Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt (1940) in Color — Starring Arthur Askey & Richard Murdoch

Aug. 31, 1940USA75 Min.TV-G

Rate this film

IMDb 8 188 votes

Comedy

Info
Cast

🎬 More Movies You Might Like

🎥 Check more movies by director Walter Forde

⭐ Check more movies starring Arthur Askey

⭐ Check more movies starring Richard Murdoch

⭐ Check more movies starring Graham Moffatt

Synopsis

Browse More: 📅 More from 1940 🎭 Comedy Movies 🌍 UK Movies

Is Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt in colour? Yes — this is the colorized version

Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt (1940), the comedy classic starring Arthur Askey and Richard Murdoch, was originally released in black and white — no official colour version was ever produced by the studio. What you are looking at is the professionally colorized restoration: every frame recoloured, available as an instant DRM-free HD (720p) download. You can judge it yourself — the colour preview plays on this page before you buy.

Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

Own Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt (1940) in color — an uproariously funny comedy classic built around the irresistible screen presence of music-hall legend Arthur Askey. Directed by Walter Forde, this professionally restored and colorized classic film delivers nonstop slapstick, mistaken identities, and music-hall charm in gorgeous HD quality. DRM-free instant download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Arthur Linden (Arthur Askey) is a bumbling, good-natured student at Bowgate College who stumbles into a predicament as old as farce itself. When his friend ‘Stinker’ Burton (Richard Murdoch) needs a chaperone for a romantic occasion, Arthur is pressed into service disguised as an elderly aunt — with predictably chaotic results.

The complications multiply rapidly as the college Dean (J.H. Roberts), the Proctor (Felix Aylmer), and a parade of other pompous authority figures become entangled in the deception. Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, beloved comic stalwarts, provide rousing support as Albert Brown and Jerry, ensuring the slapstick never lets up for a moment. Phyllis Calvert appears as Betty Forsythe, lending the story a welcome dash of romantic warmth.

Originally filmed in black and white in 1940, Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt is an exuberant adaptation of the theatrical tradition made famous by the stage play Charley’s Aunt. The version presented here has been professionally restored and colorized, bringing Arthur Askey’s boundless physical comedy energy to life in HD color — vibrant, crisp, and as funny as the day it was made.

Cast & Crew

Director: Walter Forde
Starring: Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch, Graham Moffatt, Moore Marriott, Phyllis Calvert
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Runtime: 75 minutes
Genres: Comedy
Country: USA
Original Format: Black and White

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt is a joyful and charming classic film that showcases the warmth and physicality of a comedy tradition that has largely been forgotten by modern audiences. In the colorized version, every slapstick routine, every comic disguise, and every perfectly timed exchange takes on a fresh new life.

The colorization process uses advanced digital techniques to ensure historically accurate colors while preserving every detail of the original cinematography.

Arthur Askey’s extraordinary physical energy and comic timing have never looked better — the colorized HD version makes every expression and gesture crystal clear
Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, one of British cinema’s most beloved comic double acts, deliver scene after scene of beautifully crafted slapstick in vivid color
This professionally restored and colorized version removes the grain and damage of age, presenting the 1940 film in the cleanest, sharpest condition it has ever been seen
Instant DRM-free download — no waiting, no physical media, available on every device you own
Own this delightful classic film permanently for just €15.00 — a one-time payment with no subscription fees

Few comedy films of the early 1940s capture the spirit of live variety entertainment as effectively as this one does. Arthur Askey’s screen persona — small, energetic, indestructible — is perfectly suited to the rapid escalations of farce, and the colorized version ensures that none of the visual comedy is lost to the limitations of the original black and white photography.

This classic movie is also available in colour for international audiences who prefer the British spelling variant.

Technical Details

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is Arthur Askey?
Arthur Askey was one of Britain’s most beloved comedians of the 1930s and 1940s, known for his boundless energy, self-deprecating humor, and extraordinary physicality. Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt is one of his finest early screen comedies.

Is Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt suitable for families?
Yes. Rated TV-G, this is a completely family-friendly comedy with no offensive content — just brilliant physical humor, warm-hearted farce, and first-class comic performances.

Is this the original film with added color?
Yes. The original black and white film has been professionally colorized frame by frame using advanced digital techniques. Every scene, every joke, and every performance is identical to the 1940 original — only now in full, lifelike color.

What is the price?
€15.00 — a one-time payment for permanent ownership of the colorized HD file.

Is this a DRM-free download?
Yes. Your purchase of Charley’s Big-Hearted Aunt (1940) Colorized is a permanent, DRM-free digital file. Download once and keep it on any supported device forever.

What devices can I watch this on?
Compatible with all modern devices — Smart TVs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and any media player supporting MP4 or MKV formats.

How quickly will I receive my download?
Instantly. Your download link is available as soon as payment is confirmed — no physical shipping, no waiting period.