British Comedy Guide
The Goose Steps Out. William Potts (Will Hay). Copyright: Ealing Studios / STUDIOCANAL
The Goose Steps Out

The Goose Steps Out

  • 1942 film

Wartime comedy starring Will Hay. Teacher William Potts goes undercover at a German spy training school. Also features Frank Pettingell, Julien Mitchell, Charles Hawtrey, Peter Croft, Anne Firth and more.

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The Goose Steps Out. Image shows from L to R: William Potts (Will Hay), Prof. Hoffman (Frank Pettingell). Copyright: Ealing Studios / STUDIOCANAL

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1942
Creators
Bernard Miles and Reg Groves
Stars
Will Hay, Frank Pettingell, Julien Mitchell, Charles Hawtrey, Peter Croft, Anne Firth, Leslie Harcourt, Jeremy Hawk and more
Writers
Angus MacPhail and John Dighton
Directors
Basil Dearden and Will Hay
Producers
Michael Balcon and S.C. Balcon
Company

William Potts (Will Hay) is a hapless, clumsy schoolteacher who just happens to be identical body double for a notorious German Nazi general. When the army are made aware of the uncanny resemblance to the German, who they are currently holding prisoner, they decided to drop the reluctant Mr Potts behind enemy lines.

His deadly mission is to find and retrieve information on a secret weapon that the Germans are planning to use. But whilst impersonating the Nazi general Potts manages to infiltrate the Hitler Youth. He also manages to make a big impression on the students who are being trained as spies and learning how to fit into British society. Luckily Mr Potts is at hand to give them lots of handy hints in honour of the war effort.

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Additional details

Tagline
Pokes fun at the Hun!
UK certificate
U
Duration
75 minutes
UK release
Thursday 24th September 1942
Produced
Winter 1941 - 1942
Distributors

Associated British Film Distribution

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Black and white
Soundtrack
Music by Bretton Byrd.

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 25th October 2020 at 7:25am on TPTV
  • Wednesday 29th July 2020 at 9:30am on TPTV
  • Thursday 9th April 2020 at 9:25am on TPTV

Recording details

  • Ealing Studios

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