Carrying On with … Confessions of a Pop Performer!

I've written before about the Confessions series of bawdy comedy films from the 1970s but really only from the perspective of the effect they had on the slightly more innocent Carry On films we all cherish. The Confessions films have suffered the same fate as the Carry Ons in that they have frequently been looked down on, written off or just plain criticised.

However these films all featured a superb range of actors and provided entertainment to the masses during years when perhaps the country sometimes didn't have that much to laugh about. What interests me a great deal about these films is how they represent the changing face of British society. By the time Confessions of a Window Cleaner burst onto cinema screens up and down the land in 1974, censorship had been relaxed and a whole new generation were much more liberally minded. 

Last time, I focussed on the hugely popular Confessions of a Window Cleaner, the sexy comedy film which burst onto cinema screens across the country back in 1974 and catapulted leading man Robin Askwith to lasting fame. Today I thought I would move on to the following year and another big hit, Confessions of a Pop Performer. Many of the same original team from Window Cleaner returned for this second outing with recurring actors Bill Maynard, Sheila White and Tony Booth appearing again as the traditional sitcom style family around Robin's Timmy Lea. They provide the grounding and the basis for much of the comedy in between the racier material. Sadly Dandy Nichols did not return to play Mrs Lea after the previous film but she was ably replaced by fellow sitcom legend Doris Hare. Doris would go on to appear in both further Confessions films. 

Val Guest, that legendary British film director, chose not to make another Confessions film, allegedly because his wife wasn't keen on him being on set with so many scantily clad nubile young actresses! Columbia Pictures, the big name backer of these low budget comedies and clearly cleaned up with Window Cleaner (as it were) and were keen for more antics. And Mr Askwith was only too happy to oblige! Pop Performer sees Booth's wheeler dealer character become manager to a dubious pop group called Kipper and Timmy gets involved too. The usual slapstick and naughtiness follows as I'm sure you'll already know.

There are several Carry On links to this film and not just in front of the camera. The brilliant cinematographer Alan Hume, who worked on countless Carry Ons as well as big budget pictures in the Star Wars and James Bond franchises, worked on Pop Performer. Frank Bevis, Production Manager on this film, was also involved in many Carry Ons. Frank was Production Manager on Carry On Sergeant, Nurse, Teacher and Constable and later worked as an Associate Producer on Cabby, Jack, Spying, Cleo, Cowboy and Screaming!

In front of the camera, we've of course got the brilliant Robin Askwith, who had already made a name for himself as Larry in Carry On Girls and as Sid's son Mike in the film of Bless This House. And Bill Maynard, there once again as Mr Lea, appeared in supporting roles in five 1970s Carry Ons. Playing a major supporting role in Pop Performer is the lovely Carol Hawkins as the rather proper journalist, Jill Brown, object of Timmy's affections. Carol had already appeared in Carry On Abroad by this stage, playing Marge and the same year worked with Robin in Bless This House. 1975, the year Pop Performer was made, also saw Carol return to Carry On for a major supporting role as glamorous camper Sandra in Carry On Behind as well as co-starring in two episodes of the ATV series Carry On Laughing. Despite the raunchier material in the Confessions film, Carol maintains her dignity throughout, I hasten to add!

Also appearing is that wonderful comedy character actor Peter Jones. Playing a rather obvious send up of a notorious television host, Peter rather over eggs it as Maxy Naus. Another recruit from the world of television comedy is the great Ian Lavender in a cameo turn as Rodney, which involves a lot of funny business with a pantomime horse! Say no more. Ian  was still appearing as Private Pike in Dad's Army at the time and also in 1975 he cropped up in Carry On Behind as Adrienne Posta's husband. Clearly in the Jim Dale persona, sadly Ian suffered from a lack of screen time. Ian's Dad's Army co-star, the late great Bill Pertwee also pops in for a brief cameo in Pop Performer as the stereotypical angry husband who chases Robin's Timmy off with the help of a javelin! 

Two future Carry On girls made quite an impact in Pop Performer as the aptly named Climax Sisters, a truly awful singing double act! Giving a rather spirited performance are Diane Langton and Linda Regan as Ruby and Brenda Climax. Diane would go on to appear in Carry On Laughing on television the same year and in 1976 would take on the Barbara Windsor persona in the awful Carry On England. Joining Diane in England was Linda Regan who several years before had a small part in one of the Carry On Christmas television specials.

Playing Augustus is that instantly recognisable character actor Robert Dorning. Robert would join what was left of the Carry On team three years later to play The Prime Minister in Carry On Emmannuelle. Also look out for Darth Vader himself, Dave Prowse in a brief cameo as a Man in the Cinema. Dave had played a small role as a Bearded Torturer in Carry On Henry five years earlier. Playing Mr Barnwell is the small screen comedy actor Bob Todd, who had already played two small Carry On roles. He had a wordless cameo as a patient in Again Doctor on the big screen and played two small parts in Carry On Again Christmas in 1970. And finally Carry On Behind cameo player, the Danish born actress Helli Louise, plays Eva, one of Timmy's conquests. We see rather a lot of her here, as did Peter Butterworth in yet another shocking Carry On shower scene also in 1975 when she popped up and out in Carry On Behind. 

Pop Performer clearly cashed in on the very best of British comedy talent from both the big and small screen and followed the pattern started with Window Cleaner in casting a mix of 'interesting' young starlets alongside some instantly recognisable and well respected comedy performers. The content might have dated and may not be for everyone but it's all lighthearted fun and exists today as a fascinating time capsule of a Britain in tumult undergoing great social and cultural change. Watch out for a small cameo from future leading lady Rula Lenska as a rather harrassed receptionist and even a fairly major supporting turn from a pre-The Gentle Touch Jill Gascoine, revealing rather a lot as Mrs Barnwell. 

If the sight of legendary character actress Rita Webb running about a freezing cold Borehamwood housing estate screaming "Have you seen my Fanny?" gives you the giggles, Confessions of a Pop Performer is definitely for you!! As far as I'm concerned, anything that gives us plenty of Bill Maynard, Carol Hawkins and Peter Jones is fine by me. And Robin does what only Robin could. And he does it with aplomb! 

Compared to some of the content we see on our screens these days, Pop Performer is relatively tame but watching it again, it's clear times have certainly changed! It's quite possibly the most gloriously Seventies film I've ever seen. And that's a compliment! 


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Carrying On … on a Last Holiday

A couple of weeks ago I had the great good fortune to catch a lovely little film on Talking Pictures TV. Last Holiday, made way back in 1950, is a darkly comic tale of an everyman character who is told by a under pressure doctor that he has weeks to live. Shocked by the news, George Bird takes steps to make sure his last few days on earth are lived as fully as possible.

What's the film about?

George Bird, an ordinary, unassuming salesman of agricultural implements who inexplicably speaks with a posh public school accent, visits a physician for a routine check-up and is told he has Lampington's Disease, a newly identified condition which allows him only a few weeks to live. He accepts the doctor’s advice to take his savings and enjoy himself in the little time left to him. A bachelor with no family or friends, Bird decides to spend his last days at an up-market residential hotel among its elite clientele. By chance, a salesman in a used clothing store has acquired two suitcases, covered with international labels. The cases are full of a deceased Lord's bespoke tailored wardrobe, that perfectly fits Bird. Bird acquires the wardrobe and luggage that give him the appearance of a wealthy gentleman.

Bird’s unassuming attitude generates a great deal of interest among the hotel's residents because he wears the same expensive clothes as all the other guests wear. He is seen as an enigma to be solved, with wild speculations offered as to his identity and possible noble lineage. The hotel's housekeeper guesses the truth, and Bird confides his secret to her. Bird quickly acquires friends and influence, falls in love (possibly for the first time in his life), sets wrongs to right, and is offered lucrative business opportunities. But these successes only serve to make him reflect on the irony that he will have no time to enjoy them.

Who's in it?

Last Holiday stars the great Sir Alec Guinness in one of his earlier starring roles. As George BIrd, Alec is the heart and soul of the film and it's a tour de force. Co-starring is Beatrice Campbell, playing Sheila Rockingham, a woman who is married to a bit of a dodgy customer and the pair are down on their luck. And the brilliant Kay Walsh (once the wife of director David Lean) plays Mrs Poole, the hotel's down to earth and rather canny housekeeper. 

Also look out for Helen Cherry as Miss Mellows, Jean Colin as Daisy Clarence and Bernard Lee as Inspector Wilton. Bernard would of course go on to play M in the first eleven James Bond films.

Carry On Faces?

Last Holiday features a major supporting role for a rising star by the name of Sidney James. Playing a slightly rough around the edges wide boy with a heart of gold, Sid really shines as Joe Clarence and shares many lovely scenes with Alec Guinness. There are definite shades of the Sid we'd come to know and love in many comedies of the future, but as with many of his earlier screen roles, Sid is given more room to show his true acting chops in this film and it's lovely to see.

Also appearing in a satisfying supporting part is the inimitable Esma Cannon. The future star of Carry On Constable, Regardless, Cruising and Cabby as well as countless other films and television roles, Esma was a much in demand character actress in the 1940s and 1950s and she's a welcome addition to Last Holiday. Playing to type as a meek and mild little lady, Esma is Miss Fox, companion and rubbing rag to the wealthy yet common Lady Oswington (Muriel George). While Esma does play for laughs, there is a quiet desperation to the role and as with Sid's turn as Joe, Cannon gives a much more rounded role than many of her later comedy parts would allow.

Carry On Nurse guest star Wilfrid Hyde-White has a smaller supporting role here as a hotel guest, Chalfont. Many of Wilfrid's recognisable acting traits are visible here and the role isn't that far removed from his pesky Colonel in Nurse, which would come along over eight years later. 

There are also two smaller, yet eye-catching supporting turns by two actors who would grace several Carry Ons in the years ahead. The exceptional character actor Brian Oulton plays Prescott, Cabinet Minister Bellinghurst's assistant. It's a small role but Brian imbues it with clipped posh tones as only he could. Oulton went on to appear in Carry On Nurse, Constable, Cleo and Camping. And keep your eyes peeled for an early screen appearance from future television and radio great Peter Jones as an uncredited Travel Agent, seen early on in the film. Peter had cameos in Carry On Doctor as the deaf chaplain who marries the characters played by Joan Sims and Frankie Howerd and returned in 1976 to play the dreadfully unfunny Brigadier in Carry On England.

Did you Know?

Last Holiday was written and co-produced by J.B Priestley, perhaps best known for his 1945 play, An Inspector Calls.

A loose remake of Last Holiday was released in 2006 and it starred, amongst others, the French film actor Gerard Depardieu. 

The film split critics on release. While some praised it for being "simple and modest in structure but delightfully rich in character" another called it "shabby" and its ending "disastrously inappropriate". Can't please 'em all!

Never mind them. I was charmed by this film and if you haven't seen it, I urge you to hunt it down and give it a go. After all, you can't go wrong with a bit of Sid James and Esma Cannon!

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Carrying On with Norman: A Stitch in Time

This is part of a brand new series of blogs looking back at some of my favourite Norman Wisdom films. Although never as fruity or innuendo-laden as the Carry Ons, Sir Norman's films share a similiar feel to many of the early Carry Ons. Indeed they quite often shared the same production base - Pinewood Studios - and Wisdom's films often co-starred some very familiar Carry On faces. 

Norman Wisdom was one of the most bankable British film stars in the 1950s and early 1960s. His stardom lasted long after his peak at the box office too. He appealed to a cross section of society and young and old loved him in equal measure. His cheeky, child-like charm, excellent comic timing and sheer energy catapulted him to fame and he's very clearly one of our most talented comedy stars full stop. 

I've already blogged about the films Trouble in Store from 1953, Just My Luck from 1957, Follow A Star from 1959 and On The Beat from 1962. We're continuing this series of blogs with a look at one of Norman's 1960s film hits - A Stitch in Time from 1963.

What's it about?

Norman Pitkin is the apprentice to Mr Grimsdale an old fashioned butcher. When the store is raided by a young thug, Mr Grimsdale (at Norman's suggestion) puts his gold watch in his mouth for safe keeping. The result of which leads to Mr Grimsdale accidentally swallowing the watch and sent to hospital. Whilst visiting Mr Grimsdale, Norman (in his usual way) accidentally causes chaos around the hospital and meets a girl called Lindy who hasn't spoken since her parents were killed in an aeroplane accident. After Norman is unable to visit Lindy as he is banned from hospital he and Mr. Grimsdale join the St John's Ambulance Brigade which gives him the excuse to visit her, as the usual chaos ensues. In the end Lindy visits him at a charity ball where the St. John Ambulance Brigade Band are performing. The ball descends into the inevitable shambles, caused entirely by Norman. However, Norman redeems himself (and the reputation of the Brigade) as he addresses those attending the ball and everyone donates money for the charity.

Who's in it?

Norman's regular co-stars Edward Chapman (Grimsdale) and Jerry Desmonde (here playing Sir Hector) are joined by his leading lady Jeanette Starke, Glyn Houston, Vera Day and Jill Melford.

Carry On faces?

Future Carry On favourite Patsy Rowlands appears in much of the early part of the film in the eye-catching role of Amy, the assistant in Grimsdale's shop. Also appearing in these scenes is future Carry On and Coronation Street actor Johnny Briggs playing a young thug who holds them up at gun point! 

Watch out also for comedy great Peter Jones who appears as Divisional Officer Russell of the St John's Ambulance Brigade. Peter went on to play cameo roles in both Carry On Doctor and Carry On England. And the future Father, Dear Father star Patrick Cargill also co-stars as Dr Meadows. Patrick appeared briefly in Carry On Regardless and a few years later, in Carry On Jack. And Norman's regular stooge Jerry Desmonde also popped up in Regardless as the lecherous actor Martin Paul. 

There are also several uncredited appearances from Carry On faces including: Wanda Ventham, Cyril Chamberlain, Fred Griffiths, Pat Coombs, Cardew Robinson, Marianne Stone, Julian Orchard and Ronnie Brody. See if you can spot them!

Did you know? 

This was the last film Norman Wisdom made in black and white.

The entire film was shot at Pinewood Studios, with very limited location work. You can spot many very familiar buildings used frequently in the Carry On films.
 

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Whatever Happened to Mr Big?

Now here's a television comedy series I've never heard of before. Until now. I came across a brief mention of Mr. Big online last night and although it doesn't seem to have gone on to much success, it's pedigree suggests it can't really have been that bad surely?

Created by and starring that wonderful comedy actor Peter Jones, Mr. Big also stars Fawlty Towers legend Prunella Scales as Peter's wife, Carol Hawkins as their daughter Norma and Ian Lavender as her boyfriend Ginger. Now as you'll probably know, three of these leading actors have Carry On history. Peter Jones played the vicar who married Frankie Howerd and Joan Sims in Carry On Doctor, before returning nine years later to play the dreadfully unfunny brigadier in the equally unfunny Carry On England. Carol Hawkins meanwhile had roles in both Carry On Abroad and Carry On Behind as well as a couple of appearances in Carry On Laughing on television, while Ian Lavender joined Carol in Behind, playing Joe Baxter.

Mr. Big tells the story of Eddie (Jones) who would like to see himself as a mastermind of the criminal fraternity but then he sees his family and his bubble is burst. His wife Dolly (Scales) believes in people helping themselves, as she does - but only from the very best shops. Their daughter, Norma (Hawkins), lives for her feckless boyfriend, Ginger (Lavender), who has one ambition in life - to be a scrounging layabout. With this picture of domestic trivia, Eddie plans his bank jobs and post office raids with all destined to be bungled and only good fortune keeping them from prison. 

Little else is known about the series although it did span two series, both broadcast in 1977 on BBC1. The idea for the show came out of a single half hour which formed part of the Comedy Playhouse season for the BBC in 1974. As well as coming up with the idea for the series, Peter Jones wrote many episodes alongside Christopher Bond. And the producer of the series was none other than BBC comedy legend Dennis Main Wilson. 

The series also featured guest roles for other Carry On actors, such as Norman Rossington, Penny Irving, Victor Maddern, Elizabeth Knight and Geoffrey Hughes. 

Mr. Big doesn't seem to ever have been repeated and I don't know of a video or DVD release so it's hard to judge the quality of the production. Does anyone remember the series and if so, was it any good?



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Charles Hawtrey: Funny You Should Ask

 

I love BBC Radio 4 Extra. They broadcast such a brilliant range of classic radio comedy and drama as well as some fantastic new material too. As well as some well-known, loved classics, 4 Extra also turns up some hidden gems and this is one of them - Funny You Should Ask.

Peter Jones tests the knowledge of three comedy experts: Carry on film star Charles Hawtrey, the comedian famed for his catchphase 'You lucky people' Tommy Trinder and composer/conductor Ron Goodwin. 

Featuring questions about the classic British film comedies, Charles Hawtrey reveals his favourite out of the 24 Carry on films which he appeared in. There are also rounds on music in comedy films and childhood. 

Looking at all kinds of comedy, Funny You Should Ask ran for seven series from 1978 to 1982. 

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 1981.

Funny You Should Ask will be broadcast this Sunday morning at 8am on BBC Radio 4 Extra. If you miss the broadcast, you'll be able to listen again afterwards here 

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Joan Carries On ... as Chloe Gibson

 

This blog is part of a new regular series on Carry On Blogging. I'm going to attempt to blog about each of Joan Sims' wonderful roles in the Carry On films. Joan was the most prolific of all the actresses involved in the series, clocking up 24 films. Indeed, only Kenneth Williams made more Carry Ons.

Today I am going to continue this series by looking at Joan's performance in that medical classic, 1967's Carry On Doctor. Doctor is such a classic Carry On, crammed full of regular team members and with a guest starring turn from Frankie Howerd, that is almost too easy to overlook Joan's performance as the mousy, hard of hearing Chloe Gibson. As with her previous performance in Follow That Camel, Joan's role is not a large one with the likes of Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques carrying the film. As I mentioned in my review of Joan's contribution to Follow That Camel, the role of Chloe could not be in greater contrast to that of the voluptuous, sultry Zig Zig. 

Carry On Doctor boasts one of the finest Carry On casts ever assembled. Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques, Frankie Howerd and Jim Dale are the main leads in the film but there are also delightful supporting turns from the likes of Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Butterworth, Barbara Windsor, Dilys Laye, Sid James, Charles Hawtrey and Anita Harris. There are also wonderful cameos from Deryck Guyler, Peter Jones and Dandy Nichols. What a cast!

 

Originally Joan was invited to play the pivotal role of Matron in the film. After all Hattie Jacques had not appeared in a Carry On since Cabby, released four years previously. Joan had also just played Matron in the latest Doctor film, Doctor in Clover, so you can see where the casting decision came from. Allegedly Joan turned down the part, claiming that only her friend Hattie could play Matron in a Carry On, so Jacques was reintroduced to the films and appeared regularly from that point on until her departure in 1974. I think this demonstrates just how close these actresses were.

Chloe Gibson is Frankie's hard of hearing but loyal and devoted assistant. Frankie plays bogus faith healer Francis Bigger who ends up in hospital with a dodgy coccyx. Chloe is a frequent visitor to Bigger's bedside, often getting teary and quietly misunderstanding various comic situations. Frankie's character is obviously fond of her but he also gets regularly exasperated as only Frankie could! Joan and Frankie are superb in their scenes together and this film saw the beginning of a legend. Apparently the actors could barely look at each other without bursting into fits of giggles. This trend would continue when the pair worked together again on Up The Jungle two years later. Some footage remains from a BBC Film Night special which shows Joan and Frankie corpsing during a scene. Wonderful stuff.

The highlight of Joan's role in Doctor comes when Francis and Chloe get married in his private hospital room. Believing he only has days to live, Francis proposes to Chloe out of loyalty. Of course there is nothing wrong with Francis and the whole thing turns into a nightmare as his new bride turns into a dominating shrew! The wedding scene is an absolute delight. Anita Harris' Nurse Clarke and Bernard Bresslaw's Ken Biddle are the witnesses and Peter Jones pops up for a cameo as the equally deaf hospital Chaplain. The scene is hilarious as the wedding vows get louder and louder, attracting attention from many of the other hospital visitors and staff. I should imagine the scene took several takes given the participants! 

The end of the film sees Francis discharged from hospital as Chloe escorts him off the premises with threats of a "nice little flat in Eastbourne"! Clearly not smitten with the idea, Francis stages a fall off screen and is quickly stretchered back in to the hospital allowing Frankie Howerd a wonderful wink directly into the camera to end the film. 

 

Another small role for Joan but as always, beautifully played and her timing and chemistry with Frankie Howerd raise this performance up into a different league. Lovely stuff.  
 

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Carry On Faces of 1976

This is part 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 with 1976. Only one film was produced this year, Carry On England. This continued a trend that would see only one film produced a year until the end of the original series in 1978.

Pictured above we have the most prolific actors to appear in 1976. They are as follows: Kenneth Connor as Captain S Melly; Windsor Davies as Sergeant Major Tiger Bloomer; Patrick Mower pictured above as Sergeant Len Able; Judy Geeson as Sergeant Tilly Willing; Jack Douglas as Bombardier Ready; Joan Sims pictured as Private Jennifer Ffoukes-Sharpe; Melvyn Hayes as Gunner Shorthouse; Peter Jones as the Brigadier and finally, Peter Butterworth as Major Carstairs.

Of those featured above, only Kenneth Connor was an original cast member from the very first film, Carry On Sergeant in 1958. Carry On England was a controversial film which ushered in a whole new cast and a whole new style to the series. It bombed at the box office. Only Connor, Sims, Butterworth and Douglas were familiar faces from previous Carry Ons, with Sims and Butterworth restricted to little more than cameos.

Windsor Davies returned to Carry On for a starring role following the success of his perfomance in the previous film, Carry On Behind. Amongst the new faces joining the team were familiar television performers Patrick Mower and Melyvn Hayes. Judy Geeson, the film star sister of Sally Geeson, also starred. None of these new names were particularly adept at Carry On humour and the film keenly missed absent stars such as Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw and Sidney James. Sadly Sid had passed away just as pre-production on England had commenced.


 
Stay tuned for the Carry On Faces of 1978 coming up soon!

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