JohnHowardReid A Michael Balcon Production. An Ealing Studios Film, never theatrically released in the U.S.A. U.K. release through Rank Film Distributors: 19 March 1956. British Board of Film Censors' Certificate: "Suitable for Universal Exhibition". Australian release through British Empire Films: 25 July 1957. 7,659 feet. 85 minutes. Cut by the distributor to 82 minutes (including "General Exhibition" censorship certificate and B.E.F. logo) in Australia. (Available on a very good Optimum DVD).SYNOPSIS: Dill (rhymes with Hill) tries his luck as a private eye.NOTES: Film debut of TV comedian, Benny Hill, and the last comedy produced at Ealing Studios. Ealing, the production company, survived a few more years by transplanting itself to M-G-M's studios at Borehamwood. Ironically, the actual Ealing Studios themselves were taken over by the British Broadcasting Corporation.COMMENT: The script certainly packs in plenty of promising ideas, but, alas, most of them are not developed for their utmost comic effect. After a wonderfully funny opening in which Dill inadvertently wrecks both an ice show and a police station, the script tries desperately for more laughs. But a lack of writing talent, combined with Basil Dearden's heavy-handed direction, all but stifle any further merriment. Fortunately, one plus factor survives all attempts to smother her spark: — Belinda Lee, whose spirited performance more than saves the day. Oddly, in its unfairly negative review, The Motion Picture Guide describes Hill as a "popular but utterly sleazy British comic." Popular certainly — at its peak in Britain alone his show enjoyed over twelve million viewers — but sleazy? Impish is surely the right word. MPG must be confusing Hill with some other British comedian. I have a friend, a dear old lady, who's as strait-laced as they come. Spends most of her time in church. Hill is her favorite comedian. Wouldn't miss one of his shows for quids. Benny can do no wrong as far as she's concerned. She thinks he's an absolute riot!OTHER VIEWS: Plenty of honest, clean fun. — F. Maurice Speed.Clarke's somewhat desperate script is still sufficiently superior in its situations to make Who Done It? considerably more amusing than any other recent vehicle for a new comedian. — D.H. in the Monthly Film Bulletin.Appearing for the first time in a full-length feature film, although they have appeared in a number of documentary films — the Dagenham Girl Pipers are seen in a hilarious sequence. In fact, Belinda Lee, who plays the romantic lead, impersonates one of the pipers. In the twenty-five years of their existence the Dagenham Girl Pipers have played to many millions of people. - Ealing publicity.

Spikeopath 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

bkoganbing Benny Hill's big screen debut came in this modest production from Ealing Studios which seems to draw inspiration from Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau and Bob Hope from The Paleface. It's not a remake of Abbott and Costello's Who Done It from the early forties although both films involve Benny in his film and Bud and Lou in their's as newly minted private detectives.But Benny makes Costello look like Sherlock Holmes. He gets hired to impersonate an Eastern European scientist visiting the United Kingdom, but the idea is to bump Benny off so the scientist can return to his country with a new weather machine which puts climate totally at man's control. Has Al Gore heard about this?But all kinds of problems arise including the bad guys bumping off the real scientist whom they mistake for Benny. Nothing sophisticated in this film, it's one catastrophe after another for Ben, starting with him wrecking an Ice Capades Show and a chase reminiscent of that other Ealing classic, The Lavender Hill Mob.Where The Paleface comes in is that Benny has an Amazonian girl friend aiding and abetting him and pulling him out of many scrapes the way Jane Russell did for Bob Hope. In Who Done It the Amazon is Belinda Lee who was definitely built along Jane Russell's measurements. For some reason Ms. Lee had a blond wig on for this film, I suppose so folks would view her as a British Marilyn Monroe.Special mention must go to Garry Marsh playing the Scotland Yard inspector in the same manner patented later on by Herbert Lom as Inspector Dreyfus of the French Surete. His reaction shots are priceless.Benny Hill's greatest success was on the small screen first in the United Kingdom and then in America when his shows were syndicated here. Nevertheless Who Done It is definitely a good example of his zany comedy style.

azcowboysingr Benny Hill as a bumbling Private Eye? Oh yes, and his first film really shows us the beginnings of his massive comedic talents. While it is obviously a low budget production, the slapstick gags & rapid-fire quips will keep any Benny Hill fan in stitches. This film is also a great addition to any collection of his many fans as it reveals the "Funniest Man Alive" before he became so famous on TV. I bought a used DVD of this movie because it was all I could find available, but that's the nice thing about DVD's...they don't wear out like VHS tapes do. Not a film for people who prefer sophisticated, under-played humor, but if you like the 3 Stooges, Abbot & Costello, or Martin & Lewis, you're going to love "Who Done It?".