Happy 59th Anniversary to the Carry Ons

[Mel O'Drama]

This past weekend saw me spending a little time in Carry On country, so I was sure to include stops at some of the locations. I had to pack most of them into one day, along with some more general sightseeing, so took the decision to give Windsor a miss this time in favour of a couple I haven't seen for a while and a couple of first timers.

I'll have a go at posting a few "then and now" pics over the next couple of posts in the order I visited them (these are the times when I miss Tapatalk, as I could have posted some of these "live")...


My first Sunday morning stop was Fircombe Town Hall from Girls:

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Which was just round the corner from the fire station where Kenneth Connor lost his trousers:

I also drove by the Mayor's house from the same film but hadn't plucked up enough nerve to take a photo.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Next up was the camping goods shop Sid, Bern and Charlie visited in Camping.

It was a Courts in the film and a Sofa Workshop last time I visited almost a decade ago. Now it's a Sports Direct. That's progress, I suppose. ​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Around a thirty second walk along the same road from the camping shop takes one to perhaps the most iconic Carry On location of all. It's played a major role as the hospital in Doctor and Again Doctor and had a cameo as the University in Behind:

I think an ambulance would struggle to fly up that path today. There's barely room for Barbara Windsor's lovely looking pear.

Of all the locations I've visited over the years, this is the one that always feels most like stepping into a Carry On film. There was talk of demolition a while back, so I'm glad it's survived.
​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Next, I spent a delightful couple of hours at Sir Rodney Ffing's home from Don't Lose Your Head.

It was my first time at this one, and I'll certainly be paying a visit again as it's a beautiful setting with stunning grounds. Perfect for an autumnal Sunday morning.​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Sunday lunch was at The Old Cock Inn from Dick...

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Before a little drive to Reverend Flasher's church from the same film...

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Next was Pinewood Green: another oft-used location, which has homed characters from films like Camping, Behind, Constable and At Your Convenience (due to the fact it's right on the doorstep of Pinewood Studios).


Pinewood Close housed the more upwardly mobile characters:

With the adjoining Pinewood Green Estate being used for a number of other characters:

​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

After spending a couple of hours at Black Park - used for many outdoorsy locations in the Carry Ons - the day ended with a little drive by the studio itself:


The hi-tech entrance:

And the iconic gate house, which I was able to wander up to for a closer look:

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Before heading home, I also managed to squeeze in a little walk past Windsor Davies' butcher's shop from Behind...

 

[Swami]

Stunning stuff!

Swami

 

[Alexis]

@Mel O'Drama Amazing pics. I just got around to ordering my Complete Carry On Collection tonight.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Amazing pics.

Glad you enjoyed them. At risk of sounding like a Barbara Windsor feed line, they're big enough, aren't they?!

I just got around to ordering my Complete Carry On Collection tonight.

Wonderful! I'm hoping for a few comments as you watch. Enjoy!!

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

Sergeant opened in cinemas on 1st August 1958.

Did you see the pay thing for that movie? I’ve met Shirley Eaton.

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

But the Norman Hudis era is so very charming, its stories and characters full of heart.

Last night I found myself fascinated by Ann Firbank whose status is quite lowly according to her placement in the credits, but who brought something very special to every scene she was in. I believed she was a nurse who was professional to her fingertips which allowed me to believe in the playfulness too, when it came (Firbank's character delivered what is perhaps Nurse's most memorable line of dialogue where, after fighting Kenneth Connor to whip off his boxer shorts, she flatly commented "What a fuss about such a little thing"). She's quite sexy but in an upmarket Sixties kind of way.

Truthfully I've often struggled to tell which nurse is which, apart from Eaton, Knight and Joan Sims. I kind of know which is which but I've never got their names. So - mainly for my own memory:

Ann Firbank

I was watching Ann Firbank recently in an episode of ITC’s Strange Report with Anthony Quayle, John Laurie, David Collings and Charles Lloyd-Pack. She was working in a hospital in that too.

Norman Hudis wrote for ITC’s The Saint, ITC’s Gideon’s Way (one episode of his guest-starred Eric Barker)

and ITC’s Danger Man. His son, Steve Hudis starred as ITC’s Skiboy.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2...ming-kenneth-williams-norman-wisdom-interview

I ordered the signed audiobook version from Fenella's online shop the other day.

I was torn between the spoken word and written versions but decided with Fenella it's all about the voice. Interestingly, it seems the audiobook version came first in this case.

With a couple of longer journeys in the last week or so I've finally got round to listening to this. Even at eighty nine years of age Fenella's trademark voice is a joy to listen to.

Fenella's naivety around sex was kind of a recurring theme. Part of me wonders if the double entendres about blowing Sgt. Bung's whistle really went over her head or if it's been spun as part of her eccentric persona. I like to think it's true, just because if so it's rather charming. Along similar lines, her tale of a childhood encounter with The Clapton Flasher is horrific on the face of it and yet delivered with warmth, humour and frankness by Fenella as just another amusing anecdote. This juxtaposition sums up Fenella's outlook and the entire tone of the book. If you don't get her at this point (just four minutes into the audiobook), you may as well not listen on.

Fortunately, I did listen on to the end and enjoyed it immensely. Various feuds are in there - Cecil Landau and Kenneth Williams to name just two (as she discussed her spats with Kenneth Williams I was very conscious that this was just one person's side of the story. But I've read Kenneth's side in such depth that I was fine with that). And her career, from stage to Skins. Even the La La Land film got a mention, so we're pretty much bang up to date.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

This is rather special:

Lost Sid James interview discovered

Here's hoping the whole thing is given an airing soon.

 

[Swami]

For the 60th anniversary, I had hoped there would be a bit more coverage now, even though there are very few of the main stars still alive.

Such a significant landmark deserves recognition.

Swami

 

[Mel O'Drama]

For the 60th anniversary, I had hoped there would be a bit more coverage now

It would have been nice. There are still three weeks left until the actual day and I suspect there'll be a few more articles nearer then.

Somehow, though, I don't think my dream of a diamond anniversary blu ray boxset will be realised.

 

[Swami]

Even to this day, I think the Carry Ons were unfairly looked down upon by many in the film industry, somehow considering them as low-brow entertainment.

At the end of the day they pulled in the audiences to the cinemas and when you look at the calibre of so many of the actors, this perception is deeply unfair and does the Carry Ons a great disservice.

Swami