Posted: Wed., Dec. 31, 1930, 11:00pm PT

Sally in Our Alley

(UK)

By Variety Staff

Associated Talking Pictures/Radio. Director Maurice Elvey; Screenplay Basil Dean; Camera Miles Malleson, Alma Reville, Archie Pitt

Gracie Fields Ian Hunter Florence Desmond Fred Groves Gibb McLaughlin

Gracie Fields doesn't exactly suggest sufficient sympathy to hold the romantic lead, but her eccentric singing and dialect-gagging records well.

Story [from the play The Likes of 'Er by Charles McEvoy] tells how a Lancashire girl refuses to marry because her boy friend is reported killed in the war, although actually he isn't dead but pretends to be because he's crippled. She makes a hit serving and singing in a coffee shop.

Atmosphere is good generally. Introduction of the songs is resourceful and some of the gags are quite good. Dialog is pert on English comedy lines. But the whole canvas is very small aand the footage seems very long.

Fields is just Fields as in vaude, but lacking aggressiveness. Ian Hunter has more repose and acting ability than the rest, while newcomer Florence Desmond troupes well in an utterly unsympathetic role.

(B&W) Extract of a review from 1931. Running time: 77 MIN.