As a teenager one of my very favourite films was 'Hoots Mon!' (1940). I hasten to add that I stumbled over the film on television. I'm not *that* old! This was in the mid-1980s when Channel 4 would often screen these gems of British comedy. Despite being made and released during World War II, this wasn't the typical George Formby pulls down the trousers of Hitler type film. No, this was a celebration of variety theatre and, in particular, that Cheeky Chappie Max Miller. In terms of our Forgotten Heroes though, the film was more important to me as an introduction to Florence Desmond. Vivacious, sparky and a brilliant mimic, her act included impersonations of the leading film stars of the day, including a saucy one of Max Miller himself. Somewhat besotted, this sappy kid wrote her a fan letter. She was well into her eighties at the time and long-retired. Charmingly she preserved my illusions by sending me a signed photograph circa. 1940. I still treasure it. Mind you, you'll have to buy the book to see it! Here's Florence concealing - just - "the deepest shelter in town"; one of the risque songs that made her so popular. Little wonder.
Sounds Familiar
