Royal Navy Singers (1938)

Titles read: "And Now Pathetone introduces - The Royal Naval Singers - One of the features of the Portsmouth Navy Week. These serving Naval ratings keep alive the traditions of the Navy by singing the old-time sea-shanties."



London, probably Pathe Studio.



Various shots of the Royal Naval Singers going through a medley of (unaccompanied) sea shanties, intercut with shots of HMS Victory in harbour and warships at sea. Most of the songs are familiar, one is 'When Johnny Comes Down To Hi-Lo' (the soloist in this song has terrible teeth and is described by Steve Rutland as 'a human bottle-opener') and another is 'Blow The Man Down'.



Note: 'When Johnny Comes Down To Hi-Lo' contains the offensive line, "I never seen the like since I been born / With a big black nigger with his sea boots on".
FILM ID:1172.19

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