Film producer Greg Smith already had a series of successful film credits under his belt by the time he came to make The Boys in Blue. These included a Big Screen version of the Perry & Croft sitcom Dad's Army and the four Confessions... films.

The Boys in Blue was made by Smith's Elstree Production Company in association with the Rank Organisation, M.A.M. (Film Productions) Ltd. and the Apollo Leisure Group.

The Boys in Blue saw Cannon & Ball playing Sergeant Cannon and P.C. Ball respectively - The Boys in Blue. The two characters in the film were put in charge of a small police station in the sleepy Cornish seaside town of Little Botham (pronounced Little Bottom, of course!). However, in order to help make ends meet, P.C. Ball sets up a small supermarket in part of the police station.

Having upset the Chief Constable (Eric Sykes) during his visit to the town, Sergeant Cannon and P.C. Ball find out that their station is to be closed. In attempt to prove their worth, our two heroes decide to fake a selection of art thefts to solve and in the process accidentally discover the activities of a bunch of real art thieves led by a local rich businessman played by Roy Kinnear. Not only that, they discover that the thieves are using a cave which runs underneath their soon to be closed police station.

The cast of the film included many other popular actors and actresses of the day including: Suzanne Danielle, Jack Douglas, Arthur English and Jon Pertwee.

Cannon & Ball also performed the end song (The Boys in Blue) which was written by Geoff Gill, Bobby Brill and Pete Tyrell.

The screenplay for the film was adapted by Sid Green (one of Morecambe & Wise's ex writers) and based on the script of Ask a Policeman which was written by Val Guest. Guest also directed The Boys in Blue.

As well as filming on location in Cornwall, the cast and crew of The Boys in Blue also set up camp at Elstree Studios where Greg Smith's Elstree Production Company was based at the time.

Part of what is now called The Enigma Building at Elstree Studios was turned into a bus depot in the film. Each time I walk by this building at the studios I can't help but think of the sequence in the film in which Cannon & Ball steal a green bus whilst handcuffed together! Don't ask, you'll have to watch the film to see how they come to be handcuffed!

A shot from the robbery sequence that takes place at the start of the film was filmed in the grounds of the Red Lion public house (now McDonald's) in Borehamwood, opposite Elstree Studios on Shenley Road. Indeed, you can just make out part of a building at Elstree Studios which is now known as the Andrew Mitchell Building in part of this sequence.

Watford Central Library and Watford and Bushey Art Society were, incidentally, brought onboard to help with certain aspects of the film.

Sadly, film producer Greg Smith passed away in February this year. Indeed, many of the cast of The Boys in Blue are also no-longer with us including: Jack Douglas, Arthur English, Roy Kinnear and Jon Pertwee.

Happily, Cannon & Ball continue to pack theatres across the UK each year with their own stage shows and taking part in The Best of British Variety Tour and various pantomimes.

I am a huge Cannon & Ball fan. Indeed, I was delighted when Bobby Ball agreed to contribute his memories of Eric Morecambe for my book - The Morecambe & Wise Quiz Book - in 2008.

The Boys in Blue remains one of my favourite comedy films. I personally think it is an underrated comedy film which all the family can sit down and watch together as it contains no sex, no swearing and no violence.

In the words of Bobby Ball: "Rock On, Tommy, that'll do for me!"