Sykes. A very funny film that is both wonderfully nostalgic and beautifully shot in the sunshine of an English summer.

The Bargee 1963 is a gorgeous romp around the canals of England and features Harry H. Corbett as The Casanova of the Canals with ‘a bird in every lock’ Harry plays Hemel Pike a narrow boat trader who won’t give-up his way of life on the water until one of his women becomes pregnant and he is forced by her drunk of a father to try and find work on land. A colourful film created by the writing team of Galton and Simpson, it also finds room for the talents of Ronnie Barker, Hugh Griffith and Eric Sykes. A very funny film that is both wonderfully nostalgic and beautifully shot in the sunshine of an English summer.

One of the warmest and lovable films in my collection is THE BARGEE made in 1964. Whenever I watch this I just fall in love with the colour and nostalgia of it. Beautifully filmed and set along Britain’s canals it stars Harry H. Corbett of Steptoe fame, as Hemel Pike, a romantic barge owner with a girl at every Lock, and when one of his girlfriends falls pregnant he is chased to the alter by her angry and hot headed father. It’s a lovely and clever comedy that just blows me away. Featured are: Hugh Griffith as the father, Ronnie Barker as Hemel’s cousin and workmate, Eric Sykes as a canal traveler, and Julia Foster as the expectant female. It was wonderfully written by the famous team of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.