Carrying On with Gideon's Way

I've recently become rather hooked on the classic British police series Gideon's Way. The show is enjoying a re-run on that brilliant nostalgia fest which is Talking Pictures TV. Starring John Gregson (best known for his role in the film Genevieve) as Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard, the series focussed on the demanding career of Gideon and the challenge of combining it with family life.

The series ran to 26 hour long episodes, all filmed between 1964 and 65 and broadcast from the March of '65 into the following year. Gideon's Way was made for ITV and shot at Elstree Studios at the same time as shows like The Saint and The Avengers. What marked the series out from many others of the era was the extensive use of location filming which added to the authenticity of the subject matter. Filmed in black and white, the fast paced action and strong storylines pushed new ground. For me, seeing mid-sixties London in all its post-war grimy glory is a real treat. As are the countless guest actors who appear throughout the run.

Well-known actors such as Jean Marsh, Gordon Jackson, Rosemary Leach, George Cole and John Hurt turn up in various episodes but for me, as usual, it's the Carry On faces who provide the greatest interest. So here's a run down of all the classic Carry On links with this wonderful old detective show. 

First up, a Carry On link behind the camera. Norman Hudis, the writer of the first six Carry On films, penned four of the 26 episodes. Norman wrote episode 10 "How to Retire without Really Working; episode 11 "Subway to Revenge"; episode 19 "The Millionaire's Daughter" and finally episode 24 "The Reluctant Witness". Norman did go on to write a great deal of television following his departure from the Carry Ons and this material is certainly very different to the larks of Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims and the rest of the gang!

Gideon's daughter Pru in the show was played by actress Andrea Allan. Scottish born Andrea appeared in seven episodes during the run. Andrea went on to appear in series such as UFO as Carol Miller, Jason King, Thriller and One Foot in the Grave. Around the time of filming Gideon's Way, Andrea also made brief appearances in two Carry Ons. Apparently she is featured in Carry On Spying (can't confirm this) and she also had the small part of Minnie in Carry On Cowboy. 

The actress Angela Douglas, best known for her roles in four Carry Ons including Cowboy and Up the Khyber, appeared in two different episodes of Gideon's Way. In the second ever episode, broadcast on 25 March 1965, Angela played Cathy Miller in a story about anti-fascist marches in London called "The V Men". Angela returned to play the title character in the episode "Morna" broadcast in February 1966, just after she's finished filming Carry On Screaming.

The very first episode shown in March 1965 and entitled "State Visit" focusses on an official visit to London by the German President. The storyline features two well-known Carry On faces. David Lodge, who appeared in Regardless, Girls, Dick, Behind and England, plays the character of Morris while future semi-regular Julian Holloway makes an early screen appearance playing Jim Richards. The episode broadcast in early May 1965 called "Big Fish, Little Fish" also features two famous actors who made cameo roles in the Carry Ons. Sydney Tafler, who played the strip club owner encountered by Charles Hawtrey in Carry On Regardless, plays Gabriel Lyon while Harry Towb plays Ted Cowan. Harry went on to appear briefly in Carry On At Your Convenience as the "doctor" in the dubious film Lew Boggs takes Myrtle Plummer to see at the cinema!

The first episode written by Norman Hudis features three Carry On faces, one of who appeared in the very first Carry On Norman wrote. Eric Barker plays one half of a couple who have spent their life making a living from petty crime in the episode "How to Retire without Really Trying." He is joined by William Mervyn as Mr Pater and Henry McGee as Mark Martinson. Mervyn cropped up in Carry On Follow That Camel as Angela Douglas' father, in Again Doctor as the chair of the hospital board and finally as the court physician in Carry On Henry. And Henry made a cameo as a talk show host in Carry On Emmannuelle in 1978.

Ray Brooks turns up as Frank Romano in the episode "Gang War", a character who runs a small business protection racket. Ray played Georgio, the son of Peter Butterworth and Hattie Jacques who seduces June Whitfield's Evelyn Blunt in Carry On Abroad. "Fall High, Fall Hard" first broadcast in April 1966 focusses on a construction company run by an honest man and his crooked partner. Donald Houston, the Welsh actor you'll remember for his role as First Officer Jonathan Howett in Carry On Jack, plays the honest partner while the less than straight forward one is none other than Carry On semi-regular Victor Maddern.

Finally, the very last episode in the run, "The Nightlifters", shown in May 1966 sees four teenagers led into a life of violence by Anton Rodgers who's character lives on a Chelsea houseboat and has upper-class pretensions. Anton had small roles in two early Carry Ons - first of all a young man chatting up Dilys Laye in Carry On Cruising and then Hardy in the first scene of Carry On Jack with Jimmy Thompson. This episode also features reliable character actor Harry Locke as Joe Moss. You'll remember Harry for his roles in the first three medical Carry Ons - Mick the Orderly in Carry On Nurse, Sam in Carry On Doctor and finally the hospital porter in Carry On Again Doctor in 1969.

Gideon's Way is shown each weekday evening at 20.00 on Talking Pictures TV. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Hattie Carries On ... As Floella

Having covered every one of Joan Sims' 24 Carry On roles it now only seems fair that I turn the spotlight onto another great and loyal member of the team. Sticking with the wonderful women, I've decided to focus on all 14 of Hattie Jacques' Carry On appearances. Hattie's contribution to Carry On comedy was immense. Although appearing in far fewer films that Joan, Hattie created some iconic roles, none more so that the infamous Matron, a character which came to dominate her later career.


However there was far more to Jacques than that. She played Matron in all four of the medical films but there were ten other roles to enjoy too, from a budgie obsessed housewife to an angry, aggressive Spanish cook! So sit back and enjoy a run of blogs which looks at Hattie's Carry On contribution from the very first film in 1958 right through to her last supporting role in Carry On Dick 16 years later. So let's continue our journey today with a look back at Hattie's penultimate role in the series, as Floella in the 1972 film Carry On Abroad.

Carry On Abroad sees a group of eccentric British misfits take off for a long weekend in the dodgy Spanish island of Elsbells. The series was once again tapping into the latest trends, this time for cheap and cheerful package holidays. They were all the rage by the early 190s so what better than sending it all up by sending the gang you'd more typically associate with Brighton off to Spain (well the Pinewood Studios car park). This really was the last classic adventure for the core Carry On team and it's been one of my favourites since I first saw it as a child, recorded late at night on ITV. I still have the original VHS tape somewhere...

Although I have a grudging love of the bargain basement 1975 film Carry On Behind, yet another holiday film, Abroad is the last to feature the full compliment of original cast members (minus Jim Dale who had departed in 1969). Abroad features knockout performances from a host of wonderful Carry On stars, with prime parts for Sid, Joan Kenneths Williams and Connor and a return to a major role for the brilliant Peter Butterworth. It also features one of the best guest casts in any of the Carry Ons - June Whitfield as the uptight Evelyn Blunt, Ray Brooks as the handsome Spanish waiter, Carol Hawkins and Sally Geeson as two young holidaymakers on the look out for love, Jimmy Logan as the boisterous Bert Conway and Derek Francis as the stuffy old monk. 

 

The film also features the last role in the series for stalwart Charles Hawtrey. Sadly, growing problems in Hawtrey's personal life had made him increasingly unreliable. Following a spat about billing for the 1972 Christmas special, with top billing going to the main subject of this blog, Hattie Jacques, Charles left the series and despite making occasional theatre and television appearances until his death in 1988, would never make another film. Hattie Jacques was still a vital part of the Carry On team though, although her future with the gang was also in doubt at this stage due both to commitments elsewhere and her own health issues. Indeed after this role in Abroad, Jacques would miss the next film returning for the last time in 1974 to play Harriet in Carry On Dick.

Anyway, back to Hattie's role in the joyous Carry On Abroad. Originally meant to have fifth billing and a much larger role in the film, Hattie's filming commitments were drastically cut back to just one week due to her involvement in the return of Eric Sykes' sitcom to the BBC. Sykes had last aired in black and white in 1965 and was now back for what would turn out to be a seven year run, in full colour, with Eric, Hattie, Richard Wattis (until his death in 1975) and the wonderful Deryck Guyler. This series and her association with Eric would keep Hattie busy until the end of her life in 1980. Despite Hattie's role in Abroad being filmed in such a short space of time, it's still one of my favourites. It's so unlike anything else she played in the series and is miles away from her stereotyped role as Matron. 

 

As Floella, wife to hotelier Pepe (or is it Mario?!) and mother to Georgio (Brooks), Hattie spends almost her entire time on screen in the hotel kitchen, destroying the guests' meals and giving her husband hell! Hattie's broken Spanish and fiery exchanges with Butterworth are a joy to behold! Constantly struggling with the "cock stove", moodily grumbling at his incompetent husband and sneering at the British guests, it's a masterclass in comedy acting and I love it. I only wish she'd had more screen time and more interaction with the rest of the cast. I love Peter and Hattie together, they share wonderful comic timing and have great chemistry. I really wish they had worked together more often in the films. Butterworth is an absolute joy in Abroad and puts in the best, more energetic, hilarious and challenging role in the film. The poor man must have been exhausted by the end of it all!

Only at the very end of the film does Floella relax and enjoy the fun of the film. After several of the guests spike the punch(ings) with Santa Cecila's Elixir, everyone gets roaring drunk and most of the guests pair off. Floella joins the party at this point and loosens up after a few swigs. This leads to one of my favourite moments in the film when Hattie dances outrageously with Derek Francis' Brother Martin! Floella does her rampant charging bull impression and Hattie is clearly have the most magnificent time! 

 

The end of the film sees the holiday in complete chaos, the hotel in ruins and the holidaymakers happier than ever. All marital discord is resolved, characters are happily partnered off but who knew what happened next for Floella and Pepe? Surely Peter Butterworth and Hattie Jacques deserved a spin off as the hopeless hoteliers? They are an absolute joy. Carry On Abroad remains one of my favourites in the series because it is pure comedy gold from beginning to end. There is no let up in the double entendres, slapstick scenarios and outrageous action. Despite having one of her smallest roles in the series, Hattie is on brilliant form as Floella and it remains one of her best and most unique contributions to the Carry Ons.

Coming up next is my blog on Hattie's last ever role in the Carry On films, as Martha Hoggett in the 1974 film, Carry On Dick, a film which would see several other key contributors bid farewell to the iconic series.   

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

What A Carry On in Blackpool!

With thanks to regular blog reader Jon Buckland for the heads up on this one. The charity Our Disappearing Planet is holding a celebrity charity autograph convention in Blackpool on Saturday 24 October and there is a strong Carry On presence!

Among the long list of attendees are the following Carry On actors:

- Ray Brooks, who played Georgio in Carry On Abroad  

- Kenneth Cope, who starred in both Carry On At Your Convenience and Carry On Matron

- Melvyn Hayes, who played Shorthouse in Carry On England and also appeared in the Carry On Laughing television series in 1975

- Ian Lavender, who appeared as Joe Baxter in Carry On Behind

- Linda Regan, who played one of the ATS girls in Carry On England

- Madeline Smith, who made a cameo appearance as Mrs Pullitt in Carry On Matron

- Nikki Van Der Zyl, who appeared as the Messenger in Carry On Don't Lose Your Head 


If you get along to this event, please do get in touch either through the blog, on Facebook or Twitter or by email at carryonfan15@gmail.com - I'd love to hear how it all goes!

You can find out more about the charity and the event itself by visiting the official website here 



You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going.