Carry On Faces in Different Places: Sailor Beware!

Here we go with a brand new 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.
  
Today we're going to cover another classic British comedy film, Sailor Beware! a 1956 British romantic comedy film directed by Gordon Parry. It was released as Panic in the Parlor in the United States.

The film is an adaptation of the successful stage play of the same name. It follows the story of a sailor betrothed to be married, but wary that home-life may echo that of her parents: a hen-pecked husband and battle-axe mother.

Carry On Faces?

The star of the film is the wonderful, larger than life Peggy Mount. Peggy had played the role of Emma Hornett on the stage and it became the role which made her name. Peggy would of course go on to star with Sid James in the ITV sitcom George and the Dragon. Playing Peggy's daughter is Carry On original Shirley Eaton. We all know Shirley from her roles in Carry On Sergeant, Nurse and Constable. Playing Aunt Edie Hornett (more on her later) is the gorgeous Esma Cannon, who added energy and laughter to four Carry Ons - Constable, Regardless, Cruising and Cabby.

Also, look out for Ronald Lewis as Albert Tufnell. Although Ronald never appeared in a Carry On, he did work for Gerald Thomas and Peter Rogers in two films - Twice Round The Daffodils and Nurse On Wheels, both opposite Juliet Mills. You can read more about why I think Ronald should have made a Carry On here: Carry On Blogging: When Leslie and Terence Didn't Carry On

And I can't finish without mentioning the wonderful Gordon Jackson, seen here playing Albert's friend Carnoustie Bligh. Gordon, a long-time friend of Kenneth Williams, has always been a favourite of mine, for his roles in films like The Great Escape and Whisky Galore to television in The Professionals and Upstairs, Downstairs.

What's it about?

Royal Navy sailor Albert Tufnell is to marry Shirley Hornett the next day. He and his best man, fellow sailor Carnoustie Bligh, travel to the Hornett household.

However, Albert begins to have second thoughts when he spends the day with her family. He has no problem with her father Henry or with meek spinster aunt Edie, but her domineering mother Emma is another matter entirely. (Meanwhile, Carnoustie and Shirley's beautiful cousin Daphne Pink are attracted to each other.) When Albert announces that he and Carnoustie are going to see their pals that night, Emma objects strenuously, as does Shirley, but they go anyway. Later, Emma sends Henry to fetch them, but it is they who have to bring back a thoroughly drunk Henry.

Edie lets slip plans for the couple to live in a house three doors away, plans made without consulting the bridegroom. Albert gives Shirley a chance to inform him, but she does not do so, which concerns him.

Best Bit?

Without a doubt the best bit of this film is the character of Edie Hornett, played by the glorious Esma Cannon. Esma appeared in many, many films during her career but often was restricted to cameo roles or small supporting parts. In Sailor Beware, Esma has a brilliant starring role and works so well with Peggy Mount. The very visual different in their stature and shape provides instant comedy but of course, the way the characters look is also reflected in the way they behave. I love Esma's dithery, twittery performance - it's an absolute joy.

Did you know?

The film features an uncredited performance from a young Michael Caine. Very new to the profession and in one of his earliest appearances on film, Michael plays a Sailor who can be seen very briefly, so keep your eyes peeled!

There are also uncredited roles for future stars Henry McGee, playing a milkman and future Good Life and Yes Minister star Paul Eddington, playing a Bearded Sailor. 

  
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Three Classic Comedies tomorrow on Talking Pictures TV

Talking Pictures TV are showing three classic British comedy films back to back tomorrow morning. First up is the 1956 film Sailor Beware, starring Peggy Mount, Ronald Lewis and Gordon Jackson. This is followed up by a rather bizarre little curio, Cuckoo Patrol from 1967 and then bringing up the rear the 1964 canal boat classic, The Bargee, featuring the likes of Ronnie Barker, Julia Foster, Miriam Karlin and Eric Sykes. 

More details below:

08.10 - Sailor Beware! (1956)

Carry On Faces: Esma Cannon, Shirley Eaton, Anthony Sagar, Fred Griffiths

Royal Navy sailor Albert Tufnell is to marry Shirley Hornett the next day. He and his best man, fellow sailor Carnoustie Bligh, travel to the Hornett household. However, Albert begins to have second thoughts when he spends the day with her family. He has no problem with her father Henry or with meek spinster aunt Edie, but her domineering mother Emma is another matter entirely. 

On the day of the wedding, Albert does not appear at the church, so the Hornetts go home. Then Albert shows up, as does the Reverend Purefoy, who was to preside over the ceremony. Albert states that he loves Shirley and wants to marry her. However, he has his doubts. Mr. Purefoy asks to speak to the couple privately. Everyone else leaves the room (but eavesdrops). Albert then explains that the unhappy example of her family life and the unilateral decision about where they were to live have made him hesitate. Henry comes in and surprisingly states that his wife has actually taken good care of him, and that he is fond of her. Upon hearing that, Emma breaks down and weeps; she tells Purefoy she wants to change her ways. Albert marries Shirley, but after they leave, Emma finds it hard to break old habits.

Read more on this film here: Carry On Blogging: Sailor Beware

09.50 - Cuckoo Patrol (1967)

Carry On Faces: Kenneth Connor, Victor Maddern, Peggy Ann Clifford 

The late Freddie Garrity (of Freddie and the Dreamers) stars in this 1967 film comedy. The film is directed by Duncan Wood who produced the likes of Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son amongst many others. A good British cast including Kenneth Connor, Victor Maddern, John Le Mesurier and Arthur Mullard tell the story of a troop of scout misfits, The Cuckoo Troop, led by Garrity on their way to scout camp and all the scrapes they stumble into!

11.25 - The Bargee (1964)

Carry On Faces: Harry H Corbett, Eric Barker, Patricia Hayes, Ronnie Brody, Brian Wilde, Ed Devereaux 

Hemel Pike is a canal barge casanova, aided and abetted by his illiterate cousin, Ronnie. Hemel has a girl in every town along his route, and each one is intent on marriage. He is finally caught when one of the girls, Christine, falls pregnant. Her protective father, a 'larger than life' character, who holds the canal record for drinking 29 pints of 'Brown & Mild' in a single session, is understandably upset by his daughter's situation…

Something for everyone there!

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Whatever Happened To ... The Stars of Carry On Sergeant - Shirley Eaton

I started a new series of blogs a few weeks back which aim to look back at the careers of the stars of the original Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant. Released back in 1958, it took the cinema going public by storm and led to one of the most popular, successful and long-lasting film franchises in British cinema history. We owe a great debt to the original stars of Carry On  as without them we wouldn't have all those films that followed.

I have already written about the original romantic lead of the Carry Ons, the gentleman that was the late Terence Longdon. Today I am going to write about a lady who is familiar to us all, not just from the Carry Ons but also many other terrific films from that period: Shirley Eaton.

Shirley Eaton was the original Carry On glamour girl. She created a character which was sweet, innocent yet also rather alluring, not only to the male characters in the films but also to the cinema going public. Shirley was the first in a long line of Carry On blondes that went on to include the likes of Liz Fraser, Angela Douglas and of course, Barbara Windsor. Shirley was probably the most innocent, mainly due to the relatively coy, cosy early Carry Ons in which she appeared. Probably Angela Douglas comes closest to replicating those parts in the later films.

Shirley only appeared in three Carry On films, but she left a lasting impression. She took the lead roles of Mary Sage in Sergeant (opposite Bob Monkhouse) and later in 1958, Nurse Dorothy Denton in Nurse (opposite Terence Longdon). After these major turns in the first two Carry Ons, Shirley returned in late 1959 for her last appearance in the series, a cameo role as Sally Barry in Constable. After Constable, sadly we never saw Shirley in the Carry On films again. As with many of her early contemporaries, Shirley decided she didn't want to be pigeon-holed as a Carry On actor and pursued other projects. The actress has also said many times that she wouldn't have wanted to appear in some of the later, less innocent series entries anyway. I can't see her fitting into the likes of Carry On Dick or Behind either so probably just as well.

Shirley Eaton was born in January 1937 in Edgware, North London. She acted from an early age, having gained a place at the Aida Foster Stage School (where fellow Carry On actress Barbara Windsor also learned her craft). Shirley stayed at Aida Foster's until she was 16, although she made her first professional appearance in Benjamin Britten's Let's Make An Opera. Shirley made her West End debut in 1954 in Going To Town. 

Shirley first appeared in films as early as 1954, playing an uncredited role in You Know What Sailors Are. This led to her big break in her role as Milly in the smash hit film Doctor In The House, produced by Betty Box, directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde. This role led to many other films around the same time. They included a further Doctor film, Doctor At Large in 1957; The Love Match with Arthur Askey and Thora Hird (1955); Three Men in a Boat with Jimmy Edwards (1956); Sailor Beware with Peggy Mount (1956); The Naked Truth with Peggy Mount, Terry-Thomas and Joan Sims (1957); A Weekend With Lulu with Kenneth Connor (1961); Dentist On The Job with Bob Monkhouse (1961) and What a Carve Up! with Kenneth Connor, Sid James and Esma Cannon (1961).

After such a long run of comedy films, Shirley then moved on to more serious fare, the most legendary of these parts being the role of Jill Masterson in the James Bond epic, Goldfinger, released in 1964. Shirley was famously covered in gold paint for her part in the film, even making the cover of Life Magazine. Other parts around this time included a role in Ten Little Indians in 1965, Eight on the Lam with Bob Hope and The Million Eyes of Sumuru in 1967.

Shirley spent most of her career on the big screen, however she did occasionally appear on television. One of her earliest roles was a recurring part in the Terry Scott/Bill Maynard series, Great Scott! It's Maynard in the 1950s. Shirley also made three appearances in the classic 1960s series The Saint, opposite Roger Moore. 

By the end of the 1960s, Shirley Eaton had retired from acting, deciding life with her family was more important. She had married Colin Rowe in 1957 and together they had two sons. Colin died in 1994. Since her retirement from acting, Shirley has kept busy with regular appearances on television, talking about her life making films. She regularly attends film conventions to meet fans and has also written several books about her life and career. As one of the few remaining survivors of Carry On Sergeant and all those classic 1950s British comedy films, it's always great to hear from Shirley Eaton. 

You can visit Shirley's website here

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Remembering Ronald Lewis

I was watching the rather suspenseful Hammer Horror film Taste of Fear the other night on Talking Picture TV (if you haven't seen this little gem I'd recommend it) when I struck once again by the performance of the actor Ronald Lewis. Ronald played, on the face of it, a rather chivalrous chauffeur and he most definitely demonstrated his capabilities as a leading man. He even managed to carry off a rather interesting pair of swimming shorts…

Anyway, I digress. I first became aware of Ronald thanks to his appearances in two films produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas. In 1962 he co-starred as Bob White, a patient at a TB sanatorium in the bittersweet comedy film Twice Round The Daffodils. In a cast which featured the likes of Donald Sinden, Kenneth Williams, Sheila Hancock, Joan Sims and Donald Houston, Lewis holds his own and provides strong romantic interest alongside leading lady Juliet Mills. Peter and Gerald obviously thought so too as they cast the pair in the leads of their 1963 district nurse comedy, Nurse On Wheels. Once again Juliet and Ronald are a delightful double act. I've written before about how I think Ronald Lewis should have been cast in a proper Carry On - I could see him starring in the likes of Jack, Cleo or Spying not to mention the handsome lead in Carry On Cowboy or Don't Lose Your Head (no offence to Jim Dale who is absolutely terrific).

As I delved into the life and career of Ronald Lewis, unfortunately a rather sad tale emerged. I remember reading in Kenneth Williams' diary how sad Kenneth was to learn of Ronald's death, recalling what a nice man he was when they worked together and how sad it was that his life had not worked out as planned. Ronald died, aged just 53, on 11 January 1982- that's 37 years ago this very day. Following a run of bad luck and an acting career which lapsed into the doldrums by the late 1970s, Ronald was declared bankrupt by the turn of the decade. He took his own life, taking an overdose on that fateful day. A sobering story on a man who once showed such great promise.

Ronald Lewis was born in Port Talbot, Wales on 11 December 1928. While attending school in Bridgend he got his first taste of acting when he appeared in a production of The Merchant of Venice. After school he went off to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Once he graduated, Ronald went on to learn his trade in repertory theatre, as many great actors did at that time. Plays he appeared in around the country included An Ideal Husband and The Square Ring. The latter also proved to be one of Ronald's earliest big screen appearances in 1953. 

Breaking into film in the early 1950s, Ronald made early appearances in The Beachcomber in 1954, Helen of Troy in 1955 and opposite Alec Guinness in The Prisoner, also that year. Lewis was signed to a contract in films by the legendary Alexander Korda after Ronald's success in a stage production of Mourning Becomes Electra, directed by Peter Hall. This led to the most profitable period in Ronald's career. Leading roles in hit films followed, such as the Peggy Mount comedy Sailor Beware in 1956 and A Hill in Korea the same year. He starred opposite Belinda Lee in the thriller The Secret Place in 1957 and played villains in Robbery Under Arms and The Wind Cannot Read. 

Two of Ronald's later big hits on the cinema screen were the aforementioned Taste of Fear alongside Susan Strasberg, Ann Todd and Christopher Lee. The Seth Holt directed film was very successful, with Lee even proclaiming it was possibly the best film he ever made for Hammer. Ronald also went on to appear in Mr Sardonicus for William Castle the same year. Sadly though, this run of good fortune was not to last. In the mid 1960s, scandal touched Ronald's private life and his marriage collapsed. With his film career all but over, Lewis spent the remainder of his career on the stage and on the growing market of television.

One of his last major roles was indeed on the small screen, in the series His and Hers which aired between 1970 and 1972. He also appeared in episodes of Z Cars, Crown Court, Tales of Unease and Public Eye, although none of these roles gave him the same stardom of his earlier career. Ronald's last screen credit came in 1979 and two years later came that terrible bankruptcy. Ronald was found dead on 11 January 1982, in Pimlico. 

Without dwelling on whatever apparently went on in his private life, there is no doubting Ronald's skill as an actor, particularly on the big screen. A handsome, arresting presence, he could quite easily have gone on to even greater things. Sadly though, it was not to be.

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They just don't make them like they used to!

It's a question I often ask myself but it seems the likes of Joan Hickson, Joan Sims and Irene Handl really just aren't around any more. For me this is very sad. I understand that for years they dominated the very best of British film and television and that they could not be around for ever. It's just such a shame that nobody has really come along to continue their legacy. 

The Carry Ons made the very most of some of our wonderful, formidable character comedy ladies. Joan Sims, one of the very finest, starred in twenty four of the films while her close friend Hattie Jacques was also a leading player. The films also featured some amazing talent in smaller roles or guest spots. The likes of Patsy Rowlands, Joan Hickson, June Whitfield, Pat Coombs, Esma Cannon, Marianne Stone and Renee Houston appeared time and time again and really were just a cut above. Reliable, dependable yes, but also stars in their own right. The audience knew what to expect and the producers, keen on watching the pennies, knew what they were getting. They quite simply added class to everything they appeared in and saved many a dodgy production!

Three of the best as far as I am concerned are the late great Peggy Mount, Irene Handl and Esma Cannon. Peggy never made a Carry On however she did work closely with Sid James for several years in the brilliant ITV comedy, George and The Dragon. They loved working together and it showed. Peggy also starred in the wonderful 1956 film Sailor Beware alongside familiar Carry On faces Cannon and Shirley Eaton. Irene Handl did pop up, albeit briefly in two early Carry Ons - as Bill Owen' bumbling wife in Carry On Nurse and a year later, as a distraught mother looking for her Willy in Carry On Constable. Irene made countless film appearances at the time, one of my absolute favourites being that of Fred Kite's wife in I'm All Right Jack. 

Finally the delightful, diminutive Esma Cannon, long a favourite of mine. Her four Carry On roles (Constable, Regardless, Cruising and Cabby) were an absolute joy and she brought a unique contribution to so many British films over the years. Something of a mysterious, private figure, she suddenly retired from the profession at the peak of her fame in the mid 1960s. I really wish she had stayed with the Carry Ons for a few more films.

Anyway, I digress. The clip below is not actually from a Carry On, it's from the 1960 comedy, Inn for Trouble. The film stars reliable names in Leslie Phillips and Charles Hawtrey, but for me the three wonderful character actresses featured below steal the show. So sit back and enjoy some peerless comedy acting from Irene, Peggy and Esma. They don't make them like that anymore maybe, but at least we can still enjoy their fantastic legacy.

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Carry On Originals: Shirley Eaton

This is part of a new series of blogs looking back at the stars of the original Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant. 2018 marks 60 years since Sergeant was made and released so what better time to turn the focus on all those brilliant actors who brought our favourite series of comedy films to life?

We're continuing with an actress who became to the Carry Ons' first leading lady: Shirley Eaton

Role in Carry On Sergeant: Mary Sage

Other Carry On roles: Shirley returned for a starring role as Nurse Dorothy Denton in the following film, Carry On Nurse, also filmed in 1958. At the end of 1959 she returned one last time for a cameo role in Carry On Constable as Sally Barry.

Other notable film performances: Shirley also starred in two Doctor films: as Milly Groaker in Doctor in the House (1954) and as Nan in Doctor at Large (1957). Eaton also played Shirley Hornett in Sailor Beware! (1956); Melissa Right in The Naked Truth (1957); Jill Venner in Dentist On The Job (1961) and Linda Dickson in What A Carve Up! (1961).

Best remembered for: Without a doubt, Shirley is best remembered for her supporting role as Jill Masterson in the classic 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger, which saw her character suffer a memorable demise, painted gold.

Did you know?: Shirley married Colin Rowe in 1957 and had two sons. She retired from acting in 1969 in her early thirties to concentrate on family life. 

What happened to her?: Spending a lot of her later life in France, Shirley returned to the UK following the death of her husband in 1994. Although not returning to the acting profession, Shirley continues to appear in documentaries and at fan conventions.


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How They Came To Carry On ... Shirley Eaton

 

The glamorous girl next door Shirley Eaton enlivened several early, rather coy black and white Carry On films. She was the young female lead in the very first in the series, Carry On Sergeant, playing Mary Sage, the new young wife of lead character Charlie, played by Bob Monkhouse.

In a very male dominated National Service comedy, Eaton's performance stood out and it was no surprise to see her back later in 1958 for a starring role in the smash hit, Carry On Nurse. Released in 1959, Nurse performed strongly not just in the United Kingdom but also on the other side of the Atlantic. As Nurse Dorothy Denton, Shirley shone and her romantic storyline alongside Terence Longdon added a strong backbone to all the knockabout comedy provided by the likes of Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams and Joan Sims. Shirley made her final Carry On in late 1959 when she came back to Pinewood for a cameo role as Sally Barry in the police comedy, Carry On Constable.

 

Shirley only had two or three scenes in Constable, however Rogers and Thomas were obviously keen to feature as many familiar actors in the film as possible. Her scenes with Leslie Phillips were great fun and the pair had delicious chemistry. Sadly Shirley did not appear in any further Carry Ons. I remember the actress saying she didn't think the characters she played would have fitted with later, ruder entries in the series, and I can understand that. However I wish she had appeared in a few more early 1960s Carry Ons. Of course Eaton retired from acting by 1969 so there would have no 1970s Carry Ons for her anyway. 

However, what brought Shirley Eaton to the attention of the Carry On producers in the first place? How did she come to Carry On? Acting from a very young age, Shirley trained at the Aida Foster's school in North London, taking to the stage as a girl. Breaking into television in the early days of the medium, Shirley appeared frequently with the duo of Terry Scott and Bill Maynard in Great Scott! It's Maynard! Before Shirley came to work for Peter Rogers, she first of all acted in films produced by his wife, the legendary Betty Box. 

Shirley has spoken of how Betty spotted her playing the small role of a harem girl in the 1954 comedy film You Know What Sailors Are. On the basis of that small role, Box cast Shirley in the first ever Doctor comedy, Doctor in the House, released later that same year. Playing the small role of Milly Groaker, Shirley shared scenes with Dirk Bogarde as Simon Sparrow and Joan Hickson, playing her mother. This eye-catching guest role led to Box casting Eaton in a further Doctor film, Doctor At Large, in 1957. In this film she had the larger role of Nurse Nan McPherson. There is no doubt that becoming a reliable actress in the Doctor comedies played a part in Rogers and Thomas adding Eaton to the line up for their own fledgling comedy series.

If Peter Rogers went regularly to the cinema in the 1950s, and I believe both he and Gerald Thomas did, he would have seen Shirley star in a further two important and popular broad comedy films. The first of these, Sailor Beware! was a translation of Falkland Carey's successful stage play. Eaton played Shirley Hornett and the film centred on the plans for her wedding to Albert Tufnell, played by future Nurse On Wheels star, Ronald Lewis. Peggy Mount played the formidable mother, Emma and she was ably assisted by the likes of Esma Cannon, Gordon Jackson and Geoffrey Keen. The film was a huge success as was the wonderful comedy The Naked Truth, released in 1957.

 

The Naked Truth is a glorious British comedy, directed by Mario Zampi. The Naked Truth sees the editor of a famous scandal magazine and focuses on the attempts of various high profile figures to despatch the troublesome Nigel Dennis, before he can ruin their careers. Dennis played by the reliably suave Dennis Price. Shirley Eaton plays the young starlet Melissa Right and is given superb support by the likes of Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, Joan Sims and Peggy Mount. Quite a cast! 

Given the films Shirley was making and the people she was working with, it was surely only a matter of time before she worked for Peter Rogers. Of course this is all with the benefit of hindsight, but I'm glad Peter did cast Shirley in those early Carry Ons. In doing so he began a fond tradition of the Carry On blonde. While the likes of Liz Fraser, Angela Douglas and Barbara Windsor would follow, Shirley Eaton was the first and a proper Carry On original.

 

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The actor George A Cooper has died

More sad news today for fans of the best of British film and television comedy. The veteran actor George A Cooper has very sadly passed away at the grand old age of 93. George was possibly best known for his regular role as caretaker Mr Griffiths in the long running BBC children's television series Grange Hill. However he enjoyed a career dating back until the 1940s and was still acting regularly until the mid 1990s. 

Although George was never in a Carry On, he did work for Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas on another big screen comedy adventure. In 1972 George A Cooper took on a main supporting role in the classic film version of the Sid James sitcom Bless This House. As slavedriver cafe owner Mr Wilson, George shares several scenes with the likes of Robin Askwith, Wendy Richard and Carol Hawkins before engaging in some pure farce when a food fight breaks out between himself, Sid and Terry Scott! Wonderful stuff. 

Born in Leeds in March 1925, George appeared in countless films during his career including the role of a Farmer in the Frankie Howerd comedy Jumping For Joy in 1956 and a small role in the Peggy Mount classic Sailor Beware! the same year. He was in A Night To Remember, the Kenneth More Titanic drama, played Doug Savage in Hell is a City (1960) and appeared as Mr Fitzpatrick in Tom Jones in 1963, in a cast which also featured Rosalind Knight and Patsy Rowlands. Another brief but memorable comedy role came opposite Harry H Corbett in the 1964 film The Bargee. George played a canal official. Later films included Ferry Cross the Mersey as Mr Lumsden, the Landlord in Dracula Has Risen from the Grave and Blacket in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (both 1970).

George A Cooper had played Geoffrey Fisher, the stern father of Billy Liar in the original West End stage version of the play in 1960 and also featured in a television version in the early 1970s. However it was the small screen which beckoned for most of George's career. As well as his regular role in Grange Hill, Cooper also enjoyed success in none other than Coronation Street. He played the character of Willie Piggott on and off between 1964 and 1971. Piggott owned a butcher's shop on Rosamund Street and was quite an unscrupulous character by all accounts. Over his 24 appearances, Piggott tried to bribe Ken Barlow, tussled with Len Fairclough and took a shine to Elsie Tanner! Cooper also played a role in the Corrie comedy spinoff Pardon The Expression in 1966, working with Betty Driver and Arthur Lowe.

Like many actors of his generation, George A Cooper appeared in pretty much all the classic television dramas and comedy shows of the era. There were one off parts in Danger Man, The Avengers, The Saint, Z Cars, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Dixon of Dock Green and Public Eye. Always with an eye for comedy, George also grabbed memorable supporting roles in a host of classic sitcoms. He worked with Sid James on Bless This House, Terry Scott and June Whitfield in Terry and June, Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques in Sykes as well as Rising Damp and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. 

George A Cooper pretty much retired from acting in 1995. He played Griffiths in Grange Hill for seven years until 1992 and made final appearances on television in Heartbeat in 1993 and Casualty two years later. He was married to Anne Shirley Jones from 1955 until her death in 2000. George passed away on 16 November, in Petersfield, Hampshire at the age of 93. He is survived by his son, Adam. 

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Five Reasons Why I Love … Nurse On Wheels

I have a massive soft spot for the 1963 gentle comedy, Nurse On Wheels. It's not that well known a film amongst the many titles in the Rogers and Thomas cannon and it's rarely shown these days, which is a tremendous pity. Nurse On Wheels was made towards the end of an eclectic period of film production for Peter and Gerald which swerved fairly evenly between official Carry On films and features which could quite easily have fitted in to the series but were kept somewhat apart.

Films like Nurse On Wheels, the story of a young district nurse who takes a new job in a colourful if quaint country village, often featured a host of recognisable Carry On faces as well as many familiar behind the scenes names such as Eric Rogers, Alan Hume and Norman Hudis. There are many reasons why I think this gentle, unfussy comedy should be celebrated and shown more often, but to begin with, here are five reasons why I love it.

The Joy of Esma

Esma Cannon, surely one of our finest comedy character people, was firmly a part of the Carry On cast by 1963 and about to film her fourth and final film with the team. Playing the mother of Juliet Mills' leading lady allowed Esma more screen time than usual and as ever, she doesn't disappoint. Esma is on fine form, twittering about all over the place and charming us from the first moment she appears. Ms Cannon was an actress of delicacy, of quality and a true one off and she enhanced every production she was a part of. As an added bonus, Esma works really well with Juliet Mills and they portray a very convincing mother and daughter pairing. Sadly, Esma would retire from acting the following year, which is just another reason to treasure this wonderful starring role from a true original.

A Dashing Leading Man

Although he never made a Carry On, he really wouldn't have been out of place as part of the team during their 1960s heyday. I'm talking about Ronald Lewis of course, the handsomely brooding leading man and matinee idol who rose to prominence in British cinema during the 1950s. He worked for Peter and Gerald twice and both times as the love interest to Juliet Mills. As well as playing Henry in Nurse On Wheels, the year before he starred as Bob White in Twice Round The Daffodils. You may also remember Lewis from the sparkling 1956 comedy film Sailor Beware, in which he played Shirley Eaton's fiancé, forever facing the wrath of Peggy Mount. Ronald was great in Nurse On Wheels, wearing the handsome hero role lightly and combining will they/won't they romantics with gentle comedy. The Welsh actor could easily have joined in the fun for Carry On Jack or Spying however Peter Rogers Productions opted for Bernard Cribbins and then Jim Dale instead. A shame I think, and Ronald's career perhaps did not work out as planned in the years ahead. I think he's great though and deserves to be remembered fondly.

Gentle Comedy 

Peter Rogers Productions are mainly remembered for their broad, cheeky and saucy farces and costume adventures, however in the early days things were a little different. Nurse On Wheels is light on sauce and that's not a bad thing. It's a family film, there's nothing offensive here. Just plenty of light, frothy and mostly very funny antics played out by a clutch of trusted, experienced and much loved comedy character actors. We say this an awful lot, which isn't a good thing when you actually think about it, but they really don't make them like this anymore!

A Cast of Class 

As well as the aforementioned leading lights Juliet Mills and Ronald Lewis, the cast of Nurse On Wheels is full to the brim not just with reliable Carry On favourites but basically, just the cream of character comedy people. Alongside Carry On regulars Joan Sims (who was originally cast as Joanna, only to be replaced by Mills) and Jim Dale, other familiar faces in the cast include the likes of Noel Purcell, Norman Rossington, Renee Houston, George Woodbridge, Joan Hickson, Raymond Huntley, Deryck Guyler and the legendary Athene Seyler. Athene in particular is a joy in this film and Joan Sims recalled the thrill of working with one of her heroines on film, having first met her in the stage production Breath of Spring several years before. As with all Peter Rogers films, Nurse On Wheels is beautifully, perfectly cast.

A Fitting Farewell for Norman

1963 was a big turning point for the Carry On films. May of that year saw the next Carry On go into production and there would be a new name in the credits - that of scriptwriter Talbot Rothwell. Talbot's script for Carry On Cabby would edge the series towards new, grittier ground and having been well received, he became a stalwart, writing for the series until 1974. Rothwell provided the scripts for many of the series' best loved and most successful titles but we mustn't forget the importance and the skill of Norman Hudis. He wrote the first six films and other associated titles such as Twice Round The Daffodils, Please Turn Over and of course, Nurse On Wheels. Although Norman had a go at a treatment for Carry On Spying the following year, this cosy comedy would prove to be his last credit for Peter Rogers. 

So those are a few reasons why I love Nurse On Wheels. If you haven't seen the film, track it down as it's definitely worth a watch.


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