114-544: Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen ; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a South African–British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, stage and screen. Noted for his distinctive dirty laugh, he was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On film series. Born to a middle-class Jewish family in South Africa, James started his career in his native country before finding his greatest success in
228-661: A British dominion ), later changing his name to Sidney Joel Cohen, and then Sidney James . His family lived on Hancock Street in Hillbrow , Johannesburg . He claimed various previous occupations, including diamond cutter , dance tutor and boxer, but in reality had trained and worked as a hairdresser. It was at a hairdressing salon in Kroonstad , Orange Free State , that he met his first wife. He married Berthe Sadie Delmont, known as Toots, on 12 August 1936 and they had
342-532: A 14-year gap (1978–1992) between the 30th and 31st entries. (The James Bond film series is the longest-running, having started in 1962, four years after the first Carry On , though with fewer films.) Rogers and Thomas were responsible for all 31 films, usually on time and to a strict budget, and often employed the same crew — some of whom were also regulars on the James Bond series, such as Peter Lamont , Alan Hume , and Anthony Waye . Between 1958 and 1992,
456-745: A Dale (series 2)). A number of well-known actresses appeared as Saxon or Norman ladies, including Greta Gynt and Brenda de Banzie . A number of actors appeared in supporting roles in most episodes: in series 1 these included: Victor Woolf , Willoughby Gray , and John Longden , and for later series included: Paul Hansard , Morris Barry , Nigel Davenport , Kevin Stoney , Ronald Hines , and Max Faulkner , who also did stunt/double work. Frank Maher (later Patrick McGoohan 's stunt double) played many small non-speaking parts, and stuntman Terry Yorke, who doubled for Richard Greene, played many small roles throughout all four series. In Series 3, Paul Eddington played
570-515: A Robin Hood–type figure with lank hair and a dinosaur. A Minstrel song would then be sung at the beginning of each episode, over the episode title, providing a playful poetic synopsis in short prose of what could be expected to be seen. After the final fade to black a sequence featuring an actor playing the Minstrel would be shown as he sang these lyrics to the tune of " Early One Morning ": "We'll have
684-705: A TV advertisement producer in Charlie Chaplin 's A King in New York , a non-comic supporting role as a journalist in the science-fiction film Quatermass 2 , and he performed in Hell Drivers (all 1957), a film with Stanley Baker . The next year, James starred with Miriam Karlin in East End, West End by Wolf Mankowitz , a half-hour comedy series for the ITV company Associated Rediffusion . Set within
798-497: A budget of £1.5 million, which was deemed too expensive – proved to be the end of the film and it was cancelled. The final proposed Carry On , before Peter Rogers's death in 2009, was Carry On London . Announced in 2003 by Rogers and producer James Black, it remained in pre-production well into 2008. The script was signed off by the production company in late March 2008, and "centred on a limousine company ferrying celebrities to an awards show". The film had several false starts, with
912-534: A budget of £10,000 an episode, of a series she wished to make called The Adventures of Robin Hood . She had already signed Richard Greene to the project as Robin Hood and been given the backing of US distribution company, Official Films Inc, who were confident of selling it to the US market. Grade was so impressed by her proposal that he agreed immediately to back the series, hoping to make large profits by selling programmes to
1026-500: A daughter Reina . They were divorced on 17 August 1952. On 21 August 1952, James married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (1928–2022), an actress who used Ashton as her stage name. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer, and a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer. During the latter part of their marriage they lived in a house partly designed by James himself, Delaford Park, in Iver , Buckinghamshire ,
1140-582: A daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1937. His father-in-law, Joseph Delmont, a Johannesburg businessman, bought a hairdressing salon for him, but within a year James announced that he wanted to become an actor, and joined the Johannesburg Repertory Players. Through this group he gained work with the South African Broadcasting Corporation . Toots divorced him in 1940. During World War II he served as
1254-582: A different character in many episodes, before settling down to Will Scarlett. The series is set in the 12th century, during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart . Robin, Earl of Locksley, a Saxon nobleman, returns from the Crusades to find a Norman lord living in his ancestral home, Locksley Hall. He is forced to go to the Sheriff of Nottingham, who represents the law, seeking to reclaim his land. But
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#17327727901001368-460: A group of soldiers to sing it. It's worth noting that this melody was whistled by Little John before his first meeting with Robin in the Hollywood feature film The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). The Merry Men perform the soul cake song in "The Thorkil Ghost", with Derwent singing a solo. " All Around My Hat (song) ", a song of nineteenth-century English origin, features very prominently in
1482-529: A human. While Robin Hood drags out the trial, Friar Tuck gets the cook drunk and switches geese. When the deception is revealed, the lord relents and pardons the goose. Two episodes, "Brother Battle" (#84) and "To Be a Student" (#90) emphasized the Catholic Church's struggle to educate commoners, and even the children of the Saxon serfs, despite laws forbidding the practice and in the face of opposition from
1596-546: A large proportion of the location filming was undertaken close to the studios in and around south Buckinghamshire, including areas of Berkshire and Middlesex . However, by the late 1960s, at the height of the series' success, more ambitious plots occasionally necessitated locations further afield, which included Snowdonia National Park , Wales (with the foot of Snowdon standing in for the Khyber Pass in Carry On Up
1710-510: A lead role in The Wedding of Lilli Marlene . He featured in another Alec Guinness film, Father Brown (US: The Detective , 1954) and in Trapeze (1956) as Harry the snake charmer, a circus film which was one of the most successful films of its year, and he played Master Henry in "Outlaw Money" (also 1956), an episode of The Adventures of Robin Hood . James had a supporting part as
1824-715: A lieutenant in the Union Defence Force Entertainment Unit in South Africa's army, and subsequently took up acting as a career. He moved to the United Kingdom in December 1946, financed by his service gratuity. Initially he worked in repertory , before being spotted for the nascent British post-war film industry. James made his first credited film appearances in Night Beat and Black Memory in 1947, both crime dramas. He played
1938-403: A location close enough to Pinewood Studios to allow him to return home for lunch while filming. During his marriage to Valerie he had a well-publicised affair with Carry On co-star Barbara Windsor that lasted three years. The affair was dramatised in the 1998 stage play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick and its 2000 television adaptation Cor, Blimey! . James's obsession with Windsor
2052-420: A long-playing record, Oh! What a Carry On! (MFP MONO 1416), featuring songs performed by Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Kenneth Connor, Frankie Howerd, Bernard Bresslaw, Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor, and Dora Bryan . A 50-minute television documentary, What's a Carry On? , was made in 1998 for the 40th anniversary of the first film. It included archive clips, out-takes and interviews with surviving cast members. It
2166-407: A number of VHSs were released in an eighteen VHS box-set on 1 September 2003. The film series was first released as a DVD box-set on 1 September 2008, by ITV Studios Home Entertainment. Five years later, on 7 October 2013, it was re-released with smaller packaging. All the movies contained in the collection are also available to buy individually. Since 2013, StudioCanal has released a number of
2280-681: A parody version of the legend of the highwayman Dick Turpin . In Henry and Dick , James played the title roles, while in Carry On Cleo he played Mark Antony . In Carry On Cowboy (1965), he adopted an American accent for his part as "The Rumpo Kid". (James had previously played an American (with an American accent) in the films Give Us This Day (1949), Orders Are Orders (1954), A Yank in Ermine (1955), Wicked as They Come (1956), Chaplin's A King in New York (1957) and Another Time, Another Place (1958).) In 1967, James
2394-399: A principal performer. In his diaries Kenneth Williams lamented this, and criticised several of the movies despite his declared fondness for the series as a whole. Peter Rogers, the series' producer, acknowledged: "Kenneth was worth taking care of, because while he cost very little [...] he made a very great deal of money for the franchise." The Carry On series includes a broad cast across
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#17327727901002508-468: A projection room for viewing daily film rushes and completed films. In 1956 a replica castle exterior, complete with drawbridge, was built in the grounds of the estate for filming of The Adventures of Sir Lancelot series (it features prominently in title sequence for the colour episodes). This was used predominantly for castle scenes in series 3 & 4 of Robin Hood, it first appears as Chateau Marmont in "The Bandit of Brittany" during series 2, in place of
2622-463: A regular performer in the Carry On films, appearing in 19 films of the series, top-billed in 17 of them (in the other two he was billed below Frankie Howerd ). His starring roles in television sitcoms continued. He starred in the 1970s sitcom Bless This House until his death in 1976. James was born Solomon Joel Cohen on 8 May 1913, to Jewish parents in South Africa (at that time
2736-506: A series be retitled for syndication packaging if aired while first-run episodes of the series were still being shown on one of the three major networks. Alternative US end credit titles crediting the series as "A Hannah Weinstein Production for Sapphire Films Limited" (and for later episodes from 1958 "A Hannah Fisher Production") also exist. In the UK, at the time, sponsorship of programmes
2850-542: A severe heart attack . In the same year in Carry On Doctor , James was shown mainly lying in a hospital bed, owing to his real-life health problems. After his heart attack, James gave up his heavy cigarette habit and instead smoked a pipe or an occasional cigar; he lost weight, ate only one main meal a day, and limited himself to two or three alcoholic drinks per evening. His success in TV situation comedy continued with
2964-582: A shift away from the kind of roles for which he had become best known. He remained the lovable rogue but was keen to steer clear of criminal characters; in 1960 he turned down the part of Fagin in the original West End staging of Oliver! for that very reason. Galton and Simpson continued to write for both James and Hancock for a while, and the Sidney Balmoral James character resurfaced in the Citizen James (1960–1962) series. Sid James
3078-482: A song supposedly sung by the Baker's guild. The episode "The Minstrel" featured two songs, one wishing for the speedy return of King Richard, and one lampooning the sheriff of Nottingham. Carl Sigman wrote the words and music for the theme song, which was sung by Dick James . The song is still fondly remembered: Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Riding through the glen Robin Hood, Robin Hood, With his band of men Feared by
3192-505: A traitor is in their midst. But the half-hour length episodes and broad-target market precluded any political criticism that went beyond the generalities of 19th century Robin Hood revival books. Whilst interiors were filmed at Nettlefold Studios , location shooting for the series took place on the nearby Wisley Common , Wisley , Surrey, and at the adjoining Foxwarren Park estate, near Cobham , owned by Hannah Weinstein. Horses used for filming were also stabled at Foxwarren House, which had
3306-550: A voice-over over the opening titles "Richard Greene in The Adventures of Robin Hood" and over the repeated sequence "presented by" followed by the names of two Johnson & Johnson products, images of which would appear over the shot of the arrow in the tree. A commercial featuring one of the products would then be shown, the Wildroot Cream-Oil sponsored episodes would then feature an animated commercial showing
3420-452: A weapon that could destroy the world. In addition to the redistributive themes of a hero who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, many episodes in the programme's first two seasons included the threat that Robin and his band would be betrayed to the authorities by friends or loved ones, much as the blacklisted writers had been. For example, the third season story "The Angry Village" had paranoid villagers turn on each other when they think
3534-446: A world-weary "Cor, blimey!", his catchphrase. His laugh can be heard here [1] . There were Carry On films in which James played characters who were not called Sid or Sidney: Carry On Constable (1960), in which he played Sergeant Frank Wilkins; Carry On Henry (1971), a parody of the TV series The Six Wives of Henry VIII ; Carry On Abroad (1972), in which James's character was named Vic Flange; and Carry On Dick (1974),
Sid James - Misplaced Pages Continue
3648-535: Is a British television series comprising 143 half-hour, black and white episodes broadcast weekly between 1955 and 1959 on ITV . It starred Richard Greene as the outlaw Robin Hood , and Alan Wheatley as his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham . The show followed the legendary character Robin Hood and his band of merry men in Sherwood Forest and the surrounding vicinity. While some episodes dramatised
3762-533: Is credited as writer of "The Coming of Robin Hood" on US prints, for the UK the pseudonym used is Eric Heath. After the blacklist collapsed, Lardner said that the series' format allowed him "plenty of opportunities to comment on issues and institutions in Eisenhower-era America"; presumably "A Tuck in Time" was such an episode, in which a twin of Friar Tuck arrives boasting of his willingness to sell
3876-470: Is fatally wounded in the second episode. Robin Hood's enemy in the series is the Sheriff of Nottingham who, with his cohorts, adherents of the tyrant, Prince John, schemes to capture the outlaw by any means possible. Lady Marian Fitzwalter ( Maid Marian ), a young noblewoman and Robin Hood's lover, keeps him informed of the Sheriff's whereabouts and intentions. Episodes are punctuated with manly deeds of derring-do, tense escapes and pursuits, princely tournaments,
3990-570: The Daily Star Sunday that "we have got two new stories and we are looking to do one of the old ones again to bring it up to modern day quality – probably Carry On Sergeant " . Baker's company Carry On Films Ltd was later dissolved. The characters and comedy style of the Carry On film series were adapted to a television series titled Carry On Laughing , and several Christmas specials . In 1971, Music for Pleasure released
4104-591: The Burton and Taylor epic Cleopatra (1963) but abandoned when production moved to Rome. Carry On Emmannuelle , inspired by the soft-porn Emmanuelle , brought to an end the original Carry On run. The stock-in-trade of Carry On humour was innuendo and the sending-up of British institutions and customs, such as the National Health Service ( Nurse , Doctor , Again Doctor , Matron and
4218-408: The Carry On films on Blu-ray, beginning with Carry On Screaming! (21 October 2013), Carry On Cleo (5 May 2014), Carry On Cowboy (2 June 2014) and Carry On Jack (7 July 2014). The success of the Carry On series occasionally led to affectionate parodies of the series by other contemporary comedians: The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series) The Adventures of Robin Hood
4332-496: The Carry On films, and other topics. The interview is notable for its relaxed, humorous style. The producer of the forthcoming BBC Carry On documentary, Richard Latto, contacted James's surviving daughters after confirming the recording's authenticity. Reina James commented: "To hear him talking just before he's about to die.. there's something hugely moving about that". Sue James called the interview "lovely and sympathetic". A Heritage Foundation commemorative blue plaque to James
4446-571: The proposed Again Nurse ), the monarchy ( Henry ), the Empire ( Up the Khyber ), the armed forces ( Sergeant , England , Jack and the proposed Flying and Escaping ), the police ( Constable ) and the trade unions ( At Your Convenience ) as well as camping ( Camping ), foreign holidays ( Cruising , Abroad ), beauty contests ( Girls ), caravan holidays ( Behind ), and
4560-431: The 100 soldiers who manned the battlements of Nottingham Castle were miniature toy soldiers. In the US the original CBS syndication prints had a few variants to the original UK prints. After the brief title sequence the US prints would repeat this sequence but with "Brought to You By" and after the arrow strikes the tree the sponsor's name "Wildroot Cream-Oil" superimposed, "Johnson & Johnson" sponsored episodes had
4674-549: The British Seaside . James became a leading member of the Carry On films team, originally to replace Ted Ray , who had appeared in Carry On Teacher (1959). It had been intended that Ray would become a recurring presence in the Carry On series, but he was dropped after just one film because of contractual problems. James ultimately made 19 Carry On films, receiving top billing in 17, making him one of
Sid James - Misplaced Pages Continue
4788-481: The British comic traditions of music hall and bawdy seaside postcards . Many titles parodied more serious films, such as their tongue-in-cheek homages to James Bond ( Spying ), westerns ( Cowboy ), and Hammer horror films ( Screaming! ). The most impressive of these was Carry On Cleo (1964), in which the budget-conscious production team made full use of some impressive sets that had been created in 1960 for
4902-762: The Good: Ericson, Ericson, nipping through the wood...ole!" "Robin des Bois" was the theme recorded for the French TV market. Sung in French, it can be heard on the 3rd series episode "Farewell to Tuck" released by Network on DVD. The series was first broadcast in France as "Aventures dans la Foret de Sherwood" in 1965 on ORTF . Other countries to broadcast the series included Canada in 1955–1958 on CBOT, Toronto, and CKCO, Kitchener, Ontario; Australia in 1956–1961 on HSV7 (The Seven Network ); Finland in 1964 on NORDEEZE;
5016-681: The Jewish community of London's East End, the series of six episodes was transmitted in February and March 1958, but plans for further episodes were abandoned after a disappointing response. For a while though, it had looked as if his commitment elsewhere might end his work with Tony Hancock, one of the most popular television comedians of the time. He had begun working with Tony Hancock in 1954, in his BBC Radio series Hancock's Half Hour . Having seen him in The Lavender Hill Mob , it
5130-682: The Khyber ), and the beaches of the Sussex coast doubling as Saharan sand dunes in Follow That Camel . Carry On Sergeant (1958) is about a group of recruits doing National Service ; its title, a command commonly issued by army officers to their sergeants in the course of their routine duties, was in keeping with its setting. The film was sufficiently successful to inspire a similar venture, again focusing on an established and respected profession in Carry On Nurse . When that too
5244-539: The Netherlands in 1965/66 on AVRO ; and Germany between 1971 and 1974 on ARD . First series episodes also exist with a variant downbeat instrumental end theme by Edwin Astley, which can be heard on the episode "The Highlander" released by Network DVD. Art director Peter Proud, an expert at wartime camouflage, hit on the idea of putting many props on wheels to facilitate quick set changes, since one 26-minute episode
5358-570: The Norman nobility. The writers created supporting characters who were likeable and occasionally resourceful. In "The Goldmaker's Return" (series 2), Robin Hood is away in France on a mission. Lady Marian, Little John and the other Merry Men carry the day without the star of the show ever showing his face. Most of the time, however, Robin is required to save the day single-handed, following the usual comment that "sending many men would be noticed, only one man going in alone will be overlooked", etc. Despite
5472-472: The Scarlet Pimpernel , The Count of Monte Cristo . ITC continued to make and sell TV series to the US until the late 1970s, including The Saint and The Muppet Show . Many licensed products and knockoffs were sold, including books, jigsaw puzzles, iron-on patches, toy bows and arrows, a series of bubble gum cards, and more. The "Robin Hood" shoe brand sporting Richard Greene's likeness on
5586-404: The Sheriff invokes "the law of hue-and-cry", explaining that any man within hearing must drop his chores and help apprehend the felon. In "A Christmas Goose" (series 3), a boy's goose nips a lord's horse so the lord is thrown. The lord condemns the goose to death—for his Christmas dinner. But Robin Hood counters that under English common law, an accused animal is entitled to a fair trial, the same as
5700-406: The Sheriff, another Norman, sides with the usurper. Robin is tricked into signing a document fatal to his claim, but when the plot to then murder him goes wrong Robin ends up as a hunted man. In the forest he meets a peasant ( Alfie Bass ), who is due to have his hands mutilated for killing his lord's deer, but Robin rescues him. The hunter tells him of outlaws living free in the forest. When they meet
5814-552: The UK charts (78rpm single:R.4117/45rpm single:MSP6199), and by Pye Records as a 78rpm single by Gary Miller with Tony Osbourne orchestra and the Beryl Stott chorus (PYE N.15020) and reached number 10 on the UK charts . Versions by Frankie Laine (CBS Coronet), Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra (Capitol), Alan Dale (Coral), Joe Reisman 's orchestra and chorus (RCA Victor), and Ronnie Ronalde (Colombia) were also issued. These versions had extended lyrics, with five verses and
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#17327727901005928-489: The UK. Beginning his screen career playing bit parts in films from 1947, he was cast in numerous small and supporting roles into the 1950s. He appeared in the film The Lavender Hill Mob in 1951, starring Alec Guinness . His profile was raised as Tony Hancock 's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour , firstly in the radio series and later when it was adapted for television and ran from 1954 to 1960. After this he became known as
6042-518: The acidic Kenneth Williamsesque character), Jynine James , Lenny Henry , Justin Lee Collins , Jennifer Ellison (as the saucy Barbara Windsor type), Liza Tarbuck (paralleling Hattie Jacques), Meera Syal , James Dreyfus , and Frank Skinner (filling in the Sid James role). Despite new media interest and sets being constructed at Pinewood Studios, the film was once again put on hold, and
6156-793: The alcoholic hero's barman in Powell and Pressburger 's The Small Back Room in 1949. The Lavender Hill Mob in 1951 was his first comedy film, ranked 17th out of the 100 best British films by the British Film Institute : with Alfie Bass , he made up the bullion robbery gang headed by Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway . He also appeared in Lady Godiva Rides Again and The Galloping Major , both films were released in 1951, and as Harry Hawkins in The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), and also had
6270-403: The attempt was cancelled due to the financial loss of Carry On Emmannuelle . The final attempt to create Carry On Again Nurse came in 1988, with a script written by Norman Hudis . It was to revolve around a hospital set for closure, and set to star original actors Barbara Windsor , Jack Douglas , Kenneth Williams , Charles Hawtrey , Kenneth Connor and Joan Sims , with Sims filling in
6384-452: The attention of studio executives. The sponsored prints of the first five episodes of series one, screened by CBS in the US on its first run, had no writer credits on their end title sequences; writers were only credited on sponsored prints from episode 6 onward, only later non-sponsored US re-run prints of series one have writer credits for these episodes, some of which differ from writer credits on UK prints. As an example, Lawrence McClellan
6498-580: The bad, Loved by the good Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green They vowed to help the people of the king They handled all the trouble on the English country scene And still found plenty of time to sing [Chorus (1st paragraph) repeat] In 1956 the theme song was released on Parlophone records by Dick James with Stephen James and his chums and Ron Goodwin 's Orchestra and reached number 14 in
6612-537: The best possible picture quality, and had fade-outs where US commercials were intended to slot in (the series was sponsored in the US by Johnson & Johnson (baby products, Band-Aid) and Wildroot Cream-Oil . In Australia, the show aired on TCN9 in Sydney NSW and HSV7 Melbourne Victoria, actually being the first drama series broadcast by this station and CBC in Canada, and on CBS in the US. In France, RTF1 aired
6726-506: The chorus repeated six times. The sound effect at the start of the theme tune, of an arrow being fired into a tree, was produced by record producer Joe Meek , who was also the recording engineer on the Gary Miller version. This song was parodied many years later on the 1970s TV series Monty Python's Flying Circus , in their Dennis Moore sketch, which depicted a masked highwayman from the 18th century (intended to mimic in appearance
6840-600: The curtain to close and requested a doctor, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events to be part of the show. An ambulance was called, and he was pronounced dead on arrival at Sunderland General Hospital . He was 62. At the time of his death, negotiations were being held for a seventh and eighth series of Bless This House , as well as another film adaptation, to be produced along with an hour-long television variety special featuring James, but those plans were scrapped due to his death. Bruce Forsyth ultimately replaced him in
6954-512: The education system ( Teacher ) amongst others. Although the films were very often panned by critics, they mostly proved very popular with audiences. In 2007, the pun "Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me", spoken by Kenneth Williams (playing Julius Caesar ) in Carry on Cleo , was voted the funniest one-line joke in film history. However, this line had originally been written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden for Jimmy Edwards in
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#17327727901007068-537: The end titles which are shown over the shot of the tree. This caption also appeared: "This film was flown to the USA via Pan American World Airways". The opening minstrel tunes were also sung to the tune of ' Early One Morning '. There were two sponsors of the CBS syndicated screenings, Wildroot Cream-Oil (a hair tonic company), and Johnson & Johnson (known in the UK and US for its baby powder). The commercials involved "within"
7182-522: The episodes appeared originally on all three Seasons broadcast at 7.30pm (eastern standard time) /6.30pm (central standard time) Monday nights on CBS (not series 4). Alternative title captions appear over the opening sequence on some US prints. Instead of "Richard Greene in The Adventures of Robin Hood" they state "Richard Greene plays Robin Hood – Adventures in Sherwood Forest". This practice occurred because of an FCC rule demanding that reruns of
7296-428: The films and other adaptations. A regular core ensemble cast included Sid James , Kenneth Williams , Charles Hawtrey , Joan Sims , Kenneth Connor , Peter Butterworth , Hattie Jacques , Bernard Bresslaw , Barbara Windsor , and Jim Dale . Several other films were planned, scripted (or partly scripted) or entered pre-production before being abandoned: An intended sub-sequel to the successful Carry On Nurse
7410-442: The first actor to portray Robin Hood on TV in a live BBC series ), Irene Handl , Nicholas Parsons , Sam Kydd , Desmond Llewelyn , Sid James , Joan Sims , Bernard Bresslaw , Leo McKern , Alfie Bass , Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell ( Steptoe and Son ), Billie Whitelaw , Paul Eddington , Ronald Allen and Gordon Jackson . John Schlesinger appeared as an actor in three episodes as singing minstrels (Hale and Alan
7524-500: The interior heel lasted long after the series stopped production. Magazine Enterprises featured Richard Greene photos on three Robin Hood comic books. Robin and Marian made the cover of TV Guide in the Week of 12–18 May 1956. In Region 1, Mill Creek Entertainment has released all 4 seasons on DVD. They have also released a complete series set featuring all 143 episodes of the series. Alpha Video has released 22 single volume collections of
7638-401: The leading role of the 1976 TV version of The Mating Season that went out on ITV in December of the same year. James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium . James has been the subject of at least five tribute shows: Channel 4 's With Out Walls, Seriously Seeking Sid in the late 1980s; a 1996 one-off tribute, The Very Best of Sid James ; a 2000 episode of
7752-455: The lucrative American market. In the UK, the series premiered on ATV London, on Sunday 25 September 1955. ATV Midlands began the series on Friday 17 February 1956, with a staggered start across other regions from 1956 to 1961 as the ITV regional stations came on-air for the first time in the UK. The US premiere was on Monday 26 September 1955 by CBS . The series was shot on 35mm film to provide
7866-444: The merry time again with Robin and his Merry Men and the folk who'll bring him to you then now beg a word with you", followed by a commercial for the next week's sponsor before the end titles would be shown (Wildroot Cream Oil and Johnson & Johnson sponsored alternate episodes), the end credits start with the opening sequence, with Sandy Becker mentioning the sponsor's name again, and the sponsor's product appearing on screen through
7980-493: The most featured performers of the regular cast. The characters he portrayed in the films were usually very similar to the wise-cracking, sly, lecherous Cockney he was famed for playing on television, and in most cases they bore the name Sid or Sidney, for example, Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in Carry On Up the Khyber and Sid Boggle in Carry On Camping . His trademark "dirty laugh" was often used and became, along with
8094-458: The named director. At the 50th anniversary party held at Pinewood Studios in March 2008, Rogers confirmed that he was planning a series of Carry On films after London , subject to the success of the first. In early 2009, Carry On London or Carry On Bananas was once again 'back on', with Charlie Higson attached as director, and a different, more modern, cast list involving Paul O'Grady (as
8208-629: The other sites used through the series were Bodiam Castle in East Sussex , Leith Hill near Dorking , Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, Newark Priory near Ripley, Castle Mill in Dorking, and Newark Mill. Each episode in the first two series started with a country scene of faux everyday life in Olde England, during which an introductory poem in rhymed cadence was intoned in voice-over, to
8322-407: The outlaws, Robin drops his title and asks to just be called Robin. As he is hooded, they call him Robin of the Hood. He is thus forced into the life of an outlaw, dwelling in Sherwood Forest with a band of men who right the wrongs committed by the rich and powerful Normans against the poor and defenceless Saxons. He is given the name Robin Hood by the outlaw band's original leader, Will Scatlock, who
8436-473: The plot of the episode "The Prisoner". It is claimed to be a favourite song of the crusading King Richard and is continually sung by the king's courier who has been secretly imprisoned in Prince John's dungeon. The tune is so charismatic that a dungeon jailer sings it while drinking at a tavern and is overheard by Robin Hood, thus alerting Robin to the courier's fate. The episode "The Haunted Mill" features
8550-498: The producers and cast changing extensively over time. Only the little-known Welsh actress Jynine James remained a consistent name from 2003 to 2008. Danniella Westbrook , David Jason , Shaun Williamson and Burt Reynolds were also once attached to the project. It was announced in May 2006 that Vinnie Jones and Shane Richie were to star in the film, which was to be directed by Peter Richardson , though Ed Bye later replaced him as
8664-482: The programmes Two in Clover (1969–70) and Bless This House (1971–1976); the latter led to a film version in 1972. James married three times. He and his first wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1937; they were divorced in 1940, mainly as a result of his many relationships with other women. In 1943, he married a dancer, Meg Sergei (1913–1977); in 1947, they had
8778-532: The project was abandoned after the death of Peter Rogers in April 2009. In May 2016, producer Jonathan Sothcott of Hereford Films announced plans for a new series of Carry On films, beginning with Carry On Doctors and Carry On Campus . On 12 April 2017, Sothcott confirmed to the website The Hollywood News that he was no longer involved with the film series. As of September 2019, three Carry On films were set to be filmed back-to-back, after Brian Baker won
8892-464: The radio series Take It From Here some years previously. A film had appeared in 1957 under the title Carry On Admiral ; although this was a comedy in similar vein (and even featured Joan Sims in the cast) it has no connection to the Carry On series itself. The much earlier 1937 film Carry On London is also unrelated (though it coincidentally starred future Carry On performer Eric Barker ). The cast were poorly paid—around £5,000 per film for
9006-548: The real life highwayman Dick Turpin ) stealing lupins (parodied as "... He steals from the poor, Gives to the rich, Stupid bitch!"). It's also played at every Nottingham Forest home match. The song, the titles, and the whole show were also parodied in the Hancock's Half Hour television episode "Ericson the Viking" in 1958, where Sid James talks Hancock into appearing in an on-the-cheap historical drama, "Ericson, Ericson, Ericson
9120-518: The rights to the movies following a legal battle with ITV earlier that year. Production of the new films had been planned to take place in spring 2020. However, filming was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and little more was heard about the project until after the death of Barbara Windsor in December 2020, when Baker announced that he would be using old footage of the actress in the film, saying "Barbara will be making an appearance." Baker told
9234-480: The role of Matron that was previously held by Hattie Jacques . The end of the film was going to be a tribute to Jacques, with Sims turning around a photograph of the actress and asking "Well, did I do alright?" (the script is included in the book The Lost Carry Ons ). Production was scheduled to begin in June 1988, but the death of Williams two months previously, followed by that of Hawtrey six months later – combined with
9348-621: The series The Unforgettable ; a 2002 episode of Heroes of Comedy ; and in 2013, the BBC's The Many Faces Of Sid James . James was played by Geoffrey Hutchings in Terry Johnson 's play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick , which premiered at the National Theatre in 1998. Hutchings reprised the role in the subsequent film adaptation, Cor, Blimey! . In the 2006 BBC television film Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! , James
9462-441: The series by producers Philip May & Joseph Shields, through editing and computer-colourizing parts of the various episodes, though not necessarily in chronological order. These were as follows: Sidney Cole and Richard Greene produced the feature film Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960), for Hammer Film Productions (in association with Yeoman Films), directed by Terence Fisher , written by Alan Hackney, director of photography
9576-472: The series employed seven writers, most often Norman Hudis (1958–1962) and Talbot Rothwell (1963–1974). Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd produced 12 films (1958–1966), and the Rank Organisation made 18 (1966–1978), while United International Pictures produced one (1992). All films were made at Pinewood Studios near Iver Heath , Buckinghamshire . Budgetary constraints meant that
9690-422: The series made the transition to television. His part in the show now greatly increased, and many viewers came to think of Hancock and James as a double act. Feeling the format had become exhausted, Hancock decided to end his professional relationship with James at the end of the sixth television series in 1960. Although the two men remained friends, James was upset at his colleague's decision. The experience led to
9804-637: The series, featuring various episodes. In Region 2, Network DVD has released all 4 seasons on DVD in the UK. Three DVD boxsets of the series have also been released in Germany by KNM Home Entertainment as "Die Abenteuer Von Robin Hood" with German-language soundtracks in 2009. In the early 1990s, in the wake of the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves , three movie-length compilation features (approx. 90 min. each) were created from
9918-476: The series. For instance, in one episode, "The Challenge", the plot (as such) finished halfway through the show, and the remainder became a comedy as the hapless Richard of the Lea and his wife worried whilst their larder and wine cellar were emptied, during a siege, by Robin, Little John, and Tuck eating and dancing all the day and night. A total of 143 episodes were filmed in four series. The Adventures of Robin Hood
10032-475: The show from 1965 to 1969 and RTF2 from 1969 to 1972. In Italy, Rai 1 aired the show from 1959 to 1964 and Rai 2 from 1965 to 1967. In Malaysia, RTM aired the show from late 1974 to early 1978. In the Philippines, ABS-CBN aired the show from 1963 to 1967, RBS (now GMA Network) from 1967 to 1972. In Indonesia, TVRI aired the show during the 1970s. In Romania, TVR aired the show from 1966 to 1980. In Poland aired
10146-616: The show in the late 1960s/early 1970s, in a popular programme for young people (each episode of the weekly programme "Ekran z bratkiem" ended with the broadcast of one episode of the series). The programme continues to air in the United Kingdom on the Talking Pictures TV channel, shown regularly on Saturday mornings and on Sunday afternoons. Actors appearing in the series who later became better-known included: Lionel Jeffries , Leslie Phillips , Jane Asher , Anne Reid , Edward Mulhare , Patrick Troughton (who in 1953 had been
10260-431: The simplistic plotting required by the 26-minute format, the writing was both professional in its handling of situations, and pointed in its dialogue. Anachronisms abounded: the lipsticked girl with modern hairdo in the "Friar Tuck" episode, for instance; wine cups for each occupant at a table in "Checkmate", when that only became the practice hundreds of years later; the 20th century school implements in "Brother Battle";
10374-477: The sponsor "now begs a word with you". " Sumer Is Icumen In ", an English ballad actually sung in the 12th century, is featured throughout the series. At times it is heard as background music at parties. In "The Betrothal", Sir Richard's son plays it on his flute while his betrothed sings it. In the episode "Carlotta", Little John sings it to his sweetheart. In "The Path of True Love", Marian sings it to stall Sir Charles. In one of its most prominent uses, Robin forces
10488-733: The standing castle and village set on the backlot at Nettlefold studios used in series 1 & most of series 2. As well as this, establishing shots and short film sequences were also shot at various medieval buildings in the UK including: Allington Castle in Kent, this was used to establish Fitzwalter Castle, Marian's home in the series, Painshill Park , near Cobham, Saltwood Castle in Hythe , and Pencoed Castle near Magor in Monmouthshire. Three Northumberland sites were used: Alnwick Castle , Lindisfarne Castle , and Warkworth Castle . Some of
10602-403: The television show Undermind , Episode 6, "Intent to Destroy", broadcast on 12 June 1965. His name is heard announced, and the show is seen on a television camera seconds later. In 1968, James, Val Doonican and Arthur Askey were filmed playing golf in the village of Cockington near Torquay ( British Pathé archives, film reference 457.1), for their production Viva Torbay: Travelling to
10716-400: The thundering hoof-beats of powerful steeds, the clattering of flashing swords, and the whizzing of fatally placed arrows. In "A Year and A Day" (series 2), a refugee peasant explains that, under English law, a peasant who escapes serfdom and lives in a city for "a year and a day" is a free man, provided the man lives openly, not in hiding. When Robin Hood helps the peasant move about the city,
10830-429: The traditional Robin Hood tales, most were original dramas created by the show's writers and producers. The programme was produced by Sapphire Films Ltd for ITC Entertainment , filmed at Nettlefold Studios with some location work, and was the first of many pre-filmed shows commissioned by Lew Grade . In 1954, Grade was approached by American producer Hannah Weinstein to finance a series of 39 half-hour episodes, at
10944-409: The tune of the English folksong " Early One Morning ", which derives from a much later period than that in which the series is set. Each poem was a humorous summary vignette of what could be expected in the episode. In the first-run CBS-sponsored screenings in the US, an actor portraying the Minstrel would use the same melody before the final fade to black before the end credits, letting viewers know that
11058-454: The use of Guineas from the 1700s as coinage; written tavern signs when most people were illiterate; and a "bard" in "The Challenge" episode who sings a song to the late 17th-century tune of " Lillibullero " in 12th-century England. All this is typical of every series of historical fiction, but the show's producers pointed with pride to their accuracy, courtesy of hired consultants. There was an element of self-parody at times, that sat uneasily on
11172-560: The wall" Carry On (franchise) Carry On is a British comedy franchise comprising 31 films, four Christmas specials, a television series and stage shows produced between 1958 and 1992. Produced by Peter Rogers , the Carry On films were directed by Gerald Thomas and starred a regular ensemble that included Sid James , Kenneth Williams , Charles Hawtrey , Joan Sims , Kenneth Connor , Peter Butterworth , Hattie Jacques , Terry Scott , Bernard Bresslaw , Barbara Windsor , Jack Douglas , and Jim Dale . The humour of Carry On
11286-403: Was Ken Hodges, and the film editor was Lee Doig, all TV series alumni. Richard Greene starred as Robin Hood with Peter Cushing as the Sheriff of Nottingham; blonde-haired Sarah Branch played Maid Marian with Nigel Green as Little John, Jack Gwillim as Archbishop Hubert Walter , and Richard Pasco as Edward, Earl of Newark. Oliver Reed also had a small role. It was filmed in colour and in
11400-431: Was in the British comic tradition of music hall and bawdy seaside postcards . The success of the films led to several spin-offs, including four Christmas television specials (1969–1973), a 1975 television series of 13 episodes, a West End stage show and two provincial summer shows. The Carry On series contains the largest number of films of any British film franchise, and is the second longest running, albeit with
11514-539: Was included as an extra on the DVD release of Carry On Emmannuelle . A two-hour radio documentary, Carry On Forever! , presented by Leslie Phillips , was broadcast in two parts on BBC Radio 2 on 19 and 20 July 2010. A three-part television retrospective with the same title, narrated by Martin Clunes , was shown on ITV3 in the UK over Easter 2015. The Carry On film series has had numerous individual releases on VHS, and
11628-504: Was installed at the former Teddington Studios on Broom Road, Teddington , Greater London, until 30 June 2015 – at which time it was stolen, just before the building was demolished to make way for housing. A further blue plaque, placed by the British Comedy Society, commemorates his time living at 35 Gunnersbury Avenue ( A406 ), from 1956 to 1963. The first plaque here was also stolen; the second "was placed much higher up
11742-521: Was intending to play Sergeant Nocker in Follow That Camel , but was already committed to recording the TV series George and the Dragon (1966–1968) for ATV , then one of the ITV contractors. James was replaced in Follow That Camel by the American comic actor Phil Silvers . On 13 May 1967, two weeks after the filming began of what eventually became an entry in the Carry On series, James suffered
11856-699: Was not allowed and each episode had one commercial break in the middle. The series was an immediate hit on both sides of the Atlantic , drawing 32,000,000 viewers per week. Sapphire films were commissioned to make four other series by Lew Grade: The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956/57, broadcast by NBC on Monday nights at 8.00 pm), The Buccaneers (1956/57, broadcast by CBS on Saturday nights at 7.30 pm), Sword of Freedom (1957/58), and The Four Just Men (1958/59). The success of these inspired other historic drama series from ITC like The Adventures of William Tell , Sir Francis Drake , The Adventures of
11970-422: Was now consistently taking the lead role in his television work. Taxi! (1963–64) was his next series. A comedy-drama rather than a sitcom, it was created by Ted Willis , but although it ran to two series, the programme was not particularly successful. In 1964, he made his first of two appearances on The Eamonn Andrews Show . The first few moments of the opening credits of one of them can be heard and seen in
12084-517: Was on tour in a revival of a comedy, The Mating Season , when he suffered a heart attack on stage at the Sunderland Empire Theatre . Actresses Olga Lowe and Audrey Jeans thought that he was playing a practical joke at first when he failed to reply to their dialogue. When they ad-libbed to him and he still failed to respond, they moved towards the wings to seek help. The technical manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for
12198-505: Was played by Ged McKenna. In August 2018, it was announced that a radio interview which James had recorded for BBC Radio Solent on 22 March 1976 had been re-discovered during research for a forthcoming BBC radio documentary celebrating the Carry On film series. The recording had been kept by BBC presenter Jeff Link, who had carried out the original interview. In the interview, James discusses his attempts to keep fit by skipping , his preference for working in films, his genuine affection for
12312-426: Was pregnant. James was an inveterate and largely unsuccessful gambler, losing tens of thousands of pounds over his lifetime. His gambling addiction was such that he had an agreement with his agent, Michael Sullivan, under which his wife was not told how much he was being paid, so that a portion could be set aside for gambling. On 26 April 1976, four days after the end of the sixth series of Bless This House , James
12426-435: Was produced by Hannah Weinstein , who had left-wing political views. The series was explicitly created by Weinstein to enable the commissioning of scripts by blacklisted American writers. Among these were Ring Lardner Jr. , Waldo Salt , Robert Lees , and Adrian Scott . Howard Koch , who was also blacklisted, served for a while as the series' script editor . The blacklisted writers were credited under pseudonyms, to avoid
12540-577: Was renamed and made as Carry On Doctor in 1967. Carry On Nurse was alluded to twice in Carry On Doctor , firstly with the sub-titles (one reading Nurse Carries On Again and Death of a Daffodil ), and again in a later scene with Frankie Howerd commenting on a vase of daffodils in his hospital room. A second attempt at Carry On Again Nurse came in 1979, after the series left Rank Films and moved to Hemdale. A completed script had been written by George Layton and Jonathan Lynn in 1977, but
12654-492: Was shot every four and a half days. The show boasted "140 set pieces (baronial fireplaces, staircases, stone walls, entrance halls, and the like)". There was some outdoor location filming, mainly involving horse-riding doubles and stuntmen, and without dialogue recording. Sets were designed from parchments and sketches from the British Museum , and modelled on the castles of Harlech , Farleigh , and Framlingham . Some of
12768-434: Was successful, further forays with Carry On Teacher and Carry On Constable established the series. This initial 'pattern' was broken with the fifth film in 1961, Carry On Regardless , but it still followed a similar plot to that of many of the early films—a small group of misfit newcomers to a job make comic mistakes, but come together to succeed in the end. The remainder of the series developed with increased use of
12882-478: Was such that it was rumoured that her then husband Ronnie Knight had all of James's furniture rearranged at home as a subtle threat and, on another occasion, put an axe in James's floor, but close friends of the time, including Vince Powell and William G. Stewart , dismissed the suggestions. According to his biographer Cliff Goodwin, James struck his pregnant girlfriend, and he also struck his first wife when she
12996-402: Was the idea of Hancock's writers, Galton and Simpson , to cast James. He played a character with his own name (but having the invented middle name Balmoral) who was a petty criminal and would usually manage to con Hancock in some way, although the character eventually ceased to be Hancock's adversary. With the exception of James, the other regular cast members of the radio series were dropped when
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