- Whispers From Walmington Forum -

baberair · Town Clerk Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 16

Just watching 'Bell Bottom George' on BBC2 starring George Formbey' when he is on a train one of the other passengers describes a girl as "very tasty, very sweet" . Does this phrase have its origins in WW2? a phrase that Jimmy Perry remebered from this era or film
Wow as i'm typing they've just used the phrase "put that light out" twice!!! An inspiration perhaps?
I now want to see the Formbey film 'Get Cracking' its about the home guard, maybe some more ideas from that used in Dads Army as in it he invents a home made tank? anyone seen it?

Oz · Posted: Tue 25 Aug 2009 17:47 pm Post subject:

I believe it was British film star Jack Warner's phrase, along with 'Blue pencil' and 'my brother Sid' and 'mind my bike'.

baberair · Town Clerk Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 16

Oz, what films were they used in? i know Jonesy refers to 'mind my bike' in "war dance" but i thought it may be a radio reference, as the Formby films are dated 43 it makes them made 42-43 so did they both use these as popular phrases of the time?

Oz · Posted: Wed 26 Aug 2009 08:08 am Post subject:

Don't rely on dad's Army for exact timing of certain phrases or events or Home Guard details: DA was a sitcom not an exact historical reference point. I think there are radio broadcasts/sketches where Jack Warner says these phrases throughout the war years.

Dave Homewood · Posted: Wed 26 Aug 2009 13:09 pm Post subject:

Jimmy Perry and David Croft wrote in their excellent 1998 book 'Dad's Army - The Lost Episodes" this:

'Very tasty, very sweet' was a catch phrase of two wartime radio stars, Nan Kenway and Douglas Young, whose act consisted mostly of references to food.

Oz · Posted: Wed 26 Aug 2009 13:13 pm Post subject:

Cheers Dave - I stand (well actually I'm sitting) corrected.

I think I was getting into the realms of fantasy, what a stupid boy etc etc etc

Dave Homewood · Posted: Wed 26 Aug 2009 13:16 pm Post subject:

It seems there's more here:

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=11848

baberair · Town Clerk Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 16

thanks for that, Dave that link to the Pathe site is great. its one i've never come across before, and it was a funny sketch too. i know its not fully historicaly accurate but i love finding how those catch phrases linked to the time