Here we go with another in my series of blogs looking at some of the cream of British comedy film making from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Although this blog is all about the Carry Ons, believe it or not, there were some other joyous comedy films made away from Peter Rogers Productions. However, given the quality of the actors Peter employed to make his series, it's no wonder that most of them popped up elsewhere.
So far I've looked at the wonderful 1959 crime caper Too Many Crooks , the 1954 domestic comedy starring Dirk Bogarde, For Better For Worse , the big screen spin off Please Sir! and the wonderful Up Pompeii and the brilliant John Gregson and Diana Dors vehicle, Value for Money.
More recently I blogged about the Sid James and Kenneth Connor comedy horror What A Carve Up! and the the Gordon Jackson drama, Floodtide.
I've also looked at the Carry On links with the wonderful film I'm All Right Jack
Recently I blogged about the Billy Fury and Amanda Barrie musical film I've Gotta Horse , the classic 1954 school comedy The Belles of St Trinian's and the 1959 romantic comedy from the Betty Box and Ralph Thomas stable, Upstairs and Downstairs
Today I am going to write about a rather dramatic British thriller from 1956 which featured an astonishing supporting cast of well known and up and coming character actors: Lost.
What's it about?
Directed by Guy Green, the film is set in 1950s London and revolves around the kidnapping of an American couple's baby. US embassy employee Lee Cochrane and his wife discover their 18-month-old son Simon has been abducted, when their nanny leaves the child unattended outside a chemist's shop. London Detective Inspector Craig pledges to find the child, though clues are thin on the ground.
Who's in it?
Lost stars David Farrar as Detective Inspector Craig while the young couple at the centre of the drama are played by David Knight and Julia Arnall. Other well-known names in the supporting cast include Thora Hird, Meredith Edwards, Marjorie Rhodes, Shirley Anne Field and Mona Washbourne.
There is a major starring role for the aforementioned Julia Arnall playing Sue Cochrane. Julia had a cameo opposite Terence Alexander in the 1961 film, Carry On Regardless. There is also a supporting role for the well-known comedy actress Eleanor Summerfield, playing Sergeant Cook. Eleanor also filmed a cameo for Regardless - with Charles Hawtrey - however the entire performance was sadly cut from the final film.
The great thing about Lost is the bulging cast of often uncredited British character actors. Cyril Chamberlain pops up as a Uniformed Police Officer. Cyril had supporting roles in the first seven Carry Ons. The instantly recognisable Peggy Ann Clifford appears in the role of a Shop Keeper. Peggy Ann had a small role as Willa Claudia (WC) in the slave auction scenes in Carry On Cleo.
And of course you couldn't make a film at the time without employing the services of Fred Griffiths. In Lost he plays the role of Gamble. Fred had small supporting roles in the likes of Carry On Nurse, Carry On Regardless and Carry On Loving. Cast as Fred's wife in the film is Carry On Doctor cameo player Dandy Nichols. Playing a Police Constable in a Phone Box is Carry On Jack and Carry On Cowboy supporting player Percy Herbert. Another very familiar face is that of Joan Hickson, playing a Pharmacist. Joan had supporting roles in five Carry Ons - Nurse, Constable, Regardless, Loving and Girls. And playing a young girl in the very same Chemist's Shop is none other than Barbara Windsor in one of her earliest screen appearances.
My own personal favourite Carry On actor, the wonderful Joan Sims, also appears in Lost, in the uncredited role of an Ice Cream Seller in the Park. In the role of Mrs Marley is Joan's Carry On At Your Convenience co-star Marianne Stone. Marianne popped in several Carry Ons between 1958 and 1975. Michael Ward, another familiar face of British film, also pops up in Lost playing Mantilla. Michael had several roles in the Carry On series, beginning with that of a Photographer in Carry On Regardless. He also appeared in Carry On Cabby, Carry On Cleo, Carry On Screaming and Carry On Don't Lose Your Head. And finally, playing a Taxi Driver is Carry On Jack actor George Woodbridge.
Did you know?
The film was also known by the alternative title of Tears for Simon.
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