Tranquada, Jim (2012). The Ukulele: a History. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3544-6. Formby was born blind owing to an obstructive caul, although his sight was restored during a violent coughing fit or sneeze when he was a few months old. [8] After briefly attending school—at which he did not prosper, and did not learn to read or write—Formby was removed from formal education at the age of seven and sent to become a stable boy, briefly in Wiltshire and then in Middleham, Yorkshire. [9] Formby Sr sent his son away to work as he was worried Formby would watch him on stage; he was against Formby following in his footsteps, saying "one fool in the family is enough". [10] [11] After a year working at Middleham, he was apprenticed to Thomas Scholfield at Epsom, where he ran his first professional races at the age of 10, when he weighed less than 4 stone (56lb; 25kg). [12] [13] The other songs are "The Wedding of Mr Wu", "I'm the Husband of the Wife of Mr Wu", "Mr Wu's a Window Cleaner Now", "Mr Wu's an Air Raid Warden Now" and "Mr Wu was in the Air Force". [37]

In August 1955 Beryl felt unwell and went for tests: she was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus and was given two years to live. [166] The couple reacted to the news in different ways, and while Beryl began to drink heavily—up to a bottle of whisky a day to dull the pain [168] [169]—George began to work harder, and began a close friendship with a school teacher, Pat Howson. [170] [t] Off the Dole (1935)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. Much Too Shy is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Kathleen Harrison, Hilda Bayley and Eileen Bennett. [1] The cast includes radio star Jimmy Clitheroe (as George's brother), later " Carry On'" star Charles Hawtrey, Peter Gawthorne and Joss Ambler. In a 1940 issue, Monthly Film Bulletin called it "a good Formby film...With a better story than most". [3] Trouble Brewing (1939)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014.a b "Filmography: Formby, George". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009 . Retrieved 27 May 2014. Murphy, Robert (2000). British Cinema and the Second World War. London: Continuum. ISBN 978-0-8264-5139-2. I Didn't Do It! (1945)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. The film was released in late October 1935 and was an immediate commercial success. [10] It was reissued in 1938, 1946 and 1957. In 1936, the film put Formby fourth on the list of top box-office draws at the cinema in the UK. [11]

South American George (1941)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. No Limit (1935)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. Aldgate, Anthony; Richards, Jeffrey (1994). Britain Can Take It: The British Cinema in the Second World War. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-0508-8. George Formby Discography". The George Formby Society. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014 . Retrieved 28 May 2014.

Halliwell's Film Guide comments, "one of the last good Formby comedies, with everything percolating as it should". [1]

Much Too Shy (1942)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. a b c Botting, Jo. "Boots! Boots! (1934)". Screenonline. British Film Institute . Retrieved 15 June 2014. This article is about the ukulele player, singer and comedian. For his father (1875–1921), see George Formby Sr. He Snoops to Conquer (1944)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. Bret, David (1999). George Formby: A Troubled Genius. London: Robson Books. ISBN 978-1-86105-239-1.By the Shortest of Heads (1915)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009 . Retrieved 10 March 2014. Britain's Most Dangerous Songs: Listen to the Banned. BBC Four. 11 July 2014 . Retrieved 15 August 2014. The saboteurs include fellow police officers who plan to shoot Formby in a remote area but he escapes in a motorised toy car. A crazy chase ensues ending in Formby going round and round a wall of death before foiling the plot. George Formby OBE (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904– 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he sang light, comic songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's highest-paid entertainer.