The Bargee

The Bargee is a 1964 British comedy film directed by Duncan Wood, and starring Harry H. Corbett, Hugh Griffith, Eric Sykes and Ronnie Barker. The screenplay was written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Plot

Hemel Pike (Harry H. Corbett) and his cousin Ronnie (Ronnie Barker) are two boatmen operating a canal-boat and its butty for British Waterways. Though the canals are struggling due to declining traffic, Hemel refuses to leave the canals and is protective of his traditional lifestyle. He also has a reputation as a Don Juan, with girlfriends all across the canal network, something which Ronnie, always unlucky in love, is envious of.

Hemel and Ronnie deliver a cargo of lemon peel from Brentford to Boxmoor, meeting an inept mariner (Eric Sykes) en route. Both parties stop at Rickmansworth, where Hemel is due to meet one of his many lovers, a barmaid called Nelly (Miriam Karlin), who chases him away on learning of his libertine lifestyle. On escaping, Hemel and Ronnie reach Boxmoor ahead of schedule, and deliver their cargo before travelling empty to Birmingham.