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The Co-Optimists is a 1929 British concert musical film directed by Edwin Greenwood and Laddie Cliff and starring Davy Burnaby, Stanley Holloway and Betty Chester. It was made at Twickenham Studios.

The Co-Optimists
Directed by	Laddie Cliff Edwin Greenwood
Written by	Laddie Cliff Melville Gideon
Produced by	E. Gordon Craig
Starring	Davy Burnaby Stanley Holloway Melville Gideon
Cinematography	Sydney Blythe Basil Emmott
Music by	Pierre De Caillaux (director)
Production company	Gordon Craig Productions
Distributed by	New Era
Release date	27 December 1929 (1929-12-27)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Production background

The film consists of excerpts from the stage musical of the same name which was devised by Davy Burnaby in 1921. The Co-Optimists consisted of a troupe of actors and singers and became largely successful by touring seaside resorts throughout England.

The show opened in London on 21 June 1921 and closed on 4 August 1927. The film was produced by Gordon Craig Productions and was directed by Laddie Cliff (who also starred in the film) and Edwin Greenwood. This film also provided Stanley Holloway with his second film appearance having been with the troupe from the start.

In December 1926, co-star Betty Chester appeared in a short film made in the DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process, singing the song 'Pig-Tail Alley' from the show.

Cast

• Davy Burnaby
• Laddie Cliff
• Melville Gideon
• Gilbert Childs
• Stanley Holloway
• Phyllis Monkman
• Betty Chester
• Elsa MacFarlane
• Peggy Petronella
• Harry S. Pepper

Critical response

Hal Erickson of All Movie Guide noted that the revue had recently finished its U.S. run at the time of this film's release. He criticized the film for its stagy presentation. He stated that the film was poorly received by the critics, although Burnaby as master of ceremonies was praised.[1]

References

External links

• Answers.com
• IMDB
• NYTimes Movies
• BFI Database entry
• CITWF entry
• MyProducer entry
• The Filter entry
• OV Guide entry
• Fandango
• Blockbuster
• Starpulse

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