Two Gentlemen Sharing Screening plus Q&A with Judy Geeson at the BFI

As I mentioned over on Twitter last night, there will be a rare chance to catch the actress Judy Geeson in conversation at the BFI early next month. The British Film Institute on London's South Bank will be hosting a special screening of the 1969 British film drama Two Gentlemen Sharing, in which Judy played the character of Jane.

Well I say you can catch Judy, but she won't actually be there in person. She has been based in the United States for many years and will take part in a live Q&A by Skype alongside the film's director Ted Kotcheff. The film tells the story of an upper class white Englishman who is forced to confront his own feelings and prejudices when the London flat he advertises for sharing is taken up by an Oxford-educated black Jamaican. 

Adapted by Jamaican-born Evan Jones from a novel by David Stuart Leslie, it follows this ambitious young Jamaican in swinging London as he battles every day racism and tries to enter the hallowed portals of British business. Allegedly considered an incitement to race-riot, it was given an X certificate and never released in the UK. It was, however, considered suitable for the Venice Film Festival in 1969 and played continuously in France and the US.

Joining Judy in the cast were actors Robin Phillips, Esther Anderson (who will also take part in the event at the BFI), Earl Cameron and Rachel Kempson. Also look out for two other actors who made Carry On appearances - Norman Rossington playing Phil and Elspeth March as Ethne's Mother.

The film and Q&A are part of the BFI's Black and Banned season. The special screening and Q&A will take place on Saturday 1 September from 2pm. And you can buy tickets here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Did you know? Five fun Carry On Facts!

 

In an occasional new series for Carry On Blogging, here are five interesting facts about the Carry Ons and their stars which may be new to you...

Did you know...

Juliet Mills had been such a hit with Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas following her roles in Nurse On Wheels and Twice Round The Daffodils that she was offered the lead role of Sally in Carry On Jack. However did you know that the first choice for Sally had been then series regular Liz Fraser? Liz and her agent had agreed she should play more dramatic parts and move away from the image of Carry On girl and Juliet stepped up for her only role in the series.

 

Another casting decision involving Juliet came about due to the aforementioned Nurse On Wheels. Fan favourite Joan Sims had been given the leading role of Joanna in the district nurse comedy, however a last minute change of heart saw Mills given the role and Joan relegated to a supporting part as the vicar's daughter. This was a big disappointment for Joan who was one of the Carry On repertory company's most loyal and prolific stars.

 

Speaking of Joan, one of her most serious and long term boyfriends was a struggling actor by the name of Tony Baird. Baird had small parts in man British films and television shows during the 1950s and 60s and even cropped up in a Carry On film. If you watch closely you will spot him as one of Dr Crow's guards in the final sequences of Carry On Spying. He gives chase to Kenneth Williams and Co together with Patrick Durkin. Curiously, Baird's only role in the series came in one of the few Carry Ons Joan did not appear in.

 

Judith Furse played her biggest supporting role in Spying as the fiendish Dr Crow, leader of STENCH. This formidable turn apparently caused the actress some stress and she struggled with the lines in many of her scenes. The final print of the film does not actually use Judith's voice. The role was dubbed by familiar actor John Bluthal, who also played the Cafe Mozart waiter and STENCH agent in the film. 

Finally, last but not least, John Bluthal played two other supporting roles in the Carry Ons. He returned to the series for Follow That Camel in 1967 and finally the role of the KIng's dresser in Carry On Henry in 1970. However for some reason or other Bluthal was not credited for this performance. Bluthal is still acting today in his late 80s, most recently opposite George Clooney in the Hollywood comedy Hail Caesar! 

 

I hope you enjoyed this fun Carry On facts! Plenty more where they came from so stay tuned!


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

Guest Blog: An alternative Top 20 Favourite Carry On Actors

The other week I reached the end of my countdown of Top 20 favourite Carry On actors, something which sparked some debate on Twitter. If you are interested in seeing who I chose, you can read it all over here. Anyway, regular blog reader Chris Stephenson has sent me in his own wonderful list of favourites and here it is:


Just outside the Top 20 are Julian Holloway, Peter Gilmore, Harry H Corbett, Margaret Nolan and Phil Silvers! I know Harry and Phil only appeared in one film each but they were starring roles an each was carried off superbly! To be honest, I don't think I dislike any Carry On actor/actress as they all bring something to the screen while you are watching.

20. Fenella Fielding - Need I say more than Carry On Screaming!? For her performance in this alone (never mind her role in Regardless) she deserves to be on this list!

19. Patsy Rowlands -  Patsy deserves to be in this list but I never quite bonded with any of her characters. The dowdy, frustrated women she played were never my favourites. Maybe it was just her great acting!

18. Terry Scott - I'm surprised Terry is not further up my list as I love his performances especially as the put upon husband in Camping and his Tarzan in Up The Jungle!

17. Jon Pertwee - My favourite Doctor Who and his cameos in the Carry On films were a pleasure to behold! I met Jon once and asked him about his Carry On roles and he said when he was told of the characters he was about to play he said to Gerald and Peter 'well can he have this, can he have that' and they said 'If they make us laugh, yes!' and so he did have a bit of input in his parts!

16. Esma Cannon - Esma, again is one of those actresses who you think made more Carry Ons but she made just four. However her role in one of my top five films (Cruising) is enough for her to be here! To quote the book What a Carry On, "Esma Cannon steals every scene in which she appears as a twittering, bird-like little passenger (a mad pixie according to the captain) happily entering into the spirit of the fun and games." I rest my case!

15. Bernard Bresslaw - Some of my choices (especially of the regulars) may be lower down than they would be in other people's lists but that's the beauty of making your own choices. If we were all the same life would be awkward so change sparks debate! I'm surprised Bernard isn't higher up my list as his range of acting in the Carry Ons is far reaching from the aggression of Abdul and Gripper Burke to the calmness of Ken Biddle and Brother Bernard, not forgetting his female impersonations in Girls, Doctor and Up The Jungle!

14. Peter Butterworth - Although never in a starring role Peter always left his mark in every Carry On he appeared in. His characters were mostly the shy, retiring type and very nervous, often as a side-kick. Although he made 16 Carry Ons, my top 3 Peter characters have to be Pepe (Abroad), Slowbotham (Screaming!) and Mr Fiddler (Camping) who this time is anything but shy when it comes to getting money out of Sid!

13. Dilys Laye - Absolutely love her characters and the way she plays them! The beautiful double agent in Spying; the shy husband searching good time girl in Cruising; the slightly nervous girlfriend of Bernard Bresslaw in Camping and the female who Bernard falls for in Doctor!

12. Frankie Howerd - His two appearances in the Carry Ons (Doctor and Up The Jungle) were more or less starring roles and he played them with his usual comical genius and presence! Always plays parts like he's ad-libbing but it's just great acting!

11. Liz Fraser - Another lady who you think has been in more than four films! Like Dilys, lived Liz in the Carry Ons but my favourite was when she was with Dilys in Carry On Cruising. One of my top five and with little Esma these three help the film cruise along nicely! 

10. Hattie Jacques - With 14 films to her name her large frame was only matched by a bigger heart! Mostly remembered for a battle axe hospital staff character but there were gentler roles and Hattie played them all with aplomb!!

9. Barbara Windsor - Bubbly Babs' portrayal of Daphne in Spying meant she hit the ground running and with her Cockney charm and shapely figure (which often led to her being scantily dressed) she breezed through nine films. Again Barbara was one of those that you thought had made more.

8. Charles Hawtrey - Love his characters in the Carry On films as you always feel a bit sorry for him! He tries his hardest but his child-like characters make him desperate to please but in the end trouble is also in store! With 23 films under his belt the public liked him too!

7. Joan Sims - 'Wonderfully talented - one of the best comediennes in the country' was Peter Rogers' description of Joan. Her 24 appearances speak for themselves as they are all different yet feel the same and that is credit to Joan for putting her unique stamp on the characters!

6. Jacki Piper - A lot of people will be wondering how Jacki (and my no. 3) are above Hattie and Joan and I think it stems back to old I was when I got into the Carry Ons. I was about 13/14 and when I really got into them Jacki was one of my teenage fantasies (along with Katy Manning and Elisabeth Sladen). Only four films but definitely made a lasting impression on me! 

5. Kenneth Connor - A bumbling, nervous-type character is generally Ken's role and he plays them so well he lights up nearly all the scenes he appears in. My three favourites of his are the Sam Twist sequence aboard the train in Regardless, the brilliant portrayal of Hengist Pod in Cleo and the love struck doctor Arthur Binn in Cruising!

4. Kenneth Williams - With his flared nostrils, gaping eyes and nasal voice Kenneth is to some Mr Carry On! With 25 films to his credit (plus the That's Carry On compilation with Barbara Windsor), Kenneth has appeared in the most Carry Ons. Most of his appearances are as bosses where is he very conceited and abrupt!

3. Angela Douglas - Only four to her name but like Jacki Piper as I was growing up and my libido was racing, they were my dream girls! My favourite of her roles is Annie Oakley in Cowboy, only narrowly beating Doris Mann in Screaming! into second place.

2. Sid James - What can you say about Sid that hasn't been said already? One of my favourite comedy actors (not just in Carry On but I'm also a massive fan of Hancock and Bless This House). Sid compared his face to a 'bed that has been slept in with the sheets left rumpled'! Who could forget that gravelly cockney voice and the yahk yahk yahk laugh. At 19 movies, Sid truly left his mark on the Carry Ons. 'They bung a beard on me' says Sid on the set of Carry On Henry 'give me plumes and things and dress me up in ruddy heavy costumes - but I'm still me'. And that's why we love him!!

1. Jim Dale - Although Jim only made 10 films, four of his Carry Ons are in my top 5! Although his first two Carry Ons were most bits parts, from then on he came into his own. His roles are a bit like Kenneth Connor's but Jim plays them almost slapstick style and his bashful, bumbling innocence became an essential ingredient in the Carry Ons!

So there you have it, an alternative top twenty! Thanks very much to Chris for taking the time to do this. So what do you think, do you agree with these choices?

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Fancy being a Guest Blogger? Well Carry On...

A couple of years ago I wrote a guest blog for the wonderful History Usherette Blog which is run by @agathadascoyne . I wrote about the social history of the Carry Ons, comparing Carry On Cruising with Carry On Abroad, highlighting how Britain had changed over that ten year period. This experience got me thinking.

I love hearing from fellow Carry On fans on Twitter. Back in 2015/16 I invited some of you to be my 'Carry On Fan of the Week" answering a few questions on your own personal Carry On favourite moments, actors and films. 

If there are any keen guest bloggers out there with a Carry On related subject you are burning to write about, don't hesitate to drop me a line. I'd love to feature your thoughts on the blog. It can be as long or as short as you like and you can provide photos or I can find some for you. 

You can write about anything as long as it has a Carry On connection.

You can contact me via Twitter by direct message, by using the Contact Form on the blog or by emailing carryonfan15@gmail.com

Carry On Scribbling!


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

My Top 20 Favourite Carry On Actors - The Final List!

In this, the sixtieth anniversary year of Carry On, I set out to countdown my top twenty list of all time favourite Carry On actors. It was a lightbulb moment to do this series of blogs and at first thought it seemed an easy task. And then I realised just how many actors were involved in the twenty years of original films and out of that lot, just how many I loved, cherished and adored. 

Originally it was going to be a top ten. Then I broadened out to twenty as I wanted to celebrate some of the lesser known, supporting players who although never the stars of the series, were still vital to their ongoing and lasting success. The quality of the Great British character actor was never more important than when casting a low budget, quickly produced Carry On comedy. It proved something of a labour of love to post the countdown of blogs but I've loved doing it and I've loved the reaction to my choices on social media. So first of all, a big thank you to everyone who has read my scribblings and passionately agreed or disagreed with my decisions. 

I've just revealed my ultimate Carry On actor(s) so I thought I should do a quick recap of all twenty blogs in case you've missed some or just want to read a particular one all over again. 

Going from top to bottom (Matron!) … 

Joint First: Sid James and Joan Sims - My King and Queen of Carry On!

No.   3: Charles Hawtrey - Charles starred in the series from 1958 - 1972, in 23 films 

No.   4: Kenneth Williams - appeared in 26 Carry Ons, more than any other actor 

No.   5: Hattie Jacques - more than Matron, Hattie played in 14 Carry Ons from 1958 - 1974

No.   6: Peter Butterworth - Peter B co-starred in 16 Carry Ons between 1965 - 1978

No.   7: Kenneth Connor - Kenneth appeared in 17 of the films from 1958 - 1978

No.   8: Jim Dale - the Carry On romantic hero starred in 11 films between 1963 - 1992

No.   9: Patsy Rowlands - the brilliant Patsy co-starred in 9 films between 1969 - 1975

No. 10: Bernard Bresslaw - the star of 14 Carry Ons between 1965 - 1975

No. 11: Dilys Laye - the versatile Dilys co-starred in four 1960s Carry Ons 

No. 12: Fenella Fielding - Only two Carry Ons to her name, but Screaming is one of the best

No. 13: Margaret Nolan - the stunning Maggie Nolan added glamour to six films in the series

No. 14: Barbara Windsor - the lowest placed 'regular', Babs starred in nine of the films 

No. 15: Esma Cannon - a true one off, Esma co-starred in four early Carry On films 

No. 16: Julian Holloway - son of Stanley, Julian gave us cheeky charm in eight Carry Ons

No. 17: Joan Hickson - the Miss Marple actress added class to five Carry On films

No. 18: Marianne Stone - that veteran of British film who popped up in nine Carry Ons

No. 19: Liz Fraser - who played in four Carry Ons, from Regardless to Behind

No. 20: Peter Gilmore - supporting actor in eleven Carry Ons, from Cabby to Columbus

And there we have it, my Top Twenty list in full. I hope you've enjoyed the journey - I'm off for a lie down!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

My Top 20 Favourite Carry On Actors: Joint First Place - Sid & Joan

This is the final part of a series of blogs where I have taken a purely personal look at my favourite Carry On actors. I have written up a countdown of my top twenty actors and actresses in this, the sixtieth anniversary year of Carry On. So why top twenty? Well top ten didn't allow me to include all my favourites and any more than twenty and I'd be at it forever, as it were.

This top twenty has been a mix of regular top team actors and many of those instantly recognisable supporting actors who popped in and out of the series, adding superb cameos here and there. You will probably agree with some of my main choices and be vehemently opposed to others, but it's meant to encourage debate! 

So we are now at the end of this countdown of my all-time favourite Carry On actors. The first half of the list featured mainly supporting actors who popped in and out several times throughout the films, from the likes of Joan Hickson and Cyril Chamberlain to Margaret Nolan and Peter Gilmore. The Top Ten featured all the main team players you'd expect, from Jim Dale and Kenneth Williams to Peter Butterworth and Hattie Jacques.

You will probably have noticed two names have been missing from my list so far, and there are two of the best known, best loved and longest serving Carry On actors. When it came down to it, I guess I chickened out of choosing one of the other so I've decided to give them joint first place in my countdown. Yes for me they are the King and Queen of Carry On - Sidney James and Joan Sims.

My favourite Carry On actor and actress, they both appeared for most of the original run of films. Joan appeared in the second film in the series, Carry On Nurse, in 1958 and remained with the series for 24 films in all, bowing out with Emmannuelle twenty years later. Sid meanwhile became the Carry On films' leading man in 1960 with Carry On Constable and remained at the top of the pile until Carry On Dick in 1974. For me they were the ultimate Carry On double act and their chemistry as boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife was just so believable, natural and irresistible that having them share top spot seems like, if you excuse the terrible expression, a no brainer.

It's the strength of their chemistry together than propels them to the top as far as I'm concerned. Although appearing in several Carry Ons together and not necessarily having much to do with each other, 1965's Carry On Cowboy changed all that. Cowboy saw Joan at her glamorous best as gun-toting saloon owner Belle. Sid's Rumpo Kid more than met his match in Belle and the pair share some sparkling dialogue. Without a doubt the success of this pairing in Cowboy led to them working together again and again as the series progressed.

Sid and Joan enjoyed a gorgeously comedic flirtation as Sir Rodney FFing and Desiree in Don't Lose Your Head the following year however it would be another costume epic two years later which cemented their roles as comedy King and Queen. In Carry On Up The Khyber they played the endlessly bickering Sir Sidney and Lady Joan Ruff-Diamond. James and Sims are out on top and playing at a blistering pace throughout this wonderful Carry On, firing on all cylinders. So strong is their pairing that Talbot Rothwell casts them with their own first names! Later in '68 they were back together again as a modern day boyfriend and girlfriend as Sid Boggle attempts to get back to nature with Joan Fussy at Paradise Camp! Carry On Camping sees the delectable foursome of Sid, Joan, Bernard Bresslaw and Dilys Laye travel about the Buckinghamshire countryside in an aged Ford Zephyr and you can just tell they all got on and were having as many laughs off screen as on.

In Carry On Up The Jungle, Sid is the ruggedly bogus explorer Bill Boosey, flirting outrageously with his rifle in front of Joan's upper class Lady Bagley. And later in 1970 Joan is the object of Sid's lust once more in Carry On Loving. As Esme Crowfoot, Joan finds herself in a bonkers love triangle with Sid's Marriage Agency boss Sidney Bliss and Bernard Bresslaw's hulking wrestler Gripper Burke! Carry On Henry saw the films come of age in late 1970 and in this outing, Sid and Joan really were the King and Queen! Possibly one of their best, most beloved appearances together in a Carry On came in 1971 with the joyful Carry On At Your Convenience. While Sid is married rather unhappily to Hattie Jacques, he's constantly on the make with his glamorous next door neighbour Chloe (Sims). While a lot of their scenes are classic Carry On double entendres, they share a beautifully comedic yet sad scene at the end of the Brighton day trip. Standing outside their houses late at night, they contemplate taking things further but in the end think the better of it. As Eric Rogers' finest musical score swells, Sid and Joan prove once again just what fine actors they were.

I think the last time Sid and Joan were truly great on screen together was in 1972's Carry On Abroad. As boringly frustrated married couple, publicans Vic and Cora Flange, they embark on a nightmare long weekend package holiday to a bizarre Spanish island. Vic is after a piece with saucy widow Sadie (who else but Barbara Windsor?) while Cora is flattered when frustrated middle aged husband Stanley Blunt (Kenneth Connor) takes an interest in her. It's probably the most down to earth, real character Joan ever played in a Carry On and while sadly there are battle-axe traits to Cora, she is far more sympathetic and believable than other roles she was given. Ultimately Vic and Cora are reunited and the scenes surrounding their faulty hotel doors are superb. They are having so much fun the joy goes well beyond performance. They are crying with laughter for real and we couldn't love them more. 

Sid and Joan shared their last major screen time together in 1973's Carry On Girls however for me it's a rather sad state of affairs to go out on. Sid is the ultimate dirty old councillor, chasing younger beauty contestants while Joan is on autopilot as his harridan girlfriend Connie. They deserved so much better than this! 

Despite this, Sid and Joan more than deserve first place in this countdown. For me, they were and are Carry On. It is inconceivable to imagine the series and so many of the films without them. Peter Rogers always said that it was very much a team, and it was. He said "Carry On" was the only star and while that may be true, Sid was the Carry On KIng and Joan was definitely his Carry On Queen. 

I hope you have enjoyed this rather mammoth countdown of my ultimate favourites. It's been great fun to do and while I've had to leave many wonderful actors and actresses out of the list, I hope you've on the whole agreed with my choices!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram