This was Val Guest's first feature as director and he puts a lot into it. Askey clowns about well. He's at his best trying to pick up new staff, or when singing The Moth Song. He, Dall and ITMA regular Jack Train form a great partnership. John Huston directs Gregory Peck and Orson Wells in a version of the classic tale that seems to last longer than reading the book.
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Loder tries to nobbles him by setting him up with a guaranteed heartbreaking woman. Director Bernard Vorhaus scraped together the 7000 cost of the picture by getting the thrills and spills of actual speedway on film. No other picture captures the atmosphere and excitement of one of the great spectator sports of the 30s. McLaglen is adequate as the dupe, but the dramatic demands of the plot are a little outside his range. Loder, playing bad for a change, has never been sexier.