Old Bones of the River is a comedy film released in 1938 starring British actor Will
Hay with Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt and directed by Marcel Varnel. The film
is a spoof of the 1935 movie, Sanders of the River, and has been described as "the
most comprehensive trashing of the British Empire ever put on celluloid."

Hay plays Professor Benjamin Tibbetts, representative of the Teaching & Welfare
Institution for the Reformation of Pagans (otherwise known as T.W.I.R.P for short),
and dedicated to spreading education amongst the natives of colonial Africa.

As he arrives (still trying to learn the native language via recordings), Professor
Tibbetts is tricked into sneaking a gin still into the country by a local prince. Later,
Tibbetts makes his way to Kombooli High, where his students wear Eton collars
alongside their native garb.Tibbetts dons a mortarboard and safari shorts due to the
heat.

When the Commissioner falls ill with a dose of malaria, Tibbetts is forced to take
over his duties, which include collecting the taxes. Upriver, he finds an old
paddlesteamer operated by Harbottle (Moore Marriott) and Albert (Graham Moffatt);
the threesome rescue a baby from death by sacrifice.

They also manage to precipitate a native uprising...

Will Hay as Professor Benjamin Tibbetts
Moore Marriott as Jerry Harbottle
Graham Moffatt as Albert
Robert Adams as Bosambo
Jack London as M'Bapi
Wyndham Goldie as Commissioner Sanders
Jack Livesey as Captain Hamilton