British Comedy Guide
Trouble Brewing. Image shows from L to R: George Gullip (George Formby), Bill Pike (Gus McNaughton). Copyright: Associated Talking Pictures / STUDIOCANAL
Trouble Brewing

Trouble Brewing

  • 1939 film

An eager newspaper worker goes undercover to expose a gang of counterfeiters. Stars George Formby, Googie Withers, Gus McNaughton, Garry Marsh, C. Denier Warren and more.

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Trouble Brewing. Image shows from L to R: George Gullip (George Formby), Mary Brown (Googie Withers). Copyright: STUDIOCANAL / Ealing Studios

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1939
Stars
George Formby, Googie Withers, Gus McNaughton, Garry Marsh, C. Denier Warren, Beatrix Fielden-Kaye, Joss Ambler, Ronald Shiner and more
Writers
Angus MacPhail, Michael Hogan and Anthony Kimmins
Director
Anthony Kimmins
Producer
Jack Kitchin
Company

George Gullip is a junior worker in the print room of major national newspaper The Daily Sun. Working with inks all day, and aspiring to be a detective, he's also a bit of an inventor and has mixed his own creation: it'll leave a fingerprint, but not wash off the finger itself for at least a week.

Meanwhile, waves of counterfeit notes are sweeping the country, and the police are at a loss to even identify any suspects.

A trip to the races with workmate Bill sees George become involved in the affair when their horse clinches a surprise victory, resulting in a hefty £300 windfall for the pair: unfortunately no sooner have they claimed their winnings than they are palmed off with fake notes when trying to break it into smaller amounts to spend!

Determined to get their cash back the unlikely duo spot a truck marked 'Blue Star Brewery' and give chase. They're soon in a series of unlikely entanglements as they attempt to pinpoint the gang's leader, including a prize-fight wrestling challenge, a renowned opera singer's cocktail party, and - such is their string of luck - breaking into the home office safe of the chief of police!

When George's love interest Mary, the secretary of The Daily Sun's editor, stumbles across a vital clue, however, everyone's luck begins to change: some for the better, and some much for the worse.

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Additional details

UK certificate
U
Duration
87 minutes
UK release
Monday 24th July 1939
Distributors

Associated British Film Distribution

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Black and white

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Tuesday 24th August 2021 at 12:20pm on TPTV
  • Sunday 16th May 2021 at 10:00am on TPTV
  • Monday 11th January 2021 at 6:00am on TPTV

Recording details

  • Ealing Studios

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