Adam Faith: What A Whopper!

Thanks to the wonderful world of Twitter the other day I was informed that Talking Pictures TV were showing one of Sid James' early 60s comedy films I was yet to see. I had read about What A Whopper a while back in the excellent Sid James Companion, written by Robert Ross but this is the first time I've seen it on the telly.

The basic premise of the film focusses on a writer who attempts to raise some cash by writing a book about the Loch Ness Monster. No publisher will take it because they all think there isn't really a monster. The writer and some of his friends make a fake monster and take photographs and then travel to Scotland to see if they can convince the locals.

To be honest it's a fairly slim story for a film but it's light, frothy and a lovely burst of black and white innocent nostalgia for a dull November afternoon. As with many films of this type and era, what really makes this watchable in 2017 is the prime cast of brilliant British comedy actors who appear. Although a vehicle for the sparkling young pop star Adam Faith, the real stars are in the supporting cast. And there are several noteworthy Carry On stars present.

Leading the way is the wonderful Sidney James of course, putting in a classic Hancockian performance as the cheeky Cockney chappie on the make and behind the bar. Sid's effortless charm and boundless appeal are used to the full and it's an absolute joy from start to finish. Carry On original Terence Longdon has a sizable supporting role as Faith's mate Vernon and it's a world away from the posh army types he played in the likes of Carry On Sergeant, Nurse and Regardless.

There is also a lovely, over the top guest starring role for the legendary Charles Hawtrey as painter Arnold, one of a motley crew who shares the living space in Faith's block of flats in Chelsea. It's a classic little role for Hawtrey who used his Carry On fame to great effect at this time, popping up in all manner of productions, pretty much always doing the same kind of thing. Also look out for a supporting role from Terry Scott as a Scottish police sergeant and the lovely Molly Weir as a teacher.

What A Whopper also features interesting little cameos from Clive Dunn doing his old man act years before Corporal Jones in Dad's Army; Wilfrid Brambell as a slightly less than convincing Scottish postman and a typically outlandish cough and spit from the goonish Spike Milligan. As a side note, the glamorous blonde bombshell leading lady is Carole Lesley, who also starred in Doctor in Love at around the same time. Sadly, her career faltered by the 1970s and she was found dead in her house in Barnet, North London at the age of just 38. 

The film had a strong pedigree behind the camera too. The music was composed by the brilliant Laurie Johnson, best known for television themes such as The Avengers and The Professionals. The script was written by Terry Nation, who started out writing for Spike Milligan and aspiring writers Jeremy Lloyd and Trevor Peacock (best known for his role in The Vicar Of Dibley) both contributed to the story. 

The same year Adam Faith starred in What A Whopper he also played himself in a small role at the end of that other classic of the genre, What A Carve Up! Starring Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Esma Cannon and Shirley Eaton, I've got a blog on that little gem coming up soon. 

And finally, according to the internet future Carry On and Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie makes an uncredited appearance in What A Whopper as a "Chelsea Girl" - let me know if you spot her! Hopefully this little gem will make another appearance in the Talking Pictures TV schedule again soon.


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Not Quite A Carry On: Watch Your Stern

I have been writing about some of the other comedy films Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas made together during their long career in film making. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, this prolific duo churned out many British comedies which featured Carry On actors, Carry On writers and Carry On crew, without officially being Carry On films. 

So far I have looked at the likes of Nurse On Wheels, The Big Job and Raising The Wind. Today I am going to turn my attentions to a delightful naval comedy from 1960: Watch Your Stern. 

Watch Your Stern was released in 1960 and boasted a prime cast of regular Carry On actors from that period. The film focuses on the crew of a British warship who lose the plans to a new top secret torpedo and must hide this fact from both a senior Admiral and a famous scientist. At the heart of the action is a starring role for Carry On favourite Kenneth Connor. Connor was really the star of the early Carry Ons, playing bumbling romantic interests for the likes of Dora Bryan, Rosalind Knight and Joan Sims. He is paired again with Joan in Watch Your Stern and they make a delightful double act.

Kenneth is on fine accident prone form and even enjoys a bit of drag in this film, as he goes undercover in an attempt to fool the wiley old Admiral, played by Irish actor Noel Purcell. Purcell is a fantastic scene stealer who, although sadly never appearing in a Carry On film, also pops up as the local greengrocer in Nurse On Wheels. Playing the Captain of the ship and Joan's father is Eric Barker, star of two early Carry Ons - Sergeant and Constable. Eric's second in command is brought to life by another early Carry On star, Leslie Phillips. No doubt Leslie's long running role in the BBC radio comedy The Navy Lark saw him cast in this naval comedy.

Watch Your Stern also boasts cameo roles from two other wonderful Carry On stars. Hattie Jacques pops up for several scenes at the end of the film as the Admiralty Scientist, Agatha Potter. Sid James meanwhile, fresh from his first Carry On adventure in Constable, crops up throughout the film as Chief Petty Officer Mundy, the owner of some very impressive facial hair!

The film features a fine roster of regular Carry On supporting actors including David Lodge, Victor Maddern, Ed Devereux and Michael Nightingale, however there are  also two very famous faces in the cast list. Sadly this would be the only time either Eric Sykes or Spike Milligan would work for Rogers and Thomas but it is a joy to see them cast as a couple of work shy civilian electricians. Perhaps Spike's characterisation would not be allowed today though...

Watch Your Stern is a light and frothy, easygoing comedy film, very much of its time. It's a perfect way to spend an undemanding hour and a half enjoying some classic nostalgia as a bunch of excellent comedy performers strut their stuff with ease. You really can't go wrong with the likes of Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims and Leslie Phillips all on top form. While the film is not crammed full of gags and the jokes that are there are pretty innocent, it is a really good example of Rogers, Thomas and Co at their finest. 

If you haven't seen it before, or it's just been a while, why not track it down and give it a go?

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Whatever Happened To ... David Lodge?

I have been writing a series of blogs that focus on some of the less well-known supporting actors who, although never becoming stars in their own right, often worked consistently for a long number of years and contributed a huge amount to the ongoing success of the Carry On films.

Today I am going to look back at the career of another great actor who appeared in several Carry Ons - David Lodge. David first appeared in the series in Carry On Regardless, released in 1961. This early outing saw him pop up in the legendary wine tasting sequence which saw Joan Sims deliver a truly superb comic performance. David appears as one of the patrons at the wine club. 

It was then a further twelve years before David Lodge appeared in his next Carry On role. I have no idea why he wasn't asked back before this as he was a successful actor in many other films. At around the same time as Regardless, David appeared in other films for Rogers and Thomas, Watch Your Stern and Raising The Wind. David Lodge next appeared in Carry On Girls in 1973. In Girls, he played the local chief of police who was brought in by June Whitfield's Augusta Prodworthy to investigate the Fircombe Beauty Contest. This was probably David's most substantial role in the series.

This began a consecutive run of four mid-1970s Carry On roles. David made a cameo appearance in Carry On Dick the following year, playing Bullock in scenes alongside Kenneth Williams and Jack Douglas. In Carry On Behind, David appeared as a pub landlord in scenes with Windsor Davies and Jack Douglas. Finally, in Carry On England, released in 1976, David appears at the beginning of the film as Captain Bull, who is quickly replaced by Kenneth Connor at the army camp.

Although David Lodge only appeared in five Carry On films, he was more prolific in the Carry On Laughing television series which was broadcast over two series in 1975. David appeared in a total of seven episodes out of the thirteen that were produced. He starred in the series alongside regular Carry On stars such as Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims and Barbara Windsor.

So what else did David Lodge do during his long acting career? David's first screen appearance came in 1954, in a bit part in the film Orders Are Orders, which starred Sid James, Tony Hancock and Peter Sellers. During his career David Lodge racked up 183 screen appearances, his last coming in the television series Aahhh! Real Monsters in 1997. 

David Lodge has a significant professional relationship with legendary actor Peter Sellers, appearing in several of his films. He was a close friend of Sellers and they starred together in The Naked Truth, Two Way Stretch and I'm All Right Jack. Lodge appeared in many other classic films during his career, including The Railway Children, Ice Cold In Alex, Oh What A Lovely War, On The Buses, Casino Royale and The Return of the Pink Panther. David was also a regular actor in Norman Wisdom films: The Bulldog Breed, On The Beat, Press For Time and The Early Bird. He also popped up in the big screen version of The Army Game, which focused on Bernard Bresslaw's character and was called I Only Arsked.

On television, David Lodge was a regular on Spike Milligan's 1970s series Q, clocking up twenty appearances. David also appeared in many classic shows of the time, ranging from The Sweeney and Worzel Gummidge to The Avengers, Bless This House, Crown Court and Robin's Nest. David Lodge was most certainly one of those reliable, familiar faces casting directors could recruit to play certain types of characters such as policemen, army officers or slightly dodgy geezers.

David William Frederick Lodge was born in Rochester in Kent in August 1921. He served in the RAF during the Second World War. Before turning to acting as a full time career, he apparently also worked as a circus clown and ringmaster, something he claimed provided great training for becoming an actor. David Lodge lived in North London for many years as a confirmed bachelor before surprising many of his friends by getting married after whirlwind 24 hour courtship in the summer of 1963. He married a French journalist and he remained devoted to her for the rest of their lives. 

David Lodge passed away in October 2003 at the age of 82. He spent his last years in the actors rest home, Denville Hall. 

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Margaret Nolan speaks out

I've stumbled across a revealing interview Margaret Nolan did back in 2007. It's a terrific read and provides many insights into this famed Carry On glamour girl. 

As many of you will know, Margaret starred in six Carry On films between 1965 and 1974, always playing the busty dolly bird opposite the likes of Sid James and Bernard Bresslaw. Margaret also appeared briefly in classic films such as Goldfinger and The Beatles film A Hard Days Night. Along with Valerie Leon she was the go-to actress for many productions during the 1960s and 70s when a spot of glamour was required. She has an impressive CV ranging from Steptoe and Son to series with Spike Milligan.

Maggie Nolan was something of an enigma for many years. She left the country in the late 1980s, abandoning acting for a life in rural Spain. Nothing was heard about her until she returned to London shortly before this interview with website The Den of Geek was published in 2007. Although the interview is really to publicise Margaret's career as an artist, it covers much old ground and is a fascinating glimpse at the person behind the classic Carry On image.

It is clear that Margaret has little time for the Carry Ons these days, particularly those in charge at Pinewood. Her language and comments are both frank and refreshing to hear. Despite these negative feelings towards the films, it was still good to see Margaret take part in the Carry On Forever documentary earlier this year. Many of her comments about working conditions and actors pay ring true with us and confirm much of what we already know but it's always a story worth telling. 

Anyway, it's a very interesting interview and well worth a read. You can do that by following this link

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