ComedyCrime

Who Done It?

This movie debut for saucy British TV comic Benny Hill has Benny leaving his job as a sweeper after winning some money. He becomes a private detective and investigates a plot to assassinate British scientists.

Release Date : 1956-03-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Ealing Studios

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Hugo Dill

Original Name : Benny Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frankie Mayne

Original Name : Belinda Lee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Zacco

Original Name : David Kossoff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Det. Inp. Hancock

Original Name : Garry Marsh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Professor Stumpf

Original Name : Denis Shaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sir Walter

Original Name : Ernest Thesiger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barakov

Original Name : George Margo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gruber

Original Name : Frederick Schiller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Raymond Courtney

Original Name : Thorley Walters

Gender : Male

Character Name : PC Coleman

Original Name : Stratford Johns

Gender : Male

Character Name : PC Roberts

Original Name : Warwick Ashton

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Actress

Original Name : Norah Blaney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Disc Jockey

Original Name : Charles Hawtrey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Nicholas Phipps

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Peter Bull

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Gibb McLaughlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Ernest Jay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Harold Scott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Show Official (uncredited)

Original Name : Terence Alexander

Gender : Male

Character Name : Customer (uncredited)

Original Name : Irene Handl

Gender : Female

Character Name : Shop demonstrator (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Lowe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Arresting Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Glyn Houston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Jeremy Hawk

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frankie's Agent

Original Name : Philip Stainton

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The Dill Detective. Who Done It? is out of Ealing Studios, directed by Basil Dearden and written by T.E.B. Clarke. It stars Benny Hill, Belinda Lee, David Kossof, Gary Marsh, George Margo, Ernest Thesiger and Denis Shaw. Music is by Philip Green and cinematography by Otto Heller. Benny Hill's first foray into film has him playing Hugo Dill, an Ice Rink attendant who dreams of one day becoming a detective like those in the magazines he reads. When he wins a competition that sees him land £100 and a Bloodhound! He promptly sets up his own detective agency, which provides colourful chaos... It came out as Ealing Sudios was entering its last furlong, the great studio's wonderful comedies behind them, this very much feels like a last throw of the dice whilst giving Hill's career a timely push. As it happens, and as we now know, Hill would find his fame and fortune in Television and not on film. This s amiable stuff for those after a bit of slapstick and prat falling. Basically Hill is thrust into a murderous plot involving spies, where he's out of his depth and not aware of what is really going on half the time, which sets it all up for mishaps, misadventures and misunderstandings. Love interest and muscle foil (seriously) comes via the gorgeous Belinda Lee, sadly to lose her life in a road accident five years later, whilst a number of well known British acting faces are in and around the plot so we can play spot the star. The number of chaotic scenes involving chases and destruction of events and property etc are well played out, with the obligatory speed framing technique showing its face as well, and it builds to a frenetic last quarter of film that culminates at the old West Ham Stadium, a location familiar to Stock Car/Speedway/Greyhound enthusiasts before its closure in 1972. It's a finale that saves the film and rewards those who have stayed with the pic throughout its daft formulaic throes. 6/10