Sally in Our Alley (1931 film)

Plot summary

A British soldier (Ian Hunter) goes off to fight in World War I, with his girlfriend (Gracie Fields) waiting and worried at home. He is soon wounded in battle and crippled. He comes to the conclusion that she would be better off believing that he has been killed so she can get on with her life. She gets the news and is devastated. Several years later she is still grieving for him, but he has now been cured and goes looking for her.

Main cast

Production

The film was made at Beaconsfield Studios by Associated Talking Pictures, who relocated to Ealing Studios the following year. It marked the screen debut of Gracie Fields who was a music hall star. The film incorporated Fields' hugely popular signature song, Sally, itself a reference to Henry Carey's 1725 song, Sally in Our Alley, which had long been a traditional English country dance. The film took £100,000 at the box office establishing Fields as a national film star.

DVD release

This film is currently available in the UK as part of the Gracie Fields collector's edition which in addition to this film includes Looking on the Bright Side (1932), Love, Life and Laughter (1934), Sing As We Go (1934), Look Up and Laugh (1935), Queen of Hearts (1936) and The Show Goes On (1937).