The Bargee is a 1964 British comedy film shot in Techniscope directed by Duncan Wood, and starring Harry H. Corbett, Hugh Griffith, Eric Sykes and Ronnie Barker.

[4] Hemel Pike and his cousin Ronnie are two boatmen operating a canal-boat and its butty for British Waterways on the Grand Union Canal.

Then he narrowly escapes from being caught by Joe who returns home drunk after being tricked into a drinking competition and delayed by Ronnie, in order to give Hemel more time alone with Christine.

But the Galton and Simpson product goes only to show that what may make a genial bit of fun on the small screen sounds – and looks – intolerably vulgar on the big one.

Corbett's nasal intonations sound both repellent and phoney in a film that nibbles at sociological nostalgia at some points (the narrow-boats are fast disappearing .

With a refreshing new background of the British waterways, a capable cast and an acceptable enough yarn, it still fails to click, though it will provide spasmodic amusement for the easygoing. ...

"[8] Leslie Halliwell said: "The long-awaited comedy which was supposed to make a film star out of TV's Young Steptoe turned out to be rough and vulgar but not very funny.