Displaying items by tag: Leslie Phillips

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.

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.

WATCH YOUR STERN

UK, 1960, 90 minutes, Black-and-white.

Kenneth Connor, Eric Barker, Leslie Phillips, Joan Sims, Noel Purcell, Hattie Jacques, Spike Milligan, Eric Sykes, Sid James, David Lodge, Victor Maddern, Ed Devereux.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Very much a comedy from the British past, especially around 1960. The late 50s saw the beginning of the Carry On franchise, 17 movies and television program as well as documentaries. And, there is the big cast of British comedy actors who continually appeared in the Carry On series.

And the Carry on films were directed by Gerald Thomas. And, he is the director of Watch Your Stern. And several of the Carry On stars appear here, the film as a star vehicle for regular Kenneth Connor, some prominence for Joan Sims, bumptious comedy role again for Hattie Jacques, and a rather more serious cameo for Sid James including having a beard. And one of the pleasures is to see Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan in cameo roles as electricians, Spike Milligan doing an Indian accent – and very popular with The Goon Show during these years. Australian Ed Devereux, working in British films at this time appears as an American!

The film starts momentarily seriously, the launching of an experimental torpedo by the Navy – but, then its getting out of control and boomeranging back to destroy the ship!

The action takes place more or less over the next 24 hours, and a poking fun at some of the Navy personnel and their limitations. (At the same time, the comedy On the Fiddle, with Alfred Lynch and Sean Connery, set during the war, pokes fun at a lot of the ineptitudes in connection with the RAF.)

Eric Barker maintains his seriousness as the less than efficient captain of the ship, relying on his second in command, Leslie Phillips in a typical role. And, on board, is one of the ratings who has a great knowledge of electronics and its vocabulary, Blissworth, Kenneth Connor’s character.

Blissworth seems to be in and out of the captain’s office all the time, but with many mishaps, especially the burning of the main copy of the plans for the torpedo. The only other copy is with the American visitor – and Blissworth having to chase him on a bicycle, accidentally knocking over the Admiral, not allowed to enter the train because of security reasons…

The main part of the film is having Blissworth do two impersonations of an expert being interviewed by the Admiral. The first is as a Scottish scientist, with a beard, care of some of the facial hair taken from Sid James’ character. And, fortunately, the Captain’s sister, played nicely by Joan Sims, is preparing the Navy concert and is able to do make up and costuming.

Noel Purcell is the blustering Admiral, suspicious of the Scottish expert (who looks like the later Scots actor, Brian Cox). Lots of comedy in his explanations. But, then it appears that the expert they were expecting is actually woman, Hattie Jacques. Which means that Blissworth has to be made up as a woman, the admiral very flirtatious.

So, how could it possibly end? In fact with Blissworth making a comment about the technology and the expert appreciating his advice, their working together, and a finale with the torpedo being fired again… and.

This is more straightforward comedy, especially compared with the satire and innuendo of the Carry On series – and, while this series was popular, this kind of comedy had a wider appeal.

NOT NOW, COMRADE

UK, 1976, 89 minutes, Colour.

Leslie Phillips, Ian Lavender, Roy Kinnear, Lewis Fiander, Carol Hawkins, Michelle.Dotrice, Ray Cooney, Windsor Davies, June Whitfield.

Directed by Ray Cooney and Harold Snoad.

Not Now, Comrade was one of the famous Whitehall farces of the 1960s. Several of them were written by Ray Cooney who codirected this film as well as writing it. The play was originally Chase Me, Comrade.

This film is a typical example of the British farce, highly exaggerated characters, even more highly exaggerated situations, all kinds of mixups with identities, cover-ups, characters hiding from others, disguises, misunderstandings, suggestive jokes… If one wanted to see a typical example of this kind of farce, this is a good an opportunity as any.

Cooney himself appears as Mr Lever, the representative of MI6, and, having the courage of his convictions, a person appears in all kinds of preposterous situations. Leslie Phillips is very good at this kind of role but giving at least some kind of gravitas to character and situation. Roy Kinnear, on the other hand, is highly bumptious. Australian actor, Lewis Fiander, appears as a Russian ballet dancer – and the highest of camp performances. Carol Hawkins, prominent in the is Carry On series, is rather unabashed in her sexy character, contrasting with Michelle Dotrice as Leslie Phillips’ daughter. June Whitfield appears at the end as Leslie Phillips’ wife. A great deal of the farce depends on the presence and style of Ian Lavender, the straight man in many ways, but having to do all kinds of character impersonations. And, he is remembered as the younger member of the television series, Dad’s Army.

Ray Cooney had his most famous play, Run for your Wife, nine years on stage in the London West End (and a film version in 2012). His co-director, Harold Snoad, directed a great deal of television, including Dad’s Army and, reached out to an even wider audience with 44 episodes of televisions Keeping Up appearances.

A film for the archives of film British comedy.