The Bargee [DVD]

This is a very accurate portrayal of the attitudes of its time.It has superbly evocative film of the narrow boat community. There is some caricature - especially of the 'toff' - and some slapstick comedy at the end which says much about what was then considered amusing. It shows a very male dominated view of sex, work and marriage.What is good is the way that the pressures and inherent arbitrary unfairness of the closing down of the narrow boat trading way of life are shown. It was a small scale warning of what later happened to mining. The working class feelings are ignored by those in power.There is some questionable simplification of lock working but the main filming of narrow boats in action is worth the cost of the film even if you ignore the storyline.

Great Story

Not a bad little story although Eric Sykes seems to think he's in a Carry On film and adds nothing much to story. What is fascinating are the locations. Actually shot along the canal with Harry H Corbett and a rather underused Ronnie Barker working the boat.

Good old way of a time forgone

Harry H Corbett very funny, cheeky etc but for me he is always Steptoe junior

I bought this as we own a canal boat and I tried to find a film that had been set on the canals. This is one of the very few I could find. The most fun thing for us was identifiying the buildings and locks that had been used for the filming in the 60's. The film itself stars many comedy greats of the time, and is fast paced rom com of it's era.

I'm not reviewing the movie, of course. The DVD arrived in perfect shop-sale condition and plays perfectly well. It seems to be a 100% bona-fide original product. The movie itself obviously needs no review from me ... it is rather well known.

Of a special era when comedy was fun. Great cast. Definitely worth a watch.