Carry On Blogging Christmas Advent: 22 December

 

And so, once again December is upon us. I'll be bringing you a daily dose of festive Carry On cheer each day on the lead up to the 25th. 

So every day I will bring you another cracking Carry On photo with a festive theme. They will probably all be rather naughty, but hopefully all quite nice.

Today's festive photo features a rather fed up looking Lance Percival! I'm sure we all recognise that look by the time the festive season has dragged on a little or we've all consumed rather too much Christmas cheer! Sadly Lance left us in January last year however his multi-talented brilliance will always be remembered by comedy fans. He only ever made one Carry On - Cruising in 1962, but he also featured in three other brilliant Peter Rogers productions - Raising The Wind, Twice Round The Daffodils and finally, The Big Job. 


What a Carry On at Christmas! 



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Carry On Faces in Different Places: Up Pompeii!

Here we go with a brand new 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 and the big screen spin off Please Sir! 

Today we're going to cover another classic British comedy film, this time from the same year as Please Sir, 1971. The hit big screen version of Frankie Howerd's wonderful BBC comedy series, Up Pompeii! This being the era of the big screen spin off, it was only a matter of time before Up Pompeii made its way to the cinema. 

Who's in it?

The film of course stars the magnificent Frankie Howerd who appears to be in his element throughout. It also stars some truly wonderful British character actors in Michael Hordern, Barbara Murray, Patrick Cargill and Bill Fraser.

Carry On Faces?

We all know Frankie Howerd guest starred in both Carry On Doctor and Up The Jungle as well as the 1969 Carry On Christmas Thames Television special. Up Pompeii also features a cameo from Carry On regular Bernard Bresslaw as Gorgo. Nero is played by Patrick Cargill who had cameo roles in both Carry On Regardless and Carry On Jack. Cargill also wrote the play Ring for Catty with Jack Beale which formed the basis for Carry On Nurse.

Also in Up Pompeii is Carry On Cruising, Twice Round the Daffodils and The Big Job actor Lance Percival; Carry On Matron actress Madeline Smith as Erotica (!) and future Carry On Behind actress Adrienne Posta as Scrubba. Also watch out for blink and you'll miss them appearances from Laraine Humphrys (Girls, Christmas 73 and Dick) and Carol Hawkins (Abroad, Behind, Carry On Laughing). Laraine played Flavia while Carol appeared as Nero's Girl.

What's it about?

Up Pompeii is a 1971 British sex comedy film directed by Bob Kellett  The film was shot at Elstree Film studios, Borehamwood and is based on characters that first appeared in the British television sitcom Up Pompeii.

Lurcio becomes the inadvertent possessor of a scroll bearing all the names of the proposed assassins of Nero. The conspirators need to recover the scroll fast, but it has fallen into the hands of Lurcio's master, Ludicrus Sextus, who mistakenly reads the contents of the scroll to the Senate. Farcical attempts are made to retrieve the scroll before Pompeiii is eventually consumed by the erupting Vesuvius. 

Best Bit?

It has to be Frankie's constant desire to "break the fourth wall" by addressing the audience directly throughout the film. It's a trick he developed in many of his television performances - that gossipy over the garden wall style of humour really suited Frankie and he was the master of it!  

Did you know?

The film was the 10th most popular film at the British box office for 1971. 

It also led to two further Up films, both featuring many of the same faces - Up The Front and Up The Chastity Belt.


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Tonight on Talking Pictures TV: The Big Job

 

Talking Pictures TV are showing yet another classic British comedy film this evening, so set your videos! The Big Job is a wonderful black and white crime caper from the typewriter of Talbot Rothwell and it's rarely shown these days so this is well worth watching! 

In 1950 a gang of robbers led by the self-proclaimed George the 'Great' Brain rob a bank, stealing £50,000. However, due to a mix-up, they are pursued and caught by the police. He manages to stash away the money in the trunk of a hollow tree, before he is collared. The gang are then sentenced to serve fifteen years in Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Upon their release in 1965, the gang go back to the spot where they had left the money, only to find it is now a new town, and a housing estate has been built around the tree. To their chagrin they find that the tree is now in the grounds of the local police station, invitingly close to the wall. George and his gang take up rooms in a nearby house rented by a widow and her daughter. In order to provide a respectable front, George is forced to marry his longtime girlfriend Myrtle Robbins who is not so enamoured about the idea of recovering the loot, and wants George to settle down with her.

 

The incompetent criminals fail in their numerous attempts to get over and under the wall, all the while trying to conceal their true activities from their landlady, her daughter and a local police constable who also stays there. Eventually when the men have botched an attempt to tunnel into the grounds, the frustrated women hatch their own plot to gain the money.

The Big Job is a Carry On in all but name. Produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas, the cast is headed up by series favourites Sid James, Joan Sims and Jim Dale with excellent turns from Sylvia Syms, Dick Emery and Lance Percival. Watch out also for eye-catching support from Edina Ronay (who also appeared in Carry On Cowboy the same year) and Please Sir and Sykes favourite Deryck Guyler. 

The Big Job is on Talking Pictures TV tonight at 6.30pm. 

 

You can watch Talking Pictures TV on: Virgin 445 / Freeview 81 / Sky Channel 343 / Freesat 306 / Youview 81

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In Praise of Carry On Cruising

I have just watched Carry On Cruising all the way through for the first time in a while. Cruising is one of those films that is always worth a watch when it comes on but it has never really been top ten material for me. As a child I loved the usual slapstick elements and childlike performances of the likes of Kenneths Williams and Connor but for me it missed the presence of Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques far too much.

However, I now see Carry On Cruising through a more mature eye and I think it is delightful. Yes it has less of a team that previous films at that point in time and it is a much more static film that the film it followed, Carry On Regardless. Regardless was a much more ambitious entry, boasting a truly impressive and wide ranging supporting cast of familiar comedy faces and countless set ups and situations. It also still starred that recognisable band that began the series back with Sergeant in 1958. Cruising sees a lot of that stripped away, with original players Bill Owen and Terence Longdon gone and regular actors Jacques, Hawtrey and Sims missing in action.

As it turned out, both Charles and Joan were originally meant to appear in Cruising, with Hawtrey billed as the chef, Wilfred Haines and Sims due to grab the main female role of Flo Castle. However Joan was taken ill less that a week before production commenced, leading to a last minute recasting of her close friend Dilys Laye, making her Carry On debut. Dilys had been a friend of Joan's from revue days and already had a lot of experience under her belt, with many stage appearances (including a spell on Broadway) as well as film outings in the likes of Doctor At Large, Upstairs and Downstairs, Blue Murder at St Trinians and the Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas film, Please Turn Over. In many ways a Carry On was a natural progression for her.

Charles Hawtrey's exit from proceedings was a little more tricky as a dispute over billing led Peter Rogers to dump him, promoting Lance Percival to the role of chef in the film and giving him a starring credit. Lance had already worked for Rogers and Thomas in the 1961 music school comedy Raising The Wind and would return to Pinewood for further films Twice Round The Daffodils and The Big Job. While any film without Charles and Joan misses them keenly, I think one of the subsequent strengths of Cruising is the fresh approach it takes with casting new faces or promoting existing ones to bigger roles. it may not have been the original plan but I think it works out quite nicely. Most of the action revolves around the three male leads - Sid, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor and they excel, the smaller cast allowing them much more screen time together. Cruising is also important for billing Kenneth Williams directly against Sid for the first time and this was a trend that would continue in many future films, the contrast in their performances being exploited to the full.

Kenneth Connor is once again fantastic in this film. He never gave a bad performance but the role of bumbling ship doctor is perfect for him. He works really well with Dilys Laye and the pair have delicious chemistry throughout the film as she attempts to fend off his clumsy advances before eventually seeing the light towards the end of the film. While it would have been Carry On gold to see Joan and Liz Fraser pal up for Cruising, Dilys and Liz do an equally impressive job as best friends on holiday together and while Dilys grabs the majority of the action, Liz is a brilliant foil throughout and looks stunning as always. A special mention also for the gorgeous Esma Cannon as Bridget Madderley, the pixie-like older woman traveling alone. Esma gets her biggest role in the series here and it must have been a challenging one has she acts in most of her scenes by herself, no mean feat really. She is delightful and her comedy timing is second to none.

As I've already mentioned, there is a much smaller cast for Carry On Cruising and that's no bad thing. While it allows Sid and the Kenneths more creative space in the film, it also gives some familiar supporting players more to do - namely Cyril Chamberlain, Jimmy Thompson and Brian Rawlinson. All three actors appeared in several Rogers and Thomas comedies around this time but Cruising provided them with their best opportunities. Chamberlain in particular has a lot more screen time than I ever remembered; he was a loyal returning actor in the first seven Carry Ons but Cruising sees his most satisfying part as steward Tom Tree. 

 

I also think the decision to make Carry On Cruising in colour really helps the film. It's such a frothy, lightweight, frivolous piece, with everyone off on holiday that the colour film makes it a joy to watch. Dilys and Liz in particular look stunning and enjoy a seemingly endless array of costume changes. Don't get me wrong, I love the classic black and white era of Carry On and I think these films show real quality, but the shift to colour is a major step forward. 

Cruising is not the funniest or most classic of all the Carry Ons but the script is littered with clever little Norman Hudis moments, the cast really do deliver and the whole thing fairly jumps along with great spirit and relish. It's a joyful early 1960s, all's right with the world British comedy and echos the Betty Box Doctor films more than probably any other Carry On. I think it's time to reappraise Carry On Cruising and enjoy it for the early classic it is.

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Carry On Faces of 1962

This is the beginning of a new series of blogs on Carry On Blogging. I plan to blog each year of Carry On, featuring photos of the most prolific actors for each year. Hopefully it will provide an interesting overview of the changing face of Carry On during the series' original mammoth twenty year run. 

It will turn the spotlight on the familiar faces who endured over the decades as well as those artists who came and went along the way. We are continuing today with1962. Only one film was produced in 1962: Carry On Cruising. The first colour Carry On was filmed in January and February of that year and featured a departure from the regular casting of previous adventures.

Pictured above we have the most prolific actors to appear in 1962. They are as follows: Sidney James as Captain Crowther; Kenneth Williams as Leonard Marjoribanks; Kenneth Connor pictured above as Dr Arthur Binn; Liz Fraser as Gladys Trimble; Dilys Laye pictured as Flo Castle; Esma Cannon as Bridget Madderley; Lance Percival as Wilfred Haines; Cyril Chamberlain as Tom Tree and finally, Jimmy Thompson as Sam Turner. 

Of those featured only three actors (Connor, Chamberlain and Williams) were original cast members from the very first film, Carry On Sergeant in 1958. Unlike all the previous series entries, several of the main cast members audiences would be familiar with were absent from Cruising - Joan Sims, Leslie Phillips, Hattie Jacques, Bill Owen, Terence Longdon and Charles Hawtrey were all missing from the cast. 

Charles Hawtrey had an infamous dispute with Peter Rogers over billing and was replaced with Lance Percival, in his only Carry On role. Dilys Laye made the first of four appearances, replacing an ill Joan Sims at three days notice. There were also bigger than usual roles for the likes of Esma Cannon, Cyril Chamberlain and Jimmy Thompson.

Stay tuned for the Carry On Faces of 1963 coming up soon!

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Not Quite A Carry On: Twice Round The Daffodils

I have been writing an occasional series of blogs looking at other films Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas made together during their long, productive careers in British cinema. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Rogers and Thomas branched out from the Carry On films and packed in even more cinema releases, all made at Pinewood and many featuring familiar Carry On faces.

Today I am going to look back at a classic from 1962. It's a bit of a tear jerker in places but it features a wonderful cast of top British comedy actors. Twice Round The Daffodils was an adaptation of a play, Ring For Catty, written by Patrick Cargill (who himself guest starred in both Carry On Regardless and Carry On Jack) and Jack Beale. It was transferred to the big screen by regular Carry On writer Norman Hudis. 

The film is set in one ward in a hospital treating patients with tuberculosis. The story unfolds as a new bunch of male patients arrive, each with their own back story. As the film progresses, they all develop a soft spot for the main nurse, played by Juliet Mills. Juliet would go on to play starring roles in two other films for Rogers and Thomas: Nurse On Wheels and Carry On Jack, both made the following year. 

The male patients are portrayed by a classic cast of reliable British character actors: Donald Sinden (fresh from success in the Doctor films), Donald Houston (who would go on to appear in Carry On Jack), Ronald Lewis (Nurse On Wheels), Lance Percival (Carry On Cruising, Raising The Wind, The Big Job), Andrew Ray (son of Ted) and of course, Kenneth Williams. Special mention goes to Ronald Lewis who makes for a very effective romantic lead both in this film and in Nurse On Wheels, again with Mills. 

Juliet Mills is ably assisted by a young Jill Ireland as another of the nurses. Jill, years before marrying Charles Bronson and moving to America, had of course had a cameo role a few years earlier as Kenneth Williams' love interest in Carry On Nurse. Scottish character actress Renee Houston is also on hand as a rather stern, formidable Matron.

There are also several other well known actresses in the film, playing visitors to the ward. The most familiar of all to Carry On fans is the fantastic Joan Sims, playing Kenneth Williams' rather mousy sister Harriet. As always Joan demonstrates her ability to transform herself into any character thrown at her. This role is a million miles away from the likes of Belle in Cowboy or ZIg Zig in Follow That Camel. Sheila Hancock and Nanette Newman also show up for scene stealing guest appearances. Quite a cast! 

What sets this film out from many of the others released around this time is the serious side to some of the stories and the dialogue. Yes, there is comedy to be had with the usual hospital shenanigans but there is much less bawdy, broad humour and it actually makes for a refreshing change. Even Kenneth Williams, not one to praise the usual output at Pinewood, wrote in his diary that this was a good film with a good script! 

Twice Round The Daffodils stands alone as a semi-dramatic Rogers and Thomas offering. It manages to have the familiar feel of other hospital comedies such as Carry On Nurse or Doctor in the House while still producing something unique and a little different. If you haven't seen it before, I recommend you check it out.

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Not Quite A Carry On: Raising The Wind

I have been blogging about some of the many other films Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas produced and directed together during their long professional relationship. So far we have looked back at the likes of Nurse On Wheels, The Big Job and Bless This House. Today I'm going back a little further - Raising The Wind!

Yes quite. Raising The Wind is actually a rather cosy, early 1960s comedy film following the exploits of a bunch of rather mature looking young music students. It very much has the feel of one of the Doctor In The House films and features a large cast of well known comedy actors. Interestingly, Rogers and Thomas called upon then Carry On music man, Bruce Montgomery, to write the script for this film. And he does a fair job of it too.

Like many of of Rogers and Thomas' ensemble comedies, there isn't really much plot to speak of here. A group of ambitious young musicians progress through music school with the climax of the film revealing which ones pass their final exams. There is lots of terrific light comedy sprinkled throughout but as usual it is the quality of the performers that really raises the bar. 

The film boasts starring roles for several actors who were then Carry On regulars. They include Liz Fraser, Kenneth Williams, Leslie Phillips (who had just made his final Carry On until Columbus in 1992), Eric Barker and Sid James in a wonderful cameo role alongside Lance Percival as a pair of dodgy music producers. Heading up the cast and bridging the gap between Doctor and Carry On franchises is a larger than life performance from the legendary James Robertson Justice, who brings his bombastic Lancelot Spratt character to life once again. 

Also along for the ride are Paul Massie, Jennifer Jayne and Jimmy Thompson, who join Fraser, Phillips and Williams as the music students. Jimmy Thompson would appear in three Carry Ons, Regardless, Cruising and Jack, but has his largest role here as Alex. Canadian Paul Massie made many films during this time but later moved to Florida and became a theatre Professor at a University. Finally, the glamorous Jennifer Jayne who made her only appearance for Rogers and Thomas in this film. She was known at the time for working alongside Dirk Bogarde in the classic The Blue Lamp and Norman Wisdom in the film On The Beat. 

Despite the fact the film has no major plot to speak of it is still a joy to watch mainly due to the supporting cast which is crammed with regular faces from the Carry On/Doctor group of repertory players. Look out for the likes of Geoffrey Keen, Joan Hickson, Esma Cannon, Victor Maddern, David Lodge, Brian Oulton and the very first appearance from future Carry On legend, Jim Dale. As always, these Pinewood stalwarts knew how to cast a film economically with expert and experienced talents.

Without a doubt the high point of Raising the Wind is the scene which sees Kenneth Williams attempt to conduct an orchestra. It is a masterpiece of comic acting and timing and shows Kenneth at his comedic peak. I love it and can watch it again and again.

So there we are, Raising the Wind. Nothing extraordinary but yet again Peter and Gerald give us something that rises up above the average thanks to a wonderful cast of comedy performers at the top of their game. And to finish, here is that wonderful scene of Kenneth Williams taking on the role of conductor!

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Not Quite A Carry On: The Big Job

I have decided to write about some of the other films Rogers and Thomas made during their prolific careers. Apart from their 31 Carry Ons together, the famous producer/director team also made many other films, particularly during their peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I have already blogged about one of my favourites, the sprightly Nurse On Wheels and the big screen version of sitcom favourite, Bless This House. Now I am going to look the classic crime caper, The Big Job.

I love The Big Job. Apparently it was an old script that had been knocking about for some time and Peter Rogers seized upon the opportunity to turn it into a quick release in between Carry Ons. The Big Job was the last of a long run of comedy films Rogers and Thomas made as a side line to the Carry Ons. Released in 1965, it came just as the Carry On films were reaching their peak in popularity. Carry On Cleo had just been released and the glories of Cowboy and Screaming were just around the corner.

Rogers engaged regular Carry On scribe Talbot Rothwell to breathe new life into The Big Job. It is a classic comedy about a bunch of petty criminals who are caught mid bank robbery, put away for a long stretch and come out determined to get their hands on the loot once again. The money was stashed in a tree shortly before the gang were captured by the police and on tracking it down fifteen years later, quickly discover that the intervening years have seen a housing estate spring up around the tree. What's worse is that the tree is now situated in the yard of a police station.

The film basically follows the gang's attempts to get at the money. Of course their pathetic attempts are constantly foiled. There is nothing new in this film but as always with a comedy film from Rogers and Thomas, it is the cast that raises the material into a different league. The Big Job is no exception. Although not an official Carry On, the film features three of the best actors to grace the series in Sid James, Joan Sims and Jim Dale. 

Sid plays the ring leader of the criminal gang, one George Brain. This is perfect casting as Sid had often played characters in both comedy and more serious films that dodged the long arm of the law. Joining him in this instance are regular co-star Lance Percival and that wonderful comedian, Dick Emery. Sadly this is the only film Dick made for Rogers and Thomas which is a great shame. He was a natural for this kind of comedy and I think it would have been great to see him in a Carry On. Also starring is the gorgeous Sylvia Syms as Sid's permanently sidelined girlfriend. For once Sid's character really isn't interested in women. It's the thrill of the loot that's his driving passion here. Syms is great opposite Sid and the others, a real class act.

Of course Sylvia isn't the only Ms S(y)ims in this film. Carry On regular Joan grabs a prime role as predatory landlady Mildred Gamely. The gang lodge with Mildred and her sex kitten daughter, brought to life by future fashion designer Edina Ronay. Edina would work for Rogers and Thomas again the same year when she took the part of Dolores in Carry On Cowboy. She was terrific in Cowboy, her American accent is excellent! Joan eventually gets her claws into Dick (as it were) and reveals herself to be much more of a criminal mastermind than any of the men.

Jim Dale co-stars as another lodger, a local police constable who continually gets on Sid's nerves with his bumbling. Jim has several terrific scenes with Deryck Guyler and the rest of the local policeman's choir. Also appearing are Carry On semi-regulars Wanda Ventham, Michael Ward, Brian Rawlinson and Frank Thornton. 

It might not be high art but I love it. Another cosy comedy film from a bygone era featuring a cast of prime acting talent. Definitely worth a watch if you fancy a burst of classic comedy nostalgia. 

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Sid James: Not Just a Dirty Laugh

Here is another wonderful BBC radio programme taking a look at the life of comedy legend and Carry On star Sid James.

Originally broadcast to mark Sid's centenary in 2013, Lee Mack hosts this half hour tribute to one of my all time comedy heroes. It is terrific stuff, featuring contributions from one of Sid's children, Reina, as well as well-known actors Bernard Cribbins, Liz Fraser and the late Lance Percival. Christopher Fairbank also provides a great impression of Sid and pops up to read passages throughout.

The programme covers Sid's life away from the Carry Ons and Hancock's Half Hour. We hear precious home recordings of Sid singing and rehearsing. We learn more about his life off screen, but thankfully it is never salacious. It is warm, affectionate and a fitting tribute to a man who was so much more than his Carry On persona. 

The programme ends with the recording of Sid and Liz Fraser performing that brilliant comedy song from their film of the same title, Double Bunk.

The programme is available here on the BBC website and is well worth a listen.

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