Crook's Tour (1941)

Directed by John Baxter, this 1941 movie sees Charters and Caldicott touring the Middle East. After visiting Saudi Arabia they find themselves in Baghdad where they are mistaken by a group of German spies for the messengers who are to carry a song record by beautiful singer La Palermo (played by Greta Gynt) The gramophone record contains secret instructions of the German Intelligence for disrupting oil supplies. Realizing their error, the German spies pursue Charters and Caldicott to Istanbul trying to eliminate them and retrieve the record.   They are persuaded to go to the Hamilton hotel; although it looks ike an ordinary hotel it is actually a private villa owned by the Nazi’s.  
 Unimpressed by service in Istanbul, Charters and Caldicott head to Budapest – still tailed by German spies and a whole heap of espionage and danger.  Along the way, Charters and Caldicott find out that La Palermo is a double agent working on behalf of the British Secret Service.

Charters and Caldicott are once again on holiday in Crook's Tour. Germany are hatching a sinister plot to disrupt British oil interests in the Middle East and Greta Gynt plays a double spy trying to thwart them. As the plot develops she needs the help of the bumbling cricket fanatics played brilliantly by Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne.

Charters and Caldicott quotes


“All night in the desert, no bed, no bath; Sleeping with people who we have never been introduced to.  It places us in a very very disagreeable position”. 

“You know Caldicott, I can’t help thinking that if we had one camel with two humps instead of two with one, it would be a lot easier”

“Its’ labelled Bathroom”.  “Well that’s ridiculous, It should be labelled Bosphorus”

I’ve hardly noticed her.  Of course she has a face and err eyes.  Green eyes, I think they are; two of them; and long hair”

“Well my German is, apparently, not so good as I thought it was.  I know what Achtung at the beginning means though.  Yes, I saw it once on a gate.  Achtung die dun.  Beware the dog in English

“There’s an explanation alright”  “Just at the moment, we can’t think what it is”

“It is painful to me to discuss it, but I imagine that they will shoot you in the courtyard”.  “Oh, not in the heart!.  Thank you”.

Crook's Tour is included as a special feature on Disk 2 of Criterion's The Lady Vanishes

Crook's Tour Review

North Eastern Advertiser Tasmania article
3rd February 1942

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Crook's Tour was originally recorded as a BBC Radio programme before being made into a movie in 1941.

Crooks Tour 1941

Cast and Crew List


Directed by John Baxter; 
Screenplay by John Watt and Max Kester;
Script by Barbara K. Emary
Based on original Radio Story by Frank Launder  and Sidney Gilliat            
Studios: British National


Cast 

Charters                          Basil Radford 
Caldicott                          Naunton Wayne       
La Palermo                      Greta Gynt             
Ali                                      Abraham Sofaer      
Sheik                                 Charles Oliver         
Rossenger                        Gordon McLeod       
Klacken                             Bernard Rebel         
K.7.                                    Cyril Gardiner          
Waiter                               Morris Harvey         
Edith Charters                 Noel Hood              
Hotel Manager                Leo de Pokorny       
American                         Cyril Chamberlain     
Tourist on Desert Bus    Finlay Currie           
Bit Role                             Peter Gawthorne     
Nightclub Manager         Andreas Malandrinos
Hotel Receptionist          Patricia Medina        
Desert Bus Tour Guide   Jack Melford           
Manservant at Castle     Charles Rolfe          
Bit Role                              Bill Shine       

Produced by                              John Baxter
Music by                                    Kennedy Russell
Cinematography by                  James Wilson
Film editing by                          Michael C Chorlton
Production Management by   John Corfield and Wallace Orton
Art Department                         Duncan Sutherland
Sound Department                   Harold V. king
Music Conductor                       Kennedy Russell
Technical Supervisor                Lance Comfort

Charters and Caldicott: As War Begins

Charters and Caldicott - As War Begins covers the period in Charters’ and Caldicott’s screen life between 1938 and 1943 covering their first four film appearances - The Lady Vanishes, Night Train To Munich, Crook’s Tour and Millions Like Us - all classic films. This book brings together - for the very first time - all the scenes that they appeared in - telling the story of what Charters and Caldicott saw, what they said and what they understood to be happening. It tells the humorous way that Charters and Caldicott saw the world and the funny and exciting adventures that happened to them during this very turbulent time in world history.


To purchase the book, click on the link below

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