Chesney Allen
Also Known As: not available
Biography: From Wikipedia Chesney Allen, born William Ernest Chesney Allen (5 April 1893 – 13 November 1982) was a popular English entertainer of the Second World War period. He is best remembered for his double act with Bud Flanagan, Flanagan and Allen He began his career in straight acting, making his debut in stock at the Wimbledon Theatre, London, in 1912. Serving in Flanders in the First World War, he made friends with Bud Flanagan, and worked with him from 1924. As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act and this led to a successful recording career and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were also members of the Crazy Gang and worked together in that team for many years. Flanagan and Allen stopped performing together with Chesney Allen's retirement on health grounds.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK
Birthday: April 05, 1893
Deathday: November 13, 1982
Adult: No
Gender: Male
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Known For:
Gasbags
Overview: It's war time London and the Crazy Gang (Flanagan & Allen, Nervo & Knox, Naughton & Gold) are doing their bit for the war effort by running a fish and chip stall using their platoon's barrage balloon for advertising. Their Sgt Major is not happy about this and orders them to take the balloon down, but a freak heavy wind accidentally carries the gang away to Nazi Germany. They are captured and placed in a detention camp where they meet an elderly prisoner named Jerry, who possess a map for the location of a secret weapon which will win the war! Fortunately Teddy Knox's impersonation of Hitler lands him the spot of pretending to be the Fuhrer at a gala dinner and the gang are allowed out of the camp. However the Nazis have other ideas for their substitute leader.
Genres: War Adventure Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-02-01
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Listen to Britain
Overview: A depiction of life in wartime England during the Second World War. Director Humphrey Jennings visits many aspects of civilian life and of the turmoil and privation caused by the war, all without narration.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-04-01
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The Frozen Limits
Overview: The Crazy Gang join the 1898 gold rush. Unfortunately it's now 1939 and they're a bit late.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-11-01
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A Fire Has Been Arranged
Overview: A pair of friends robs from a jewelry shop, and buries their loot in a field out in the country before they get caught. They spend ten years in prison, and when they're let out they go back to the burial ground, only to find out that it's no longer a bucolic pasture but the site of a large department store. Despite that setback, they're still determined to dig up their stash.
Genres: Crime Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-06-01
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Alf's Button Afloat
Overview: Alf discovers that one of the buttons on his pyjamas is made from the metal of Aladdin's lamp and that when he cleans it a genie appears.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-06-30
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The Bailiffs
Overview: Two incompetent Bailiffs men reposess the wrong house.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1932-09-30
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O-Kay for Sound
Overview: Hyman Goldberger, the president of film studio Super-Colossal Pictures, is in trouble--his major backer is threatening to stop financing his pictures. He finds a group of six wealthy individuals who may want to become investors in the studio if his disgruntled backer pulls out. Unfortunately, his bumbling runner Albert picks that day to invite six of his street musician friends to be in the film that is currently shooting at the studio, and Hyman mistakes them for the potential investors. Complications ensue.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-02-09
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Here Comes the Sun
Overview: When a wealthy newspaper proprietor passes away, his crooked business partner moves to secure the deceased's fortune by substituting a false will. But 'Corona' Flanagan is onto the fraudster, and his efforts to unmask the villain see him popping in and out of jail – which isn't all that bad, since the governor is an old friend of his – and dressing up as a Russian countess...
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-01-12
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Wild Boy
Overview: This film is a caper story of greyhound racing and the efforts of a crooked dog owner to stop a rival's dog, Wild Boy, from running in the Greyhound Derby.
Genres: Comedy Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-01-01
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Life Is a Circus
Overview: Encompassing three hugely popular double acts, The Crazy Gang were one of Britain's best-loved, most enduring variety troupes – their antics delighting audiences for over three decades from the early 1930s and their career taking in numerous Royal Command performances. Their efforts to save a struggling circus provide the laughs in this uproarious comedy, also starring Goldfinger icon Shirley Eaton and featuring Flanagan and Allen's rendition of their greatest hit, Underneath the Arches. The Crazy Gang have been jacks-of-all-trades with Joe Winter's Monster Circus for almost as long as Joe has been on the road, and they're still hoping for a big break. But Joe has hit hard times: his equipment is mortgaged, most of his acts have deserted him and even the elephants have walked out. So the Gang set about finding a way to save the circus... and come up with a typically novel solution!
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-02-16
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Dreaming
Overview: When a pretty Wren faints in a crowded train, Private Bud Flanagan and Captain Ches Allen are quick to render first aid. But over Bud's head, a heavy kitbag wobbles; it falls and scores a direct hit, knocking him unconscious. What follows is a dream sequence involving Ches, the Wren and Bud himself in a series of hilarious adventures as well as a magical medley of the duo's best-loved musical numbers!
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1944-11-28
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They're Off
Overview: 'The well-known crosstalk music hall comedians [Flanagan and Allen] presented in an amusing trifle which enables them to gag in that inimitable manner which has brought them popular success.' (Kinematograph Weekly)
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1933-02-02
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Theatre Royal
Overview: The Theatre Royal is a struggling London venue battling to keep its doors open. When the bank threatens to close it, the workers fear that they will soon be forced out of their jobs. The Royal's property master, Bob Parker (Bud Flanagan), recruits the rest of the staff to stage a benefit gala. They hope their show, featuring songs and dances, can raise enough cash to stave off the end. Meanwhile, they seek investors who can keep the Theatre Royal and its staff in business permanently.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-07-26
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Underneath the Arches
Overview: Two hard up Brits stowaway aboard a ship to South America where they are washed up on the shore of a banana republic.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-01-03
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Dunkirk
Overview: A British Corporal in France finds himself responsible for the lives of his men when their officer is killed. He has to get them back to Britain somehow. Meanwhile, British civilians are being dragged into the war with Operation Dynamo, the scheme to get the French and British forces back from the Dunkirk beaches. Some come forward to help, others were less willing.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-03-20
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We’ll Smile Again
Overview: Nazi spies infiltrate a British film studio with the intention of sending coded messages in the films they produce.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-12-07
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