GASBAGS

Original British 11 inch x 17 inch Trade Advertisement from Kinematograph Weekly for the 1941 Marcel Varnel Comedy GASBAGS starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton, Jimmy Gold, Moore Marriott, Wally Patch, Peter Gawthorne, Frederick Valk, Eric Clavering, Anthony Eustrel, Carl Jaffe Manning Whiley, Torin Thatcher, Irene Handl and George Merritt.

It’s war time London and the Crazy Gang (Flanagan & Allen, Nervo & Knox, Naughton & Gold) are doing their bit for the war effort by running a fish and chip stall using their platoon’s barrage balloon for advertising. Their Sgt Major is not happy about this and orders them to take the balloon down, but a freak heavy wind accidentally carries the gang away to Nazi Germany. They are captured and placed in a detention camp where they meet an elderly prisoner named Jerry, who possess a map for the location of a secret weapon which will win the war! Fortunately Teddy Knox’s impersonation of Hitler lands him the spot of pretending to be the Fuhrer at a gala dinner and the gang are allowed out of the camp. However the Nazis have other ideas for their substitute leader.

Advertisement art by Victor Hicks (1893 – 1946). Hicks trained at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and in the 1930’s he was designing theatrical and advertising posters as well as illustrating children’s books.

The Advertisement is in good to very good condition with a few edge creases and minor surface marks.