Joe/George (Tommy Trinder) and the Great Vance (Stanley Holloway) have a Music-Hall rivalry in the ale-houses of Victorian England. When the theatre owners threaten to close down the music-halls, George and Vance come together to fight off the threat.
There is strangely no romance for the lead characters in this story. This is given to Jean Kent as "Dolly" to play out with some complete non-entity. It has relevance to the story but, unfortunately, the story isn't exactly gripping. We are subjected to lots of forgettable songs that all sound the same. The most memorable part of the film is an amusing section about a duel between the two main rivals and it is actually quite funny. Far better than the appalling attempt at making a humorous duel scene that was made by another British film, "Vice Versa", in 1948. "Champagne Charlie" passes the time, reminds us of a time now forgotten, and you will enjoy the film if you like boring sing-a-longs.
There is strangely no romance for the lead characters in this story. This is given to Jean Kent as "Dolly" to play out with some complete non-entity. It has relevance to the story but, unfortunately, the story isn't exactly gripping. We are subjected to lots of forgettable songs that all sound the same. The most memorable part of the film is an amusing section about a duel between the two main rivals and it is actually quite funny. Far better than the appalling attempt at making a humorous duel scene that was made by another British film, "Vice Versa", in 1948. "Champagne Charlie" passes the time, reminds us of a time now forgotten, and you will enjoy the film if you like boring sing-a-longs.