Go to Blazes Review

First released in 1962, Go to Blazes is a frothy British comedy in the classic mould. The film follows the escapades of a trio of hapless criminals. After their getaway from a jewellery shop robbery is foiled by a traffic jam caused by a fire engine, the gang decide to procure a fire engine of their own as the perfect getaway vehicle. With zany results!

For some reason it feels more difficult to criticise old movies than it does modern ones. I think there’s an innate instinct to revere that which has gone before, at least in terms of cinema. Of course, the language and culture of cinema today is vastly different from the early sixties, which makes it tricky, for me at least, to offer a fair critique. All that said, I didn’t really get a lot out of Go to Blazes. It’s not that funny and the sits from which the actors are expected to derive com are often pretty silly and not in a good way.

It did make me think what the film would be like if it were made today. Probably not much better. I expect you’d have Martin Freeman mugging his way through the thing with someone like Danny Dyer and/or the equally awful James Corden providing support. Freeman would also probably end up with the posh totty – in the real version played by a young Maggie Smith, in my fantasy modern version by, let’s say Gemma Arterton.

It’s not to say that Go to Blazes is total rubbish. It rattles along fairly well (especially the first half) and there are some nice shots of sixties London. It’s also a film that offers equal opportunity entertainment. Your granny is as likely to like it as your six year old cousin. Probably. I don’t know them personally.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a mildly distracting, but not that great sixties comedy featuring actors that would go on to work on Dad’s Army, Coronation Street, et al and fire engines, look no further. You’ll get on like a house on fire.