Carry on

[Greenman]

I wonder if the Carry On films were more of a curse to the cast. Look at this list and what they did next:
Sid James-Former Jewish boxer from South Africa(Schmuel Cohen) became a song & dance man, then foil to Tony Hancock, yet died on stage at an early age.
Charles Hawtrey-Never found anything else to appear in, hid his being gay which he found hard, yet entered a retirement home virtually dying in poverty.
Kenneth Williams-Very successful raconteur, wit, writer, broadcaster after the films, children's series 'Willo the Wisp' and authored diaries-died of some internal complaint; a bitter man full of self-loathing for his gayness.
Peter Butterworth-married to Janet Brown(comedienne/impressionist) died some years ago but never really appeared in anything else.

The more successful ones:
Margaret Nolan-former Bond babe, Budgie's girlfriend, made appearances in tv comedies.
Joan Sims-comedy actress went on to balloon large, but appeared in two major comedy series of the 80's like On the Up.
Jim Dale-went to America became Barnum on stage and took on all the different voices for the US version of Harry Potter series of books.
Bernard Bresslaw-appeared in a few comedy series, voiced a children's series(mentioned elsewhere in this forum) and a few quiz shows like Give Us A Clue.
Barbara Windsor MBE-cawkney sparra of the East End, married a villain Ronnie Knight, knew the infamous Kray Twins, married again but this someone well below her years, yet went on to be the Queen bee in Eastenders as mother(Peggy Mitchell) of the Mitchell Brothers and now fronts Jackpotjoy.com a bingo site and sponsors of show "Deal or No Deal." Still alive.
Kenneth Connor-starred in a few Carry On's then went on to play the French Mayor in several episodes of 2nd World War comedy "Allo, Allo" and also a children's series along with Joan Sims as Lady Fox-Custard(Fox Coostard)which escapes me. Died a few years ago.
Finallly to add that Bernard Cribbins has been awarded(and about time too) an OBE(Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list last week.

[stardust2003]

Norman Hurdis was a writer and part of Peter Rogers team.
Norman had spent 6 years in the army , also his wife was a nurse.
Call for Catty was a play co written by Pat Cargill set in a sanitorium.
Norman Hurdis reworked it.
Peter could nt get Dora Bryan for the nurse film, her stage career
was blossoming, he went for Joan Simms instead.

Carry on Teacher began shooting in 1959 with Ted Ray.

ABC at Elstree had Ted Ray under contract and would nt let him make any more Carry Ons so Peter brought in Syd James.

Norman Hurdis wrote... Carry On Spying.... inspired by the Bond movies of the time........ Peter rejected it

Norman went to live in America, he had written the first 6 Carry On
movies.
Talbot Rothwell... the 46 year old comedy writer took over.
Talbot had been a POW in Stalag Luft 3 where he had tried his hand at acting and writing plays.

Carry on Jack........ became Talbots first Carry On
Liz Frazer was going to be the lead... she was perfect for the Carry On movies
but some comments she made in the press upset the senior management so she was ditched and Juliet Mills was brought in.

Kenny Williams was the only member of the cast who received regular invites from Peter to dine at his luxurious home.

[stardust2003]

What about that series ... was it called Carry on Laughing... ? with
some of the Carry on cast in a kind of Upstairs Downstairs setting
it must have been made for TV ( Carol Hawkins was in it too and Sherrie Hewson )

[AceXX]

Originally Posted by stardust2003

What about that series ... was it called Carry on Laughing... ? with some of the Carry on cast in a kind of Upstairs Downstairs setting it must have been made for TV ( Carol Hawkins was in it too and Sherrie Hewson )

Made by ATV TV there were 13 half hour episodes made, and apart from Kenny Williams and Charlie Hawtrey all the regulars made some kind of appearance. By then Jim Dale had left the Carry On fold and gone to the US, to seek other challenges.

Kenny Connor, Jack Douglas and Joan Sims all appeared in 12, Peter Butterworth 10 and Barbara Windsor 8.

The two Upstairs, Downstairs episodes are titled. And In My Ladies Chamber and Who Needs Kitchener? and Carol and Sherrie appeared in both of these. Sherrie appeared in four while Carol appeared in just these two episodes.

The full Episode list is as follows:

The Prisoner of Spenda
The Baron Outlook
The Sobbing Cavalier
Orgy and Bess
One In The Eye For Harold
The Nine Old Cobblers
The Case of the Screaming Winkles
The Case of the Couching Parrot
Under The Round Table
Short Knight. Long Daze
And In My Ladies Chamber
Who Needs Kitchener?
Last Posts of The Empire

[monogroover]

Originally Posted by Greenman

I wonder if the Carry On films were more of a curse to the cast. Look at this list and what they did next:
Sid James-Former Jewish boxer from South Africa(Schmuel Cohen) became a song & dance man, then foil to Tony Hancock, yet died on stage at an early age.

Yes, he died in his '60s, too early. But he had a successful career aside from the Carry On films of course.

I'd seen him on Pebble Mill At One a couple of days before he died, so it was a bit of a shock when I heard that news.

I wasn't that impressed with that biopic that came out a few years ago. The bloke who played wasn't quite right. Maybe they should have persuaded Alan Sugar instead.

[pharoahegypt]

Pebble Mill at One....JHC..,!!!! now that makes me feel old, and takes me back..!!!! lol

[stardust2003]

Did n't the Carry on's die in the mid 70s.... around the time Sid died ?

Hammer Horror movies died around the same time too.

(mind you, that wicked video player was on the mass market by mid 70s that may have done it )

[AceXX]

Originally Posted by stardust2003

Did n't the Carry on's die in the mid 70s.... around the time Sid died ?

Hammer Horror movies died around the same time too.

(mind you, that wicked video player was on the mass market by mid 70s that may have done it )

Sid's last Carry On was Dick, subsequently Behind, England and Emmannuelle were released through to the late 70's and Columbus came along as a bit of an afterthought.

A big factor why more films weren't made was after the dire England was that the Rank Organisation withdrew financing of the films. Despite the fact that the films had earned them millions of pounds over the years.

[stardust2003]

I think though that video players were generally undermining the
cinema attendances... people could hire movies and watch at home
very hard core porn was suddenly available, the Carry Ons were
suddenly " passe"

[stardust2003]

I think Ive got three of the Carry On TV with the Upstairs Downstairs theme, very good production, excellent quality
and Carol Hawkins !
(send pm and Ill pando them over )