Be Careful, Mr. Smith
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1935 |
Key people | Max Mack (director), Frank Atkinson (screenplay), Ernest Longstaffe (screenplay) |
| Products | Film |
Be Careful, Mr. Smith (also referred to as Singing Through) is a 1935 British comedy film helmed by director Max Mack, featuring performances by Bobbie Comber, Bertha Belmore, and Cecil Ramage. The screenplay was crafted by Frank Atkinson alongside Ernest Longstaffe.
Plot
Geoffrey Smith, having stepped away from his provincial office role, becomes entangled in a fraudulent stock market scheme in London and plays a key role in apprehending the offenders.
Cast
- Bobbie Comber portraying Geoffrey Smith
- Bertha Belmore as Jenny Smith
- Cecil Ramage
- C. Denier Warren
- Arthur Finn
- Warren Jenkins
- Frank Atkinson
- Marie Daine
- Bertha Ricardo
- Ernest Sefton
Production
The visual environment for the film was created under the guidance of art director John Mead.
Reception
According to Kine Weekly, the movie is a "thin, old-fashioned farcical comedy with music," characterized by an amateurish approach and limited attraction beyond less discerning audiences. While Bobbie Comber's music-hall acts received commendation, his comedic portrayal was found lacking, as was the casting of Bertha Belmore. The review emphasized that the juxtaposition of vintage songs within contemporary nightclub scenes provided the film’s primary entertainment value, although the humor and script were criticized for being outdated and simplistic.
The Daily Film Renter described it as a lackluster, dated musical comedy featuring a weak narrative and generally unremarkable performances, except for Comber’s music hall segments and Belmore’s competent acting. The production quality was noted to surpass what the material warranted.
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959, David Quinlan rated this film as "mediocre," labeling it a "ragged comedy."