Carrying On with The Comedy Man

Every so often I like to blog about well known Carry On performers in other films from the era. Despite claims to the contrary, many of our favourite Carry On actors did escape the clutches of Peter Rogers Productions and do other, interesting things. During the 1950s and 60s in particular, there were so many films being made across London that a lot of actors just went from one production to another.

Spurred on by the recent 'My London' programme on BBC Radio London featuring Angela Douglas, I've decided to write about the 1964 film The Comedy Man. 

What it's about?

The Comedy Man is a 1964 British drama film directed by Alvin Rakoff, depicting the life of a struggling actor in swinging 1960s London. Sacked from his job in provincial rep, actor Chick Byrd moves into digs in London with Julian, a fellow actor. Julian's career soars after a successful screen test, but Chick's meets with continued failure. Mobilised into action by the suicide of a friend, Chick auditions for a TV commercial and finally finds fame. Confident of his talents for the first time, but fearing he may have sold out, Chick leaves London to return to rep.

Who stars in it?

Solid leading man of the time, the wonderful Kenneth More leads the cast as Chick Byrd. Kenneth was at the height of his powers at the time, well known for the likes of Genevieve, Doctor in the House and Reach for the Sky. Co-starring are Dennis Price as Tommy Morris, Billie Whitelaw as Judy, Edmund Purdom as Julian Baxter and Frank Finlay as Prout.

Carry On Faces?

Plenty! Angela Douglas, a year before making her Carry On debut as Annie Oakley in Carry On Cowboy, plays Fay Trubshaw. Angela would of course go on to marry the star of the picture, Kenneth More. Carry On Jack guest star Cecil Parker also stars as Thomas Rutherford. 

Carry On originals Norman Rossington and Gerald Campion both co-star in The Comedy Man. Norman is Theodore Littleton and Gerald, Gerry. Both actors starred in Carry On Sergeant way back in 1958 and while Gerald didn't return, Norman went to make appearances in Carry On Nurse, Carry On Regardless and the Carry On Christmas television special in 1972. 

Also look out for Carry On Constable supporting actress Jill Adams as Jan Kennedy and Derek Francis plays Merryweather. Derek had lovely supporting parts in several Carry Ons - Doctor, Camping, Loving, Henry, Matron and Abroad. Gordon Rollings, who appeared briefly as a porter in Carry On Doctor, crops up as Skippy while boxer turned actor Freddie Mills has the part of Indian Chief. Freddie popped up as a thief in Carry On Constable and a boxing promoter in Carry On Regardless. And finally, future Are You Being Served? star Frank Thornton plays a Producer in The Comedy Man. Two years after this Frank made his only Carry On appearance in Carry On Screaming.

Did You Know?

The Sunday Mirror proclaimed 'Kenneth More in the greatest performance of his career. Brilliantly directed'.

More, on reading the script, thought the story reflected his own life as an actor and that of many of his actor friends. 

Sadly The Comedy Man received only a limited distribution at the time, sharing a double bill with Lord of the Flies. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Angela Douglas in Conversation at the Kenneth More Theatre

The actress Angela Douglas will be in conversation at The Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford on Sunday 4 November.

During this intimate and exclusive event celebrating Kenneth More CBE, Angela will be interviewed on stage by her publicist, Nick Pourgourides, who also looks after More's Estate. Angela will talk about her career, with special focus on her life with Kenneth More. This will be accompanied by a look back at his work with clips. There will also be a post event book signing by Angela.

Angela Douglas is best remembered for her roles in 4 classic Carry On Films, including Carry On Cowboy as an all-singing and trigger-happy version of Annie Oakley. She then appeared in Carry On Screaming, Follow That Camel and Carry On Up the Khyber. She has, by virtue of this association, appeared in many retrospective and spin-off programmes as well as classic TV series' such as The Avengers, The Saint, Dixon of Dock Green and Doctor Who.

After her husband More was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, she put her career on hold to nurse him, but after his death she returned in various roles.  In recent years she has concentrated on a career in journalism and writing, having completed two books, including the highly acclaimed autobiography Swings and Roundabouts, which detailed her affair and subsequent marriage to More.  Her debut novel; Josephine is published on 11th October, 2018. A powerful and compelling story of a young woman’s journey to stardom and the trials and tribulations of show-business and celebrity. Set against the backdrop of London’s 1960s, her path crosses with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen and Neil Armstrong. Though a work of fiction, the novel draws extensively on Angela’s own experiences. You can follow Angela Douglas on Twitter. The official website for the Kenneth More Estate can be found here. 

And you can book tickets to see Angela on 4 November here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Angela Douglas Releases Debut Novel

Award-winning independent publisher Candy Jar Books is delighted to announce the upcoming publication of the debut novel by Carry On actress, Angela Douglas.

Josephine: An Open Book is a powerful and compelling story of a young woman’s journey to stardom and the trials and tribulations of showbusiness and celebrity. Set against the backdrop of London’s 1960s, her paths cross with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Neil Armstrong.

Though a work of fiction, the novel draws extensively on Angela Douglas’ own experiences, weaving a story which is at its very heart, universal in its themes: love, loss, the breakdown of a marriage and the decline of health. Josephine is ultimately an uplifting memoir of determination and conviction in the face of adversity, and is sure to resonate with the reader. 

Angela Douglas is best known as an actress and for her roles in the iconic Carry On feature film series. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s she made numerous appearances in theatre, film and television, including the iconic series: The Avengers, The Saint, Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Doctor Who, Holby City and Coronation Street. 

In 1962 she met the British movie icon, Kenneth More. They fell in love and married in 1968, remaining together until More’s death in 1982.

In 1988 she met acclaimed director and playwright, Bill Bryden. They married in 2009. 

Josephine is Angela’s first work of fiction, having already worked as a journalist and author, writing two non-fiction titles, including her autobiography Swings and Roundabouts, which received great praise from audience and critics alike.

As Angela put it herself, Josephine’s life is set in a world she knows well:

“I have described Josephine as ‘made up truth’. Many of the characters with whom Josephine meets are famous names because they are lifted from real-life experiences of my own. Josephine and I share many things, but there are also many differences... She is very much her own woman, and she finds herself in a lot of scrapes and circumstances, which I luckily did not. Josephine is an ambitious, fiercely independent bundle of energy who never settles for less than she deserves. As her father says: “when she was little she tried to ride the rainbow. Her ambition was up high....her reality was at times down there.”

What parts of Josephine’s life are based on truth and what are a work of fiction? That’s what you’ll have to determine for yourself…”

Candy Jar’s Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, explains the book’s rare appeal:

“Josephine has so much for a reader to enjoy. There’s the genuine insight into life of an aspiring young actress, struggling for expression and self- fulfillment in an industry often more interested in exploiting such ambition; a timely theme if there ever was one, and based on life. And most of all, an emotionally honest, compelling, and moving central story. That’s at the heart of everything: Josephine herself, a strong, vivacious woman won’t settle for the life she’s been given, but instead shoots for the moon. Does she make it? You will have to find out…” 

  

Find out more about Candy Jar, and order your copy of Angela's novel here: www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

Josephine: An Open Book is published on 11th October.

You can follow Angela on Twitter @ImAngelaDouglas

And Angela will be in conversation at The Kenneth More Theatre on Sunday 4 November. Read more about that here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Angela Douglas in Conversation at The Kenneth More Theatre

The actress Angela Douglas will be in conversation at The Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford on Sunday 4 November.

During this intimate and exclusive event celebrating Kenneth More CBE, Angela will be interviewed on stage by her publicist, Nick Pourgourides, who also looks after More's Estate. Angela will talk about her career, with special focus on her life with Kenneth More. This will be accompanied by a look back at his work with clips. There will also be a post event book signing by Angela.

Angela Douglas is best remembered for her roles in 4 classic Carry On Films, including Carry On Cowboy as an all-singing and trigger-happy version of Annie Oakley. She then appeared in Carry On Screaming, Follow That Camel and Carry On Up the Khyber. She has, by virtue of this association, appeared in many retrospective and spin-off programmes as well as classic TV series' such as The Avengers, The Saint, Dixon of Dock Green and Doctor Who.

After her husband More was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, she put her career on hold to nurse him, but after his death she returned in various roles.  In recent years she has concentrated on a career in journalism and writing, having completed two books, including the highly acclaimed autobiography Swings and Roundabouts, which detailed her affair and subsequent marriage to More.  Her debut novel; Josephine is published on 11th October, 2018. A powerful and compelling story of a young woman’s journey to stardom and the trials and tribulations of show-business and celebrity. Set against the backdrop of London’s 1960s, her path crosses with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen and Neil Armstrong. Though a work of fiction, the novel draws extensively on Angela’s own experiences. You can follow Angela Douglas on Twitter. The official website for the Kenneth More Estate can be found here. 

And you can book tickets to see Angela on 4 November here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

The Wonderful World of Wilfrid

 

Wilfrid Hyde-White represents the quintessential English character actor, as far as I am concerned anyway. During a long, varied and successful career in films, on the stage and latterly, on television, Wilfrid often played to type and yet never seemed to be typecast. For such an English figure, he also transferred the second half of his career to the United States where he became prominent in guest spots on television during the 1970s and 1980s. Much of this popularity stateside was probably due to one of the films I'm going to mention in this blog.

I've found myself watching several films recently featuring Wilfrid Hyde-White so I thought I would put together a blog on some of my favourite Hyde-White performances over the years. I guess I have to start off with ...

 

Carry On Nurse (1959)

Carry On Nurse was the immediate follow up to the original Carry On, Sergeant, made earlier the same year. Many of the same faces returned for this gentle romp around the hospital wards however there were one or two new additions to keep the action fresh. In a prominent guest starring role was Wilfrid Hyde-White as the grumpy, yet kindly old Colonel. Apparently Wilfrid's role was filmed in under a week, mainly due to his scenes being shot in a private room away from the other patients. Indeed only once is he seen on the main ward with the likes of Kenneth Williams and Bill Owen. It's a delightful supporting role though and Hyde-White shares some very natural scenes with fellow racing enthusiast Mick, the hospital orderly played by Harry Locke. He also has a lot of fun with the young nurses (as it were) in the form of Joan Sims and Susan Stephen.

Despite limited screen time, Wilfrid does stake a claim to being part of one of the most infamous, legendary finales in Carry On history. He features in the very last sequence which sees Sims and Stephen get their own back on the old Colonel involving a certain daffodil. However the prank is interrupted by the arrival of the bombastic Matron (Hattie Jacques) who's hard exterior finally softens when she spots the offending flower! This ending made the film however allegedly Hyde-White was unhappy with being involved with something so indecent (even though nothing was shown) and threatened to sue the producers! Fortunately all was resolved amicably in the end!

 

Northwest Frontier (1959)

One of my favourite BBC Two Saturday afternoon matinee treats, I would often watch this with my dad or my grandmother. It's quite simply a belting little film of the kind we don't seem to make any more in this country. J Lee Thompson's film is set in British India at a time when tensions were rising between Hindu and Muslim Indians. The film is basically a good old fashioned adventure movie with plenty of lovely set pieces, action, peril and glorious stiff upper lip performances. The wonderful Kenneth More stars as Captain Willoughby Scott who is charged with taking the young son of the maharajah to safety on an old steam train through enemy territory. Joining him on this journey are the boy's nanny (Lauren Bacall), the British governor's wife (Isabel Jeans) and a rather dodgy journalist played by Pink Panther actor Herbert Lom. 

And of course Wilfrid Hyde-White is along for the ride too as cheerful British ex-pat Mr Bridie. This is classic Hyde-White as he jollies along his fellow passengers, acts as the perfect gentleman to the ladies present and is wise to the fiendish cunning of his enemies. Wilfrid works really well in this rather tense picture, never losing his old fashioned British cool and providing some much needed light moments amidst all the tension. I could quite easily watch the likes of More and Bacall reading from the Yellow Pages however Hyde-White almost steals the show from these great movie stars with his gentle, unassuming performance.

 

Crooks Anonymous (1962)

Back to comedy now and another classic from the golden age of British cinema. This Ken Annakin film sees one of the earliest appearances on screen from a certain Julie Christie, playing stripper Babette but we're more interested in Wilfrid. The film follows perpetual criminal and habitual liar Dandy Forsdyke (Leslie Phillips) as he attempts to give up his life of crime so he can marry his girlfriend Babette. Unfortunately he can't resist temptation for long so Babette gets in touch with an organisation called Crooks Anonymous, which helps criminals go straight. 

Picked up mid-job by Stanley Baxter's Brother Widdowes we soon meet the founder of the organisation, the kindly but firm Mr Montague (Hyde-White). Together Montague and Widdowes put Forsdyke through a series of tests before he is eventually released into the wider world, securing a job in a department store as Father Christmas. However he can't resist temptation for long, but I won't spoil the ending. Again dabbling in the wrong side of the law, Wilfrid Hyde-White plays to type as the gentle Englishman of a certain age, belying his criminal past. You can't go wrong with a film that features Phillips, Baxter and Hyde-White along with the likes of James Robertson Justice, Michael Medwin and Norman Rossington. 

 

Two Way Stretch (1960)

I watched this film again only last night and it stands up remarkably well for something that was made nearly fifty years ago. This prison crime caper starring Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins and David Lodge is light, bright and hilarious from the off. One of the successes of the film is the casting of so many delightful British character actors who add real depth and quality to their parts. Surely any film which co-stars the likes of Irene Handl, Beryl Reid, Maurice Denham, Lionel Jeffries, Liz Fraser and George Woodbridge has got to be worth watching more than once?

Wilfrid grabs joint top billing opposite Peter Sellers and his eye-catching, yet under-played role as Soapy Stevens is totally memorable. In disguise as a gentle, kindly old vicar, Stevens is actually a sharp as they come villain with a new and tantalising job in mind for Sellers, Lodge and Cribbins. Easily working his way round the daft as a brush prison governor (Denham - regular references to his prize marrow never fail to amuse), Stevens soon masterminds the perfect crime. It's a brilliant role for Hyde-White, so often cast as the mild, gentle, posh Englishman. With his role as Soapy he manages to turn that ideal on it's head. It's probably my favourite of all Hyde-White's film performances and he's easily a match for all the other prime comedy talent in this amazing, wonderful British film comedy.

 

My Fair Lady (1964)

I can't go any further without mentioning what was probably Wilfrid Hyde-White's most famous film role, as Colonel Hugh Pickering (he played a lot of Colonels) in the Hollywood musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Starring Audrey Hepburn as poor flower seller Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as the arrogant phonetics Professor Henry Higgins, the film charts Eliza's journey from Cockney rags to the world of high society and "proper English". The film also stars Stanley (father of Julian) Holloway and Gladys Cooper.

Without a doubt this was the film which cemented Hyde-White's career in the United States. it was hugely successful at the time and continues to be so in the present day. As Colonel Pickering, Hyde-White is at the centre of the narrative as the idea that Higgins could teach anyone how to speak properly and improve themselves comes from his character. The joy of this role is that it's simply Hyde-White doing what he always did on screen, only in a much bigger budgeted picture and to a larger, transatlantic audience. In much the same way as Charles Hawtrey always played to type, so did Hyde-White and it worked out very well and very successfully for him over a career that spanned seven decades. In saying he always played to type, that does not diminish his qualities as an actor. Far from it, Wilfrid was always worth watching and as I hope I've demonstrated, appeared in many brilliant films. 

 
You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan on Facebook and on Instagram

Carrying On with British Pathe - at Noel Coward's birthday party!

 

Some more wonderful old British Pathe newsreel footage has appeared on the interweb and I feel that it's my duty to share some of these gems with you! Right up until the mid-1960s, British Pathe presented regular short films and features on a wide range of subjects, promoting businesses, the best of British events and updating cinema-goers on the latest news from both near and far.

A good many of these brilliant shorts featured some very familiar faces from the world of British comedy and in particular, the Carry On films. I have tracked down a fair few and plan to share them in a series of blogs. They present a fantastic glimpse back into possibly simpler times, to a Britain that probably no longer exists and gives a precious, fleeting glance at some of our comedy heroes still on duty but away from the familiarity of Pinewood. 

Today we're going back to 1969 for a very glamorous event at the Savoy in Central London. One of the most legendary theatrical Knights was celebrating his 70th birthday and a host of famous names from the world of entertainment were there with him. While it's fascinating to glimpse the likes of Joyce Grenfell, Stanley Holloway (father of Julian) and Margaret Rutherford, there are a couple of Carry On faces in there too. Look out for the lovely Angela Douglas, fresh from starring in four Carry Ons, attending the party with her husband, the actor Kenneth More. Also watch out for the wonderful Frankie Howerd too. What a do!

Enjoy!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Carry On Again, Angela!

As Carry On Blogging has now reached it's 150th blog post, I thought I would look back and publish some of my earlier blogs again. My first stop is this blog on Carry On favourite Angela Douglas. Blogger statistics tell me it's my most popular blog yet...

One of the greatest joys of life in the bizarre world of Twitter in recent months has been the delightful presence of Angela Douglas. 

Angela is of course a real fan favourite having appeared in four classic Carry On films in the 1960s. Who can forget her barnstorming performance as Annie Oakley in Carry On Cowboy? Or her frightfully posh turn as Lady Jane in Follow That Camel? Perhaps most memorable of all, the gloriously named Princess Jelhi in Carry On Up The Khyber? 

I think my own favourite performance has to be Angela's first in Cowboy. It was a great part as the gun-toting Annie, saving Jim Dale's Marshall P Knutt again and again and playing Sid's Rumpo Kid at his own game. In particular I adored the scenes where Angela, Joan Sims and Edina Ronay pitched in for a terrific cat fight in Jim Dale's bedroom. Wonderful, earthy stuff!

Angela Douglas brought a youthful, sweet innocence as the romantic lead in those four Carry Ons and I think she definitely appeared in the series at the right time. Later offerings were much more innuendo-laden, reflecting the times I suppose, but I doubt the characters Angela played would have fitted in as well. Angela typified a great line of talented young actresses who scored major successes in the Carry On films, from Shirley Eaton and Liz Fraser through to the likes of Jacki Piper and Carol Hawkins. 

Of course Angela has worked very successfully on a wide range of other film, television and stage productions for many years. It must sometimes be rather annoying to be mainly remembered for four low budget comedies in the mid-1960s however the Carry Ons endure and it has been wonderful to see Angela interact with so many fans and admirers on Twitter. Long may that continue.

Last year I also read Angela's autobiography, Swings and Roundabouts. It was a beautiful read, touching, funny and straight from the heart. I would recommend it to all fans. As a fan of her late husband, the actor Kenneth More, it was also great to learn more about his life and career. Genevieve remains one of my all-time favourite films.

So if you are not already following Angela on Twitter, her account is @CarryonAngela14 

You can buy Angela's brilliant autobiography here 

Angela will also be taking part in the new Carry On Forever documentary which will be broadcast on ITV3 this Easter weekend.


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and @GraemeN82 

Carry On, Angela

One of the greatest joys of life in the bizarre world of Twitter in recent months has been the delightful presence of Angela Douglas. 

Angela is of course a real fan favourite having appeared in four classic Carry On films in the 1960s. Who can forget her barnstorming performance as Annie Oakley in Carry On Cowboy? Or her frightfully posh turn as Lady Jane in Follow That Camel? Perhaps most memorable of all, the gloriously named Princess Jelhi in Carry On Up The Khyber? 

I think my own favourite performance has to be Angela's first in Cowboy. It was a great part as the gun-toting Annie, saving Jim Dale's Marshall P Knutt again and again and playing Sid's Rumpo Kid at his own game. In particular I adored the scenes where Angela, Joan Sims and Edina Ronay pitched in for a terrific cat fight in Jim Dale's bedroom. Wonderful, earthy stuff!

Angela Douglas brought a youthful, sweet innocence as the romantic lead in those four Carry Ons and I think she definitely appeared in the series at the right time. Later offerings were much more innuendo-laden, reflecting the times I suppose, but I doubt the characters Angela played would have fitted in as well. Angela typified a great line of talented young actresses who scored major successes in the Carry On films, from Shirley Eaton and Liz Fraser through to the likes of Jacki Piper and Carol Hawkins. 

Of course Angela has worked very successfully on a wide range of other film, television and stage productions for many years. It must sometimes be rather annoying to be mainly remembered for four low budget comedies in the mid-1960s however the Carry Ons endure and it has been wonderful to see Angela interact with so many fans and admirers on Twitter. Long may that continue.

Last year I also read Angela's autobiography, Swings and Roundabouts. It was a beautiful read, touching, funny and straight from the heart. I would recommend it to all fans. As a fan of her late husband, the actor Kenneth More, it was also great to learn more about his life and career. Genevieve remains one of my all-time favourite films.

So if you are not already following Angela on Twitter, her account is @CarryonAngela14 

You can buy Angela's brilliant autobiography here 

Angela will also be taking part in the new Carry On Forever documentary which will be broadcast on ITV3 this Easter weekend.


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and @GraemeN82