Old Bones of the River (1938): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Old Bones of the River is a 1938 comedy directed by Marcel Varnel, starring Will Hay as Prof. Benjamin Tibbetts, Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes. Stream it on Fawesome, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Marcel Varnel
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Old Bones of the River About?
The premise of Old Bones of the River without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Professor Benjamin Tibbetts arrives in colonial Africa to educate locals for a mission. A naive prince tricks him into smuggling a gin still, and at Kombooli High his pupils mix Eton collars with dress. When Commissioner falls ill with malaria, Tibbetts collects taxes, joins Harbottle and Albert on a steamer, and they rescue a baby for sacrifice.
Where to Watch Old Bones of the River
Stream it on Fawesome, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Old Bones of the River Cast & Characters
Will Hay leads the cast as Prof. Benjamin Tibbetts, with Moore Marriott as Jerry Harbottle and Graham Moffatt as Albert Brown. Directed by Marcel Varnel.
- Director Marcel Varnel
- Will Hay as Prof. Benjamin Tibbetts
- Moore Marriott as Jerry Harbottle
- Graham Moffatt as Albert Brown
Old Bones of the River Plot Summary
What happens in Old Bones of the River from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In colonial Africa, Professor Tibbetts [Will Hay] leads the Teaching & Welfare Institution for the Reformation of Pagans (T.W.I.R.P.), a program dedicated to spreading education among the native populations.
The Professor is the uncle of Lt. Tibbetts, known as “Bones,” and is affectionately called Old Bones.
As he arrives, still trying to learn the native language via recordings, Prince M’Bapi, half-brother of Bosambo, chief of the Ochori, tricks him into sneaking a gin still into the country.
The steamer that brings him takes Commissioner Sanders on leave, with Captain Hamilton taking over his duties.
Later, Tibbetts makes his way to Kombooli High, where his students wear Eton collars alongside their native garb. He dons a mortarboard but wears safari shorts under his gown owing to the heat.
Full summary
The whole story of Old Bones of the River, scene by scene
Seen Old Bones of the River?
Old Bones of the River FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Old Bones of the River, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Old Bones of the River?
Old Bones of the River runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Old Bones of the River released?
Old Bones of the River was released on December 1, 1938.
Who directed Old Bones of the River?
Old Bones of the River was directed by Marcel Varnel.
More films by Marcel Varnel Who is in the cast of Old Bones of the River?
Old Bones of the River stars Will Hay as Prof. Benjamin Tibbetts, Moore Marriott as Jerry Harbottle and Graham Moffatt as Albert Brown.
Where can I watch Old Bones of the River?
In the US, Old Bones of the River is streaming on Fawesome and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video (availability from JustWatch).
Does Old Bones of the River have a post-credit scene?
No. Old Bones of the River has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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