Art & Hue Presents: Funny Women

Regular blog readers will know I'm a big fan of Art & Hue. I've featured many of their other collections, from the Carry On range of prints covering the Anglo Amalgamated era to '70s Cops' and the more recent 'Funny Men' range. To bring style and fun to your walls, Art & Hue has now launched a new collection of stylish pop art prints featuring British comediennes and comic actresses.

Funny-"ha-ha", in a humorous and comical way, but also funny-"peculiar" with their unique, quirky characters and work, these distinctive talents have brought joy to countless listeners & viewers across the years through their idiosyncratic performances. 

Liz Fraser, Yootha Joyce, June Whitfield, Joyce Grenfell, Mollie Sugden, Gracie Fields, Irene Handl, Margaret Rutherford, Penelope Keith, and Beryl Reid all get the pop art treatment in this collection of iconic funny men from British film & television. 

Carry On links are clear to see - Liz Fraser appeared in four of the films - Regardless, Cruising, Cabby and Behind while her close friend, the late Dame June starred in Nurse, Abroad, Girls and Columbus, as well as the film of Bless This House. Meanwhile the iconic Irene Handl had cameos in both Carry On Nurse and Carry On Constable. Beryl Reid came late to the series, but was probably the best thing in Carry On Emmannuelle in 1978. Even Penelope Keith had a brush with the Carry On phenomenon. Her small role in Doctor may have been cut, but stills remain while she was allegedly offered the role Joan Sims went on to play in Carry On England.

An official collaboration with Studiocanal, Art & Hue has delved into the archives to uncover images of classic British comedy stars which have been transformed into ten stylish pop art prints.

Exclusively by Art & Hue, the collection is available in three sizes and 18 colour options, printed on museum-quality archival card of 310gsm, made from 100% cotton, with fine-art pigment inks for longevity.

Visit artandhue.com/funnywomen to see the full collection. 





You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carrying On with … The Pure Hell of St Trinian's!

I've recently written a great deal about some of the other great series of British comedy films, such as the Norman Wisdom comedies and the Doctor films, and how the Carry Ons made an impression in these lovely films. I've now decided to write about another legendary set of films, the St Trinian's films. Set in the fictional unruly all girls private school somewhere in England, the films followed their adventures and those of both the staff of the school, the law enforcers chasing after them and the education department who frequently despaired of what they got up to!

The films featured countless wonderful performances and will always be synonymous with a handful of timeless actors. So without further ado, let's continue on today with a look at the third film in the series, The Pure Hell of St Trinian's from way back in 1957, over sixty years ago!

What's it about?

The St. Trinian's Girls burn down the school building and are, subsequently, put on trial, found guilty, and await sentencing the next day by Judge Slender. This leads to rejoicing at the Ministry of Education, and in Barset, the school's village home, where Sergeant Ruby Gates and Superintendent Samuel Kemp-Bird can finally plan their marriage, which is predicated on the end of St. Trinian's. However, beautiful Sixth-Form pupil Rosalie Dawn  has been flirting with Slender during the trial, where she gives him her telephone numbers, and continues flirting at the sentencing session. Consequently, when Professor of Philosophy Canford of the University of Baghdad suggests that, rather than punishment, the girls need sympathy, and explains that he has funds to buy a new school building, and with the help of noted educator Matilda Harker-Packer, the girls can be rehabilitated, Judge Slender ignores the guilty verdict and gives him a year to accomplish his aims. This causes dismay at the Ministry, where Butters, on the advice of his psychiatrist, does a pastoral dance to calm his nerves. The revival of St. Trinian's also means the end of Gates' and Kemp-Bird's marriage plans. The girls, led by Prof. Canford, new Headmistress Harker-Packer, and the new teaching staff, move into the former Hannington Manor, now the new St. Trinian's school building.

Who's in it?

Without the great Alastair Sim on board as Miss Fritton, the remainder of the original cast, George Cole and Joyce Grenfell take centre stage as Flash Harry and Sergeant Ruby Gates.  Joining the cast is legendary actor Cecil Parker playing Professor Canford.

Carry On faces?

The main star of the film, Cecil Parker, of course had a cameo role in Carry On Jack in 1963. Returning from the previous film is Carry On Sergeant, Constable and Spying star Eric Barker, again playing Culpepper-Brown. Irene Handl (Nurse, Constable) returns to the series following her appearance as a teacher in The Belles in 1954. This time she plays Headmistress Miss Harker-Packer.

Two Carry On stars who were also the best of friends in real life also pop up in Pure Hell. Sid James plays Alphonse O'Reilly while Liz Fraser plays WPC Susan Partridge. Cyril Chamberlain, an actor who appeared in countless films in this era, turns up as an Army Captain while future Carry On Cleo actor Warren Mitchell plays a Tailor.

Finally, two future Carry On actresses turn up in small uncredited roles. Sally Douglas, a small part player in the likes of Carry On Cleo and Carry On Cowboy, plays a Harem Girl while future Carry On Cowboy and The Big Job actress Edina Ronay has an uncredited role as Lavinia. 

Did you know? 

This was Joyce Grenfell's last appearance in the series - she would not return for The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery six years later.

Sid James had appeared in a cameo role in The Belles of St Trinian's way back in 1954 but his return here is a completely different character.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Faces in Different Places: Two Way Stretch

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. You can also check out my blog on the 1956 drama Lost. 

Today I am going to write about the 1960 classic British comedy, Two Way Stretch.

What's it about?

Three prisoners nearing the end of their jail sentences; 'Dodger' Lane, 'Jelly' Knight and 'Lennie the Dip', are visited by a vicar seeking to find employment for them. He is actually smooth-talking conman 'Soapy' Stevens, who proposes a large-scale diamond robbery. They will also have the ultimate alibi; they will break out of prison, commit the robbery and then break back in.

With the assistance of Dodger's girlfriend Ethel and Lennie's mum, they smuggle themselves out in a prison van. The operation is almost foiled by the disciplinarian 'Sour' Crout, the new Chief Prison Officer who is replacing the easy-going retiring Jenkins.

The diamond heist goes like clockwork and the three break back into prison, hiding the proceeds in the Governor's office. When they 'officially' leave prison, they manage to take the loot with them. All goes well, until the sack of diamonds is lost on a train. Stevens is recognised and arrested, but the others get away – minus the diamonds.

Who's in it?

Leading a wonderful cast of British comedy talent is Peter Sellers as Dodger Lane. His fellow cons are played by Bernard Cribbins (Lennie The Dip Price) and David Lodge as Jelly Knight. Also look out for the legendary Wilfrid Hyde-White as Soapy Stevens and the peerless Lionel Jeffries as Prison Officer 'Sour' Crout! 

Carry On Faces?

Plenty! As I've already mentioned, there are starring roles for Bernard Cribbins and David Lodge as members of Peter Sellers' gang. Bernard would go on to star in Carry On Jack, Spying and Columbus while David Lodge cropped up in supporting roles in Regardless, Girls, Dick, Behind and England, as well as many episodes of Carry On Laughing for ATV in 1975. Carry On Nurse guest star Wilfrid Hyde-White also stars here as the aforementioned Soapy Stevens.

Having proved a winning double act in 1959's I'm All Right Jack, Irene Handl and the late Liz Fraser were back for Two Way Stretch. Irene, who had cameos in Carry On Nurse and Constable plays Mrs Price while Liz, seen in Regardless, Cruising, Cabby and Behind, plays Ethel. Carry On Emmannuelle guest star Beryl Reid pops up in the small role of Miss Pringle while Carry On Jack actor George Woodbridge appears as Chief Prison Officer Jenkins.

There are also small roles for Carry On regular Cyril Chamberlain as Gate Warder - Day, Carry On Cleo actor Warren Mitchell as a Tailor and Ian Wilson, who had small roles in the likes of Carry On Regardless, Cabby, Jack and Cleo, as a Milkman.

Did you know?

The film was the fourth most popular film at the British Box Office in 1960.

Liz Fraser later described Two Way Stretch as one her favourites of all the films she made during her long career.

Liz couldn't yet drive when making this film and during scenes involving the Aston Martin, she kept stalling the car, so in the end ropes had to be used to pull the car out of shot.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Faces in Different Places: No Kidding

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. You can also check out my blog on the 1956 drama Lost. 

Today I am going to write about the 1960 British comedy, No Kidding. 

What's it about?

David and Catherine Robinson move into a rundown country house. After a number of failed ventures, they are looking to build a solid business. They strike upon the idea of setting up a summer home for the children of the wealthy. They attract a number of customers, and hire a matron and a cook, and immediately fall foul of a local councillor who does not believe they should be allowed to look after children.

The families arrive and drop off their children. They range from polite, scared and helpful to wild, spoilt, rebellious children led by an American brother and sister, and an English fantasist girl, who tries to insist that she has been maltreated by her in fact kindly family.

As the children grow increasingly ill-disciplined, the staff and owners battle to keep them under control. The father advocates a tough approach while his wife beliefs that the children's freedom should be allowed to flourish. They are undermined by an increasingly drunken cook, and the wild antics of the children.

When the children's families come to collect them, they refuse to come down - wishing they could stay. They insist that in future they are treated better by their parents, to which the parents agree. The children depart. The Robinsons, realising that they have now got financial security, decide to fulfil their dream of having more children of their own.

Who's in it?

The film stars Carry On favourite Leslie Phillips as David Robinson while Geraldine McEwan (who would much later star on television as Miss Marple) plays his wife Catherine. Also appearing in the film are Julia Lockwood as Fenella, Noel Purcell as Tandy and Cyril Raymond as Colonel Matthews.

Carry On Faces?

No Kidding was co-written by Norman Hudis, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers, so of course there are plenty of familiar Carry On names in the cast. Leslie Phillips takes the starring role and at the time Leslie had made his first three Carry On appearances in Nurse, Teacher and Constable. Carry On Nurse and Constable cameo actress Irene Handl plays irate local councillor Mrs Spicer while the Matron and cook the Robinson couple hire are played by June Jago and Joan Hickson respectively. June played a nurse in Carry On Regardless and Sister in Doctor six years later. Joan meanwhile co-starred in five Carry Ons - Nurse, Constable, Regardless, Loving and Girls.

Cyril Raymond, best known for playing Celia Johnson's husband in Brief Encounter, went on to play a cameo as an Army Officer in Carry On Regardless. American actor Alan Gifford meanwhile played the Commissioner in 1965's Carry On Cowboy. In No Kidding Alan plays Edgar Treadgold. 

Also look out for Carry On favourite Esma Cannon who plays a district nurse. Esma of course appeared in Carry On Constable, Regardless, Cruising and Cabby. Other Carry On semi-regulars to appear in No Kidding are Brian Oulton as the Vicar, Eric Pohlmann as King and Brian Rawlinson as Will. And Sydney Tafler crops up as Mr Rockbottom! Sydney was also about to pop in for scene with Charles Hawtrey in Carry On Regardless. And a regular face in the first seven Carry Ons, actor Cyril Chamberlain plays a cafe proprietor. 

Did you know?

Well known actress Francesca Annis plays the role of Priscilla in this film. Francesca began acting as a teenager after training at the Corona Academy alongside the likes of Richard O'Sullivan, Larry Dann and Judy Geeson. Annis had even played a school girl in Carry On Teacher, the year before No Kidding went into production.

No Kidding is based on Verily Anderson's 1958 memoir, Beware of the Children. Anderson also co-wrote the screenplay. 

This was the first film on which Alan Hume worked as Director of Photography. Having started in the business as a clapper loader in the early 1940s, Hume had worked his way up to Camera Operator by the time he made Carry On Sergeant in 1958. Alan would go on to work on the majority of the Carry On series, as well as several Bond and Star Wars blockbusters.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carrying On with … The Belles of St Trinian's!

I've recently written a great deal about some of the other great series of British comedy films, such as the Norman Wisdom comedies and the Doctor films, and how the Carry Ons made an impression in these lovely films. I've now decided to write about another legendary set of films, the St Trinian's films. Set in the fictional unruly all girls private school somewhere in England, the films followed their adventures and those of both the staff of the school, the law enforcers chasing after them and the education department who frequently despaired of what they got up to!

The films featured countless wonderful performances and will always be synonymous with a handful of timeless actors. So without further ado, let's look at the very first in the series, The Belles of St Trinian's from way back in 1954, a whopping 64 years ago.

What's it about?

The Sultan of Makyad wants to send his daughter Fatima to a school in England, and asks her governess Miss Anderson to recommend one: she recommends St Trinian's in the county of Barchester. This suits the sultan perfectly: as his racehorses are trained there, he will be able to visit Fatima and his horses at the same time.

At St Trinian's, Miss Holland the accountant, explains to headmistress Millicent Fritton that they need cash, not cheques. Then Fritton's twin brother, bookmaker Clarence, arrives with his previously expelled sixth form daughter Arabella. He gets his sister to re-enroll her so she can befriend Fatima and get information on Arab Boy, the Sultan's horse that will run in the upcoming Cheltenham Gold Cup against Blue Prince, the horse he and his associates have backed. Assistant headmistress/physics mistress Buckland enters the office to introduce Fatima and two other new girls to Fritton, and Fatima meets Arabella.

Fritton explains St Trinian's to the new girls: "At most schools, girls are sent out quite unprepared for a merciless world but, when our girls leave here, it is the merciless world which has to be prepared." Fritton takes the new girls to meet the staff: Miss Brimmer, arts and handicrafts mistress; Miss Wilson, maths mistress; Mlle. de St Emilion (Balbina Gutierrez) French mistress; Miss Drownder, geography mistress; Miss Gale, English literature mistress; Miss Waters the scripture and needlework mistress; and Miss Dawn.

Barchester Police Superintendent Kemp Bird in the hope of getting help to stop the crime wave that has occurred in his area since the new term started at St Trinian's, goes to London and meets the Ministry of Education official Manton Bassett. Bassett refuses to help: the two inspectors he has sent there have both disappeared. Kemp Bird arranges to send his girlfriend, Sgt. Ruby Gates, to St Trinian's, undercover, as games mistress Chloe Crawley.

Who's in it?

Belles sees a central performance of vigour and gusto from that wonderful actor Alastair Sim. Sim plays a dual role with skill and flair - both as headmistress of St Trinian's Miss Millicent Fritton and her rather conniving bookmaker brother Clarence. 

Also starring are the superb Joyce Grenfell as the soppy, love struck police sergeant Ruby Gates and the wonderful George Cole as Flash Harry.


Carry On faces?

Lots of actors who would go on to shine in the Carry Ons made appearances large and small in The Belles of St Trinian's. Four future Carry On actresses played St Trinian's teachers and  chief amongst them is future Carry On stalwart Joan Sims playing the seductive Miss Dawn. Carry On Nurse and Constable cameo player Irene Handl appears as geography mistress Miss Gale while Emmannuelle guest star Beryl Reid takes the role of Miss Wilson, the maths mistress. And the wonderful Scottish actress Renee Houston, who would go on to star in Carry On Cabby, Spying and Convenience, plays Miss Brimmer.

Carry On Spying star Richard Wattis makes his debut in the series as Education department bureaucrat Manton Bassett  while future Spying actor Eric Pohlmann plays The Sultan of Makyad. Eric also appeared in Carry On Regardless. And future Carry On leading man Sidney James takes on the small role of Benny.

But that's not all. According to the internet there are several other Carry On actors in small, uncredited roles as school girls in the film. Watch out for brief appearances from the likes of Shirley Eaton, Sandra Caron, Dilys Laye, Ann Way, Carol White and an early screen appearance from the legendary Dame Barbara Windsor.

Did you know? 

Ronald Searle, who of course provided the legendary animations for the film's titles, played a cameo role as a visiting parent in the film.

The film was the third most popular film at the British Box Office in 1954.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carrying On with A … Doctor in Love!

This is part of a brand new series of blogs looking back at the wonderful series of British comedy films - the Doctor … series. There were seven Doctor films produced at Pinewood Studios between 1954 and 1970, all with Betty Box and Ralph Thomas at the helm. With Betty being Peter Rogers' wife and Ralph the brother of Gerald Thomas, there were bound to be a fair few Carry On connections.

These medical comedy films were extremely popular at the time and while perhaps they do not have the lasting appeal of the Carry Ons, there is no doubting their classic status. Always looking more lavish than their sister films in the Pinewood stable, they did share a cosy ensemble feel with many familiar faces appearing again and again over the years.

So let's continue today by looking at the fourth film in the series, Doctor In Love, which was released in 1960. 

What's it about?

Dr Richard Hare is a recently graduated medical intern at St Swithins Hospital. When his new romantic interest, nurse Sally Nightingale, suddenly leaves the hospital, he is devastated. He also leaves after being offered a job in private practice. But when his senior partner, Dr Cardew, has to visit California for a few months, Hare is left in charge. Dr Nicola Barrington joins the practice and Hare is suddenly in love again.

The romance doesn't go well, especially when Sally re-appears and takes the job of practice secretary. Nicola is hurt and stalks off. She is replaced by Dr Tony Burke who proceeds to airily order expensive equipment that the practice cannot afford.

Hare struggles through various comedic and other complications, mainly steming from Burke's amorous attentions to female patients.

After enlisting Sir Lancelot Spratt's assistance to save a young dying boy, he diagnoses Spratt with appendicitis and decides to operate, despite Spratt's loud objections. He objects even more when Dr Burke fills in at the last moment as the anaesthetist. Despite Spratt's vociforous protestations, the operation is a success.

Hare in reunited with Nicola and returns to St Swithins.

Who's in it?

Original Doctor in the House cast member James Robertson Justice is the only familiar name from previous films to take up the same role - he of course plays the irascible Sir Lancelot Spratt. For the first time, the series was missing its leading man, Dirk Bogarde. Filling his shoes are two great and very familiar actors - Michael Craig and Leslie Phillips. Doctor in Love also stars Virginia Maskell as Dr Barrington, Carole Lesley as Kitten Strudwick and Reginald Beckwith as Wildewinde.

Carry On faces?

As ever, quite a few well known Carry On actors appear in Doctor in Love. Aside from leading man Leslie Phillips (in the first of his three Doctor films), playing a couple of delightfully brash strippers are Carry On Regardless colleagues and real life best buddies Joan Sims (in her third Doctor film) and Liz Fraser. They play Dawn and Leonora.

Also look out for a cameo from future Carry On Screaming legend Fenella Fielding as patient Mrs Tadwich. This would be the first of several roles in the Doctor films for the gorgeous Fenella. 

Playing Lady Spratt, wife to Sir Lancelot is that lovely aristocratic character actress Ambrosine Phillpotts. Ambrosine had small roles in Carry On Regardless and Carry On Cabby. And popping up as Dr Hinxman in the first part of the film is none other than Nicholas Parsons, a few years before Just A Minute and several months ahead of his wonderful cameo opposite Joan Sims in the Carry On Regardless wine tasting sequence.

Irene Handl plays the rather butch, slightly sinister Professor MacRitchie with regular Carry On and Doctor series actor Cyril Chamberlain in the small uncredited role as her assistant. Another regular small part Carry On actor appears in the role of Dr Flower - the brilliant Michael Ward. And keep your eyes peeled also for Carry On Cruising drunk passenger Ronnie Stevens as Harold Green. 

There is also a fairly large collection of Carry On faces in small, uncredited roles in Doctor in Love. Esma Cannon plays a hospital visitor making raffia; Patrick Cargill (Regardless; Jack) plays a Car Salesman; Joan Hickson plays a Nurse; Rosalind Knight (Nurse; Teacher) plays a young Doctor; Sheila Hancock pops in to play a Librarian; Robin Ray (son of Ted, brother of Andrew and cameo player in Constable) plays a Doctor; Carry On Sergeant, Nurse and Regardless actor Norman Rossington plays a Doorman; Marianne Stone turns up as a Nurse and Jimmy Thompson (Regardless; Cruising; Jack) has a small role as a young Doctor.

Also look out for future Carry On glamour girl Sally Douglas (most notable as Kitikata in Carry On Cowboy) as one of Joan Sims' and Liz Fraser's fellow strippers.

Did you know? 

Doctor in Love was the most popular film at the British Box Office in 1960.

For the fourth time, Nicholas Phipps not only provides the screenplay for a Doctor film, but also takes on an acting role. He plays Dr Clive Cardew. 

Dirk Bogarde did not want to continue in the role of Simon Sparrow so producer Betty Box brought in Michael Craig and Leslie Phillips. Apparently Box later said the entire cast of Doctor in Love cost the same as Bogarde's current film fee at the time!

Sadly the two superb young actresses to star in Doctor in Love had very tragic ends. Virginia Maskell took an overdose in January 1968 after suffering from postnatal depression. She died on 25 January 1968 at just 31 years old. Carole Lesley meanwhile died from a drugs overdose at the age of just 38 in February 1974.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram