I Only Arsked!

I Only Arsked! is a 1958 British comedy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Bernard Bresslaw, Michael Medwin and Alfie Bass.^[1] The screenplay was by Sid Colin and Jack Davies based on the television series The Army Game (1957–1961). It was made by Hammer Films.

I Only Arsked!
British quad poster
Directed by	Montgomery Tully
Screenplay by	Sid Colin Jack Davies
Produced by	Anthony Hinds
Starring	Bernard Bresslaw Michael Medwin Alfie Bass
Cinematography	Lionel Banes
Edited by	James Needs Alfred Cox
Music by	Benjamin Frankel
Production companies	Granada Productions Hammer Film Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures Corporation (UK)
Release dates	11 November 1958 (1958-11-11) (London, UK)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Slapstick ensues when inept army recruits are transferred to a post in the Middle East.

Cast

• Bernard Bresslaw as Private "Popeye" Popplewell
• Michael Medwin as Corporal Springer
• Alfie Bass as Private "Excused Boots" Bisley
• Geoffrey Sumner as Major Upshott-Bagley
• Charles Hawtrey as Private "Professor" Hatchett
• Norman Rossington as Private "Cupcake" Cook
• David Lodge as Sergeant "Potty" Chambers
• Arthur Howard as Sir Redvers
• Marne Maitland as King Fazim
• Michael Bentine as Fred
• Francis Matthews as Mahmoud
• Michael Ripper as Azim
• Wolfe Morris as Salaman
• Ewan MacDuff as Ferrers
• Basil Dignam as General Bender
• Martin Boddey as Colonel Danvers
• Claire Gordon as harem girl
• Marie Devereux as harem girl

Reception

Box office

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film performed "better than average" at the British box office in 1959.^[2] Variety also said the film was one of the most popular of the year in Britain.^[3]

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Two acid take-offs of memorable scenes in Bridge on the River Kwai and a few moments of communal insanity from the five practised actors who take the brunt of the action are the highlights of this modest and relaxed army lark. There is no departure here from the tradition of service farces, except that some, at least, of its humour is composed of private jokes inherited from the TV programme from which the idea was taken."^[4]

Allmovie wrote, "The level of humour in I Only Arsked! will perhaps best be appreciated by fans of the original series."^[5]

TV Guide noted "An enjoyable British slapstick comedy."^[6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Hit TV series goes east to mix satire with slapstick."^[7]