Displaying items by tag: Liz Fraser

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.

THE REBEL

UK, 1961, 105 minutes, Colour.

Tony Hancock, George Sanders, Paul Massie, Margit Saad, Gregoire Aslan, Dennis Price, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier, Liz Fraser, Mervyn Johns, Peter Bull, Nanette Newman, Oliver Reed.

Directed by Robert Day.

British comedian Tony Hancock was extremely popular on radio and television, especially during the 1950s. This was his main feature film – appearing in small roles in a few films during the 1960s. Certainly, alcohol and drug problems, depression, he committed suicide in Sydney in 1968 at the age of 44. However, he is still considered highly in the history of British comedy.

The screenplay was written by the team of Ray Eagleton and Simpson, writers for his radio programs as well as television. And he keeps his own name as his character, I don’t identify with the ups and downs of his experience, the target of satire while creating satiric comment 1960s society – and especially art pretensions (many French existentialist style).

The film begins amusingly with Hancock on a railway station, she did to get a seat on the crowded train with all the men in balls and suits, and newspapers, uniformly going to work and routines office. Comedy with the boss, John the measure. At home, Hancock has a huge sculptor, complains his landlady, I really handle, then his decision to free and go to Paris as an artist.

He listens into a group of artists, especially Paul Massie (and a glimpse of Oliver Reed) in a cafe, is invited to share an apartment, and begins his art. In the meantime, Paul Massie, not confidence in himself, has produced quite a number of paintings. There are a whole lot of Sion meetings, pretentious looking artists (especially a cameo by Dennis Price) and women, looking the same, black hair, white asked. And, they listen to Hancock who has the gift of the gap and who is feted, especially taken up by an aristocratic agent, a typical George Sanders role, who mistakes Paul Massie’s paintings for those of Hancock who does try to intervene but then goes and lives the celebrated life.

So, a lot of situation comedy, especially on the yacht millionaire and his glamorous wife who pursues Hancock.

Ultimately, Hancock sets at the moment of truth, and admitting that the poor work was his own but the good work was that of the artist. Goes back to the landlady and resumes his sculpture.

An example of British comedy in the 1960s, the work of Tony Hancock, still amusing in its satire and his impersonations and gift of the gap, but still rather dated.

CARRY ON CABBY

UK, 1963, 91 minutes, Black-and-white.

Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Esma Cannon, Liz Fraser, Bill Owen, Milo O'Shea, Judith Furse, René Houston, Jim Dale, Amanda Barrie, Norman Chappell.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Not originally intended as a Carry on comedy. It was Called Me a Cab, written by Sid Green and Dick Hills, writers for the comedy team of Morecombe and Wise. But, with the popularity of the Carry on series, regular writer, Talbot Rothwell adapted it.

This means there are two different features for this Carry on comedy. There is far more plot and character development and interaction. And, the film relies far less on sexual references and jokes and innuendo. In fact, Sid James, apart from being a workaholic taxi driver and neglecting his wife, is quite respectable.

The film also acknowledges support from the taxi companies in London. And, with many variations on the theme, it shows how significant taxis can be.

Sid James loves driving taxis, worked with his partner, played in his usual way by Kenneth Connor (who does have to dress up as a female taxi driver at one stage). And Sid James is married to Hattie Jacques. The comment is that she thinks this is the best of her Carry on films – and, she is at her best, creating a character, a greater range of emotions than a stern matron! Charles Hawtrey does his usual simple-minded shtick. But, there is the advantage of Milo O’Shea as a taxidriver in an early role, veteran Esma Cannon, Liz Fraser, and introducing to the series, Jim Dale as a frantic father and Amanda Barrie.

When Sid James is caught up in taxi problems and neglects his wife’s anniversary celebrations, she decides to set up a rival company, not letting him know. She buys many taxis, gets glamorous drivers, is able to steal his clientele, with digs at ogling males. So, plenty of shenanigans. But, when the Glam firm is so successful, Sid James has to use his wits to bring down the company.

So, a lot of comedy, some slapstick, some tense situations, and the good idea of having some robbers hijack Hattie Jacques’s car and everybody then in on the act to track the robbers with the whole taxi fleet.

Enjoyable, British filmmaking in the 1960s, and the most PG rated of all the Carry on films!

CARRY ON CRUISING

UK, 1962, 89 minutes, Colour.

Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Liz Fraser, Dilys Laye, Esma Cannon, Lance Percival, Jimmy Thompson, Ronnie Stevens, Vincent Ball, Ed Devereaux, Anton Rodgers.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Beginning in the later 1950s and continuing into the 1980s, the Carry on franchise was very popular, some films quite hilarious, some rather pedestrian, and the rest somewhere in the middle. This one is rather mild, pleasantly in the middle, so to speak.

A number of the regulars are present but many absent including Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale.

But, Sid James is present as the captain, in a wayalways the same, but always reliable and his performance fitting his character whether the captain of this cruise or Marc Anthony in Carry on, Cleo. And the two Kenneths are also present, Kenneth Connor as the ship’s captain, wanting romance, and showing his skill at doing impersonations. And Kenneth Williams does his usual with a wink and a nod and his familiar screwing up of his face.

There is some comedy with Esma Cannon, Australian actress long time in England and in several of the Carry on films. Two other Australians who worked in their early careers in the UK but then returned home to long Australian careers are Vincent Ball as the athletics instructor and Ed Devereaux as one of the officers.

This time the leading ladies are Liz Fraser and Dilys Laye – more straightforward in their romance and humour rather than innuendo.

A lot of slapstick as usual, a lot of puns and play on words, some of them very obvious but enjoyable nonetheless.

A carry on slightly entertainment.