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

Carry On Faces in Different Places: Upstairs and Downstairs

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 and the classic 1954 school comedy The Belles of St Trinian's

Today I'm going to blog about the 1959 romantic comedy from the Betty Box and Ralph Thomas stable, Upstairs and Downstairs.

What's it about?

On marrying the boss's daughter, Richard takes his father-in-law's advice to hire a live-in domestic. He soon finds good help is hard to come by. Run-ins follow with dipsomaniacs, bank robbers, a Welsh lass who takes one look at London and runs, and an Italian charmer who turns the place into a bawdy house. Then when Ingrid arrives from Sweden things actually start to get complicated.

Who's in it?

Leading the cast is Rank matinee idol, the great, rather handsome Michael Craig. Michael would soon work for Box and Thomas again in 1960's Doctor In Love. Playing Craig's wife is Anne Heywood and his father in law, reliable Box and Thomas regular James Robertson Justice. 

The supporting cast also features the Italian actress Claudia Cardinale and the French star Mylene Demongeot (who would return to work for Betty Box on Doctor in Distress four years later). 

Carry On Faces?

Carry On leading man Sidney James, soon to make his debut in Carry On Constable, guest stars as local police constable Edwards. Perhaps this was his dry run for the Carry On caper?! Joan Hickson appears as the rather unreliable, drunk cook Rosemary while Carry On favourite Joan Sims plays a Welsh domestic called Blodwen. 

Reliable character actors Cyril Chamberlain and Harry Locke play a train guard and ticket inspector respectively, while you should also look out for a small role for Carry On Regardless actor Nicholas Parsons, who plays Brian. The brilliant, ever wonderful Dilys Laye also pops up playing an Agency Girl, just over three years before she would join the Carry On team.

The scene stealing Irene Handl is given the rather unpleasant character of Large Woman while Carry On Regardless and Spying actor Eric Pohlmann plays Mario. Finally, look out for William Mervyn, playing Kingsley. Mervyn had supporting roles in Follow That Camel and Carry On Henry. 

Did you know?

Apparently Dirk Bogarde, then a regular actor in Betty Box productions, was asked to take on the role of Richard before Michael Craig came on board.

After a series of more expensive, action adventure films, Box was quoted in the press at the time stating that she was much happier being back in the world of comedy pictures.



You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Faces in Different Places: A Pair of Briefs

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 and the classic 1954 school comedy The Belles of St Trinian's

Today I'm going to blog about the 1962 romantic comedy from the Betty Box and Ralph Thomas stable, A Pair of Briefs.

What's it about?

The "Brief" of the title refers to the document which a solicitor in the UK court system writes to instruct a barrister who will plead the solicitor's case in court. Unfortunately barristers Tony Stevens and Frances Pilbright, as juniors, receive nothing but routine briefs concerning sewers. When a juicy brief concerning a writ for "restitution of conjugal rights" appears, they take opposite sides in the case. Pilbright works fiercely for her client, a woman whose marriage was disrupted by the Second World War. Stevens advocates for the other side, a man who denies that he was ever married to the plaintiff, although all records have been destroyed during bombing raids. For her part, the woman claims that her husband left her after she temporarily lost her memory. The two barristers squabble in court, inevitably becoming attracted to each other in the process.

Pilbright, about to lose the case, makes a furious declaration in which she declares "the Law is an Ass!". Stevens, by this time, has more sympathy for her and joins her in this. In their zeal, they offend the presiding judge, Justice Haddon. Taking them aside, he privately informs them that the suit is intended to fail, as the woman has married a millionaire and wants to remove any grounds for her previous husband to blackmail her, so their efforts were for nothing. By this time, however, the two barristers are in love.

Who's in it?

The two leading roles are played by Michael Craig (Tony) and Mary Peach (Frances). By this stage, Craig was something of a regular in light film comedies, taking over pretty much where Dirk Bogarde had left off. Also in the cast is Betty Box and Ralph Thomas regular James Robertson Justice playing Mr Justice Heddon. 

Brenda De Banzie, who had last acted with Michael Craig in the 1956 spy drama House of Secrets, plays Gladys Worthing while supporting parts are played by familiar faces in Ron Moody and Roland Culver.

Carry On Faces?

Liz Fraser, at the time a Carry On regular in the likes of Carry On Regardless and Cruising, co-stars as Gloria Hoskins. Two more glamorous Carry On faces also provide support - series regular Joan Sims plays a stripper by the name of Gale Tornado (!) while her partner in crime is Amanda Barrie, credited simply as Exotic Dancer (snake). At the time Joan was on a break from the Carry Ons, while Amanda would soon appear in Doctor in Distress (again for Box) and Carry On Cabby (for Betty's husband Peter Rogers).

Terry Scott plays yet another policeman in a small role as a policeman at the Law Courts while Carry On Cruising supporting actor Ronnie Stevens pops up playing a hotel under manager. Several other Carry On faces appear in small, uncredited roles. Cyril Chamberlain plays a policeman, Anthony Sagar a hotel meat porter and Michael Ward turns up playing a Dresser.  

Did you know?

The film is co-written by the actor Nicholas Phipps, who also appears on screen in the role of Sutcliffe. 

This was the actress Judy Carne's first film. She would go on to forge a successful career in America and would marry the actor Burt Reynolds the year after A Pair of Briefs was released. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Faces in Different Places: Yield to the Night

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. 

And last week I looked at the Carry On links with the wonderful film I'm All Right Jack

Today I'm going to blog about the 1956 prison drama, Yield to the Night.

 

What's it about?

Yield to the Night is a 1956 British crime drama film starring Diana Dors. It was directed by J Lee Thompson. The film is based on the novel of the same title published in 1954 by Joan Henry. Dors plays Mary Price Hilton, a woman who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to hang, and she spends her last days in the condemned cell in a British women's prison.The storyline bears a superficial resemblance to the Ruth Ellis case, which had occurred the previous year. The film received much positive critical attention, particularly for the unexpectedly skilled acting of Dors, who had previously been cast solely as a British version of the typical "blonde bombshell.

 

Who's in it?

The undoubted star of the film in the superb Diana Dors, playing a very different role from what we'd usually expect. Casting aside her usual glamorous persona, Dors shows real acting skill in this downbeat, often traumatic role. She shines throughout. Co-starring with Diana are Yvonne Mitchell as prison matron Hilda MacFarlane, Michael Craig as Jim Lancaster and reliable character actor Geoffrey Keen playing the Prison Chaplain.

 

Carry On Faces?

Quite a few reliable British character actors appear, however fleetingly in the film. Of those who went on to grace the Carry Ons, special mention must go to the brilliant Harry Locke, who plays Fred Hilton. Harry co-starred in three of the medical Carry Ons - Nurse, Doctor and Again Doctor.

Carry On Doctor guest star Dandy Nichols also appears in the film as Mrs Price, while semi-regular Carry On face, the ever-reliable Marianne Stone crops up in the role of Matron Richardson.

And of course, leading man Michael Craig worked several times for either Peter Rogers or his wife Betty Box, with credits including Doctor in Love, The Iron Maiden and Upstairs and Downstairs. The wonderful Athene Seyler also adds support here as Miss Bligh. Athene played a supporting role in the 1963 district nurse comedy, Nurse On Wheels.

Did you know?

Diana Dors remained intensely proud of her association with this film. It would remain one of her favourite screen performances.

The film was nominated for the Palme D'Or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.


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Carrying On with The Iron Maiden

 

Spurred on by my recent conversations with the wonderful Noel Purcell's son Patrick (more on that soon) I settled down today to watch one of the few Peter Rogers Productions I have still not seen. Thanks to the brilliant Talking Pictures TV, which I can now finally access, I caught a rare screening of the 1962 film The Iron Maiden.

The Iron Maiden is a charming film, very typical of Peter and Gerald's output in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A rare colour film from the duo at this stage, Maiden is very far removed from the innuendo-encrusted delights to come from later Carry On series entries. Instead this film is much more reminiscent of the classic Ealing comedies, showing the little man railing against adversity in the glorious post-war British countryside. The film is fairly innocent with gentle humour and some rather twee romantic interludes, however the cast is chock full of superb character actors and it's a joyous diversion from the modern world, perfect for a lazy afternoon in front of the television.

 

The Iron Maiden of the title is a vintage traction engine which is a labour of love for leading man Michael Craig. In many ways this film is Peter Rogers' attempt to provide a follow up to the hugely successful Genevieve released almost a decade earlier. While the John Gregson and Dinah Sheridan film focussed on vintage cars, this 1962 picture takes on the world of old engines. It's a curio looking at it from 2017 but it gets full marks on the nostalgia front! Michael Craig is perfect in the lead role. As Jack Hopkins he is in full on romantic hero mode. Craig had previous with the Rogers/Thomas family, having worked twice for Peter's wife Betty Box, first of all in 1959's Upstairs and Downstairs and then the year later starring opposite Leslie Phillips in Betty's Doctor in Love. Michael is a great actor and definitely has the looks and charm to carry the film. Just a shame he didn't work more for the dynamic Pinewood duo as he would have been great in some of the 1960s Carry Ons. Thankfully Michael is very much still alive and well and living in Australia.

An interesting aspect of this film is the number of American actors who form part of the principal cast. Michael Craig's love interest is played by the delightful Anne Helm while her parents are brought to life with considerable charm by Alan Hale Jr and Jeff Donnell. It provides a diversion and these very American characters add interest with their reactions to some rather quirky, curious British eccentrics. 

The film follows the burgeoning romance between Craig and Helm and it's very much opposites attract. There are several lightly comic set pieces involving a headstrong Kathy (Helm) and an equally dogmatic Jack, mostly involving various scrapes with the traction engine. It's all very frothy and light and apart from one unfortunate scene which Craig puts Helm over his knee and gives her a spank, it's all enjoyable stuff. 

However, as with many other films Peter and Gerald produced at this time (Watch Your Stern, Raising The Wind, Nurse On Wheels spring to mind) the main joy of The Iron Maiden is spotting a whole host of familiar faces in supporting roles. The Carry On flag is kept flying by Joan Sims (barely a Peter Rogers film without her at this time) and a young, pre-Carry On Jim Dale in a minor supporting role. Other familiar Carry On supporting players also feature: the charming Brian Rawlinson turns up as a country policeman who has various accidents on his bike; Judith Furse and Ian Wilson play an oddly matched pair of traction engine enthusiasts while that lovely actor Brian Oulton gets a fairly substantial role as the local Vicar. There are also blink and you'll miss 'em appearances from the likes of Michael Nightingale, Anton Rodgers and Cyril Chamberlain.

There are other notable non-Carry On actors present too. I've recently been hearing memories from Noel Purcell's son Patrick on his father's role in the film as Admiral Sir Digby Trevelyan and Patrick was even present on set to see some of the scenes filmed. Cecil Parker, a year before filming his Carry On Jack cameo, appears as Hopkins' boss Sir Giles Thompson. George Woodbridge, another familiar face has a lovely cameo role as Mr Ludge while future Emmerdale legend Richard Thorp (Alan Turner) also turns up as Harry Markham. 

The Iron Maiden has all the hallmarks of classic, confident Rogers and Thomas. The cinematography is by Alan Hume, co-producer is Frank Bevis and Eric Rogers does the music. Interestingly, the film is written by neither Norman Hudis or the soon to emerge Talbot Rothwell. Instead, legendary lyricist and composer Leslie Bricusse is behind this film and it's a decent effort on his part. Eric Rogers was soon to join the Carry On team as their full time music director following the departure of Bruce Montgomery. Some of the music in The Iron Maiden is very familiar indeed, a test run for Carry On Cabby perhaps and a rather stately little number which would turn up six years later in Up The Khyber. You can see all the elements gelling already.

 

All in all, The Iron Maiden isn't the best film Peter and Gerald turned out at the peak of their powers but it does feature some of the very best British character actors around. It's a diverting little yarn which survives on the quality of the cast and the willingness of the audience to indulge in some delightful nostalgia. 

As an aside, it's definitely worth checking out Talking Pictures TV. They very often show some rare and classic gems from the world of British cinema, the kind of films you used to watch on BBC Two on a rainy afternoon. There are some absolutely lovely titles to be seen so do check that channel out. You can follow them on Twitter here and there website is here

And stay tuned for my interview with Patrick Purcell, son of the great Noel Purcell, coming soon!

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