Displaying items by tag: Gerald Thomas

CARRY ON TEACHER

UK, 1959, 90 minutes, Black and white.

Kenneth Williams, Leslie Phillips, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Rosalind Knight, Cyril Chamberlain, Ted Ray, Richard O'Sullivan, Carol White.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

The third in the Carry on series. With later developments, this is a very light entry into the series, almost G-rated, Norman Hudis, Talbot Rothwell taking over the writing in the early 60s..

The 1950s had seen the popularity of the St Trinians comedies in a girls school. Here is comedy and a boys school. The theme was to be taken up the next year in a rather broader style with Jimmy Edwards and Bottoms Up.

While Sid James was yet to come, the core group of Carry on is present here, the two Kenneth’s, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques. Leslie Phillips appeared in a number of the Carry on films. Ted Ray is the principal of the school, Richard O’Sullivan the mischievous boy, aided by Carol White.

Ted Ray is the principal, wanting to retire, the cheeky boy, Richard O’Sullivan, overhearing, and planning all kinds of sabotage for the visit of an incoming principal played by Leslie Phillips, a psychologist spouting German and certainly no self awareness! Rosalind Knight plays his assistant.

It is mainly an opportunity for the core stars to do their thing, Charles Hawtrey composing and conducting a version of Romeo and Juliet, Kenneth Williams directing, Joan Sims is a sports mistress, Hattie Jacques very keen on the cane, Kenneth Connor as the science master. And some immediate infatuations between some staff and visitors. But, the revelation is a nine – the students upsetting the visitors so that they will not lose the headmaster they like!

A lot of slapstick, pratfalls, situations – and a reminder of British comedy in the 1950s. And, and anticipation of what was to come in the lengthy and popular series.

NURSE ON WHEELS

UK, 1963, 85 minutes, Black-and-white.

Juliet Mills, Ronald Lewis, Joan Sims, Noel Purcell, Esma Cannon, Raymond Huntley, Athene Seyler, Norman Rossington, Ronald Howard, Joan Hickson, Renee Houston, Jim Dale, George Woodbridge.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

A pleasant, old-fashioned British comedy. It was directed by Gerald Thomas taking some time off from making Carry on films. It was written by Norman Hudis who had written the early Carry on films but was giving way to Talbot Rothwell. And, it is very much geared towards the widest audience, only a little innuendo and a spoilt flirtation sequence.

Juliet Mills, in her early 20s, plays a district nurse, new to the district, under suspicion by the patients of the previous nurse, sometimes rude to her, offhand. She is strong-minded, rides a bike, has a driving lesson – and a later driving escapade which proves that she is far better on her bicycle. Ultimately, of course, her patients relent and she is accepted. There is also a romance with Ronald Lewis as a local farmer, sometimes curt, especially to a young man and his pregnant wife who want to park on his land, but, of course, a final reconciliation.

The film is striking for the number of character actors who take the roles generally of the locals, suspicious, hard, gradually relenting. And, there are at least half a dozen regulars from the Carry on films, Joan Sims with a very straightforward role as the vicar’s daughter, Raymond Huntley is the vicar, Jim Dale as the husband, and Joan Hickson as a housekeeper. And, especially, Esma Cannon as the nurses pleasantly dithery as the nurse’s mother.

There is a jaunty theme playing every time the nurse appears on her bike and then more frequently, possibly too often!

Life in English country towns in the early 1960s, the NHS, the district nurse, local doctors, and a variety of local characters.

CARRY ON REGARDLESS

UK, 1961, 90 minutes, Black-and-white.

Sidney James, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Bill Owen, Liz Fraser, Terrence Longdon, Hattie Jacques, Esma Cannon, Sidney Tafler, Terrence Alexander, Stanley Unwin, Joan Hickson, Fenella Fielding, David Lodge.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

The fifth film in the series, by now getting underway, and this film having most of the cast from the early films.

The screenplay was written by Norman Hudis who wrote the early screenplays before the transition to Talbot Rothwell who wrote most of the subsequent Carry on films. This one is very straightforward. Sidney James and Esma Cannon run the Helping Hand agency, ready to help out in any emergency. Meanwhile, at the labour exchange, there are a whole lot of characters looking for jobs and who descend on the agency – at one stage, in a scene at the agency, nine of the popular members of the cast are all assembled in the one room.

There is no plot as such. Rather, the film is a succession of farcical episodes, slapstick comedy, each of the new members of the agency going out on jobs and generally mucking them up. And, for a variation, in the last part of the film they go to a mixup of addresses, again with some disastrous results. And finally, their gobbledygook-speaking landlord, Stanley Unwin, interpreted by Kenneth Williams’ character who speaks 16 languages! indicates that he wants the premises renovated. Needless to say, they all help but create disasters, only to find that with all the mess that they have made, it will be all right because the landlord has decided to demolish the building.

Not so much innuendo in this particular version – though, Liz Fraser does offer an opportunity for some sex comedy. And, it is interesting to see Sid James in a fairly straightforward role. And, it is a pleasure to see most of the members of the staff as well as a number of supporting British character actors who appeared in a number of films in the series.

CARRY ON CONSTABLE

UK, 1960, 86 minutes, Black and white.

Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Eric Barker, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Leslie Phillips, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Shirley Eaton, Cyril Chamberlain, Joan Hickson, Irene Handl, Esma Cannon, Terence Longden, Jill Adams, Victor Maddern.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

One of the earliest of the Carry on series, two years after it began, the atmosphere of British filmmaking in 1960, popular comedy, the transition to the more permissive 1960s. In the retrospect of the later films, Carry on Constable seems comparatively innocent certainly some sexual references, some shower and bathroom scenes, some ogling by the male stars but, in comparison with later films, rather more of the light touch.

In fact, the film was written by the writer of the earlier Carry on films, Norman Hudis. Then there was a transition to Talbot Rothwell who scripted most of the Carry on films, more explicit with sexual themes, a great deal of innuendo.

This was the first Carry on film with Sid James, rather more straightforward role, sometimes sympathetic, but he was to develop into the chuckling lecherer during the 60s and 70s. But, it is pleasing to see so many of the regulars in this film, the two Kenneths and Charles Hawtrey, much more explicitly gay in this film than later, especially with the cross dressing of Kenneth Williams and Hawtrey, Hawtrey even passing passably for female.

Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques are happily present and there are a whole number of guest female stars, young like Shirley Eaton, three years before Goldfinger, and Jill Adams, and veterans like Esme Canon as a deaf old lady trying to cross the road, Irene Handl erupting about a misbehaving boy, and, especially, two scenes with Joan Hickson as an aristocratic alcoholic showing her as an excellent comedienne as well as dramatic actress, later Miss Marple.

Eric Barker, doing his usual shtick as a befuddled authority, is in charge of the police station and employing four new recruits, the two Kenneths, Charles Hawtrey and, appearing in several of the Carry on films, Leslie Phillips.

A whole lot of farcical situations in the office and a succession of muddled police activity with special sequences for each of the four, their own kind of comedy which was to develop during the success of films.

Popular and easy humour, easy to watch.

CARRY ON NURSE

UK, 1959, 86 minutes, Black-and-white.

Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Joan Sims, Wilfrid Hyde White, Shirley Eaton, Terrence Longden, Bill Owen, Leslie Phillips, Susan Stephen, Susan Beaumont, Ann Firbank, Joan Hickson, Michael Medwin, Rosalind Knight, Norman Rossington, Jill Ireland, June Whitfield, Ed Devereaux, Susan Shaw, Irene Handl.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

In retrospect, very much a film of its time, British comedy in the late 1950s, beginning the transition to explicit comedy, still a lot of innuendo but also a great number of ogling male characters.

This is the second of the Carry on series, beginning with Carry on Sergeant. Sid James, a staple of so many of the later films, had not yet joined the cast. However, a great number of the continuing cast appear here, most of the men spending their time as patients in the hospital ward. The women are nurses or visiting their husbands and boyfriends.

Hattie Jacques begins her several appearances as matron, Joan Hickson as a rather strict numbers (anticipating Miss Marple), Shirley Eaton, five years before Goldfinger, leads the nursing staff, and Joan Sims, the most regular of Carry on characters appears for the first time. There are some guest appearances by Wilfrid Hyde White and Michael Medwin. And there are some amusing cameos by various British character actors including Bill Owen, a myopic Rosalind Knight, Irene Handl and an early appearance by Jill Ireland.

While Kenneth Williams is more subdued, less facial idiosyncrasies, he plays the superior patient, interested in studying, until, at the end, the men in the ward, with drink and laughing gas, trying to remove a bunion on Leslie Phillips‘ foot, Kenneth Williams in charge of surgery. Kenneth Connor, always plays quite a different role in each film and here he is a boxer.

A lot of the verbal humour, a lot of expected hospitals shenanigans in the ward, innuendo, the 1950s British male gaze – and seeming very much more slight and innocent the later developments in the Carry on series.

CARRY ON HENRY

UK, 1971, 89 minutes, Colour.

Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Barbara Windsor, Kenneth Connor, Julian Holloway, Peter Gilmore, William Mervyn, Bill Maynard.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Of all British Kings, Henry VIII would be the least to need the advice to Carry on! By 1971, Carry on films had a 13 year history, tapping a number of historical situations. Here is an invention that the king had two more wives than his six, chronicled by William Cobler, so a load of old cobblers as the introduction suggests, to the background of Greensleeves (and later Chanson D’Amour and variations on the Trumpet Voluntary).

Sid James continues as a chuckling lecherer as the king, with the same performance as always. Kenneth Williams performance is always the same, but he provides good comedy as Thomas Cromwell. Terry Scott hams it up as Cardinal Woolsey. And Kenneth Connor, shows that he can give quite a different performance in every film. And, many of the supporting cast are present again, especially Barbara Windsor as the possible Queen. But, dominating everything is Joan Sims as the princess from Normandy.

In fact, a lot of the central plot hinges on French love garlic, the Princess putting it into her mouth in the bedroom, the king repelled by garlic, and various Gallic/garlic jokes throughout the film.

A lot of shenanigans, quite some pageantry, Charles Hawtrey as the least likely gallant knight attending to the Queen.

With the subject of Henry VIII, the emphasis on sex is more prominent than usual, crude jokes, clever innuendo, and, of course, as with the king himself, the female members of the cast seen as sexual objects for male gaze and groping. How would they remake this film in the 21^st-century!?

CARRY ON SPYING

UK, 1964, 87 minutes, Black-and-white.

Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins, Charles Hawtrey, Eric Barker, Dilys Laye, Jim Dale, Richard Wattis, Eric Pohlmann, Victor Maddern, Judith Furse, John Bluthal.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

With James Bond film, Dr No, 1962, followed by From Russia With Love, it was probably inevitable that the Carry on series would move into the world of espionage and British agents. And so it was.

This episode was released at the same time as Carry on Cleo. The series had moved colour but this episode returns to black-and-white. And key members of the team are absent, Sid James, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connnor. But, Bernard Cribbins had been the Kenneth Connor type character in Carry on Jack and does the same here. But, this was the first Carry on film for Barbara Windsor and she certainly makes a big impression, sense of comedy and fun, but also showing that the female characters, while definitely for the male gaze,  have character and could contribute to the more serious aspects of the plot.

Not that there are very many more serious aspects. This is very basic Carry on material, really just an espionage farce, with some of the usual jokes and more than innuendo. The screenplay was written by Talbot Rothwell, who was becoming the regular writer, but he collaborates with Sid Colin, writer of many comedies with the Chastity Belt and Up The Front comedies to come.

OF course, it is all a parody of British espionage, four dimwitted agents, Eric Barker as the version of M, Richard Wattis as a kind of Q. And there are various villains, especially led by Eric Pohlman, the in the number of British films at the time.

The impact depends on the presence of Kenneth Williams, not quite his usual role, in fact, giving up his posh accent for a rather flat one. But, a lot of the same shtick in the world of agents. Bernard Cribbins is genial but rather dumb. Charles Hawtrey is as always. And, Jim Dale is very enjoyable in a whole range of disguises as their contact. Dilys Laye sings songs and is ambiguous in her loyalties. Judith Furse is a variation on Blofeld. And, instead of SPECTRE, there is STENCH, Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans.

In and Algiers, an impossible number of extensive changes of costume and disguises. Some laughs, some nods to Bond and, explicitly with the zither music, The Third Man’s scene of Orson Welles emerging from the sewers. But, very basic British comedy.

CARRY ON MATRON

UK, 1972, 88 minutes, Colour.

Hattie Jacques, Sidney James, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims, Bernard Bresslaw, Bill Maynard, Kenneth Cope, Barbara Windsor, Terry Scott, Charles Hawtrey, Patsy Rowlands.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Before this episode in the medical Carry on comedies, Nurse, Doctor, Doctor again. And, by this time, the Carry on films had been carrying on for 14 years. Most of the regular cast appear in this film.

There is a story of the  hospital, Finisham, with wards named Bunn and Oven. And, there a place on the title at the opening, From Here to Maternity, Womb with a View…

Hattie Jacques, once again, is matron, sympathetic if dominating, but infatuated with the head of the hospital, Sir Bernard Cutting, once again Kenneth Williams doing his shtick, hypochondriac, fearing that he was having a sex change, pursued by the matron.

And there is something of a plot, Sid James leading a gang of crooks, including Bernard Briesslaw and Bill Maynard with Sid James’s son, Kenneth Cope, having to disguise himself as a trainee nurse, infiltrate the hospital and get the plans for where the contraceptive pills are stored so that the gang could steal them and sell them. So, lots of comedy with Cyril, the son, dressed as a nurse, sharing a room with Barbara Windsor, becoming a sensation in helping to deliver triplets in an ambulance! And, the intensity of the robbery, disguises, misadventures, and, ultimately, a gathering in some panic, everybody involved at the hospital.

Kenneth Connor, is able to create another character, a railway man waiting long hours for his pregnant wife to give birth, Joan Sims as the wife, seen continually eating hefty helpings and capitalising on the free meals. There is Terry Scott as a doctor with his eyes on the ladies. And Charles Hawtrey is able to do his shtick as a psychiatrist on the hospital staff, clashing with Kenneth Williams.

Lots of puns, lots of innuendo, some titillation, some slapstick, a typical Carry on comedy.

CARRY ON JACK

UK, 1964, 91 minutes, Colour.

Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Bernard Cribbins, Juliet Mills, Donald Houston, Percy Herbert, Jim Dale, Patrick Cargill, Cecil Parker, Ed Devereaux, Peter Gilmore, George Woodbridge, Anton Rodgers.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

This Carry on comedy came immediately after Carry on Cleo. One of the three Carry on films of 1964.

The film has a naval theme, even starting with the death of Nelson and the episode of “Kiss me, Hardy”. It is the first film completely written by Talbot Rothwell who was to continue the series into the 80s. He took over from Norman Hudis.

The first comment to be made is to note the absence of Sid James, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Hattie Jacques. Since most of the action is at sea, no major roles for Joan Sims or Hattie Jacques. The main serious role is taken by Donald Houston, a serious actor rather than a comedian, but it might have been taken up by Sid James but with much more irony than the straightforward anger of Houston. Bernard Cribbins has the central role which is very much a variation on a lot of the characters played by Kenneth Connnor.

But, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey are there, William is the captain of the ship, initially seasick, allegedly Captain Fearless, anything but. Charles Hawtrey has a better role but much the same shtick as a cesspool cleaner press-ganged onto the ship. They have plenty to do in the latter part of the film when the four central characters experience a mutiny and are put to see in a boat.

Bernard Cribbins does very well as the put-upon midshipman, his uniform ‘s and sword stolen by Juliet Mills who wants to stow away to meet her lover in Spain. And, there are many character actors as usual, Percy Herbert as the tough officer, Jim Dale as carriage courier, Patrick Cargill as a Spanish Governor, Ed Devereaux as a pirate and Cecil Parker as the lord admirable.

Something of a little parody of Mutiny on the Bounty and H.M.S.Defiant (and the film using some of their sets). Carry on with the lighter touch.

CARRY ON SCREAMING

UK, 1966, 97 minutes, Colour.

Harry H. Corbett, Fenella Fielding, Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Angela Douglas, Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Butterworth, Jon Pertwee, Tom Clegg, Billy Cornelius, Frank Thornton.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

With the growing propensity for the Carry on films to parody classic stories, it was inevitable that there would be a horror film. But, no Sid James, no Kenneth Connor.

By this stage, writer, Talbot Rothwell, was in his element. Basically, this story is a Frankenstein variation, Kenneth Williams enjoying himself with his repartee and shtick as a scientist, dead, but like his monsters, electrified into life. And, he has two monsters and a drink which can temporarily change heroes into monsters. And he is aided and abetted by the strong presence of Fenella Fielding as his sister, very much in the Morticia Addams look vein.

The rather unsympathetic hero is played by Harry H. Corbett, of Steptoe and Son. He could have been played by Kenneth Connor. And, there is Joan Sims as his harridqn wife, a parallel to her turn in Carry on Matron. And, just before the end, she has the final wink.

Jim Dale is the put-upon hero. Charles  Hawtrey has a small role. But, regular, Peter Butterworth, has a more substantial turn in this film as Corbett’s assistant and having to dress as a woman as bait for the monsters. And Bernard Bresdlaw is the undead butler. Frank Thornton, anticipating Are You Being Served, his shop manager.

All the usual shenanigans – and the film has a high reputation amongst the Carry on series.