The Complete A–Z of Everything Carry On

Played by Norman Mitchell

Seen in Cabby preparing to jump into a Speedee Taxi until a Glamcab pulls up nearby and he opts for the leggy lovely driver instead, leaving a disgruntled Speedee driver without a fare.

BEST, GLORIA

Roles: Funhouse Girl in Spying, Hand Maiden in Cleo and Bridget in Cowboy.

BEST, PETER

Dubbing Editor on Matron, Dick and Emmannuelle

Other films that the late Peter Best worked on include Kidnapped, Diamonds on Wheels, Tomorrow Never Comes, Nate and Hayes and Second Best.

BETTINA

Played by Barbara Windsor

When Henry VIII first sets eyes on the blonde Bettina at a do he’s arranged, he’s soon drooling over her. He’s in the middle of arrangements to annul his wedding to Queen Marie of Normandy and has his sights set on making Bettina his next bride. When he can’t wait any longer, he performs the marriage ceremony himself and prepares for his wedding night, but while he’s out of the bedroom Bettina, who’s the daughter of Charles, the Earl of Bristol, consults Balls Book of English Law to check the legitimacy of their marriage; Henry tries convincing her it’s all above board as he climbs into bed but she later learns the truth; it’s just as well she resisted his advances because she ends up being whisked off across the channel by Francis, the King of France, to become the country’s Queen. Seen in Henry.

BETTY

Played by Jackie Poole

In Camping, Betty is one of the girls from Chayste Place Finishing School who head for a summer break at the Paradise Camp in Devon.

BEVIS, FRANK

Production Manager on Sergeant, Nurse, Teacher, Constable, Cabby, Jack, Spying, Cleo and Cowboy. Associate producer on Screaming!

Born in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1907, into a naval family, Bevis was educated on HMS Conway, the cadet-training ship, before serving two years in the Royal Navy. After returning to civvy street, he was soon back at sea, working as a navigating officer for Canadian Pacific Steamships. He left the ocean wave behind in his early twenties and found work with a tin-canning company as a trainee production manager until being made redundant when the company was taken over.

He followed friends involved in crowd work in films and gradually forged a new career in the industry. Eventually switching to behind the camera, he gained experience via a host of jobs, including production manager on, among others, The October Man, Odd Man Out and The Way To The Stars. He progressed to associate producer and worked on several films in this capacity, including Cromwell and Nicholas and Alexandra, before retiring in 1980. He died in 2003.

BIDDLE, KEN

Played by Bernard Bresslaw

A patient in Fosdick Ward at the Borough County Hospital, Mr Biddle is seen in Doctor. He was originally admitted to have his appendix removed but fell off the operating table and hurt his leg, prolonging his stay. Falls in love with Mavis Winkle, a patient in Caffin Ward, while he’s hospitalised.

BIDE-A-WEE REST HOME

The home of Dr Olando Watt and his sister, Virula, is seen in Screaming!. It’s situated on Avery Avenue, in the middle of Hocombe Woods.

BIDET

Played by Gertan Klauber

One of the soldiers who arrives in England with Francis, the King of France. Seen in Henry.

CARRY ON BEHIND

A Peter Rogers production

Distributed through Fox / Rank Distribution Ltd

Released as an A certificate in 1975 in colour

Running time: 90 mins

CAST

Kenneth Williams Professor Roland CrumpElke Sommer Professor Anna VooshkaBernard Bresslaw Arthur UpmoreKenneth Connor Major LeepJoan Sims Daphne BarnesWindsor Davies Fred RamsdenJack Douglas Ernie BraggPeter Butterworth Henry BarnesCarol Hawkins SandraSherrie Hewson CarolLiz Fraser Sylvia RamsdenPatsy Rowlands Linda UpmoreIan Lavender Joe BaxterAdrienne Posta Norma BaxterPatricia Franklin Vera BraggDavid Lodge LandlordMarianne Stone Mrs RowanGeorge Layton DoctorBrian Osborne BobLarry Dann CliveGeorgina Moon SallyDiana Darvey MaureenJenny Cox VeronicaLarry Martyn ElectricianLinda Hooks NurseKenneth Waller BarmanBilly Cornelius Man with SaladMelita Manger Woman with SaladHugh Futcher PainterHelli Louise Jacobson NudistJeremy Connor Student with Ice-creamAlexandra Dane Lady in Low-cut DressSam Kelly ProjectionistJohnny Briggs PlastererLucy Griffiths Lady with HatStanley McGeagh Short-sighted ManBrenda Cowling WifeSidney Johnson Man in GlassesDrina Pavlovic Courting GirlCaroline Whitaker StudentRay Edwards Man with WaterDonald Hewlett Dean

PRODUCTION TEAM

Screenplay by Dave Freeman

Music composed and conducted by Eric Rogers

Production Manager: Roy Goddard

Art Director: Lionel Couch

Editor: Alfred Roome

Director of Photography: Ernest Steward BSC

Camera Operator: Neil Binney

Assistant Director: David Bracknell

Make-up: Geoffrey Rodway

Continuity: Marjorie Lavelly

Sound Recordists: Danny Daniel and Ken Barker

Hairdresser: Stella Rivers

Costume Design: Courtenay Elliott

Set Dresser: Charles Bishop

Dubbing Editor: Pat Foster

Titles: G.S.E. Ltd

Processed by Rank Film Laboratories

Assistant Editor: Jack Gardner

Caravans supplied by C I Caravans Limited

Producer: Peter Rogers

Director: Gerald Thomas

Elke Sommer and Gerald Thomas chat before filming

Let the cameras roll

The esteemed archaeologist, Professor Crump, is off on an archaeological dig to Templeton where a Roman encampment has been unearthed next to a caravan site. Assisting him on his dig are a group of eager students from the University of Kidburn and Professor Vooshka, an attractive woman whose mispronunciations of the English language are in danger of landing her in all sorts of trouble, especially when she greets everyone with the phrase, ‘How are your doings?’

Other people heading to this quiet corner of England include Fred Ramsden and his mate, Ernie Bragg, two middle-aged men who tell their wives they’re off on a fishing trip, but it’s birds – and not the feathery kind – rather than fish that Fred’s hoping to catch. Arthur Upmore, meanwhile, is looking forward to a break with his wife, Linda, until he discovers his nagging mother-in-law is joining them. But it’s not the mother-in-law who’ll be causing problems in the Baxters’ caravan, but their enormous dog.

Two late arrivals at the Riverside Caravan Site, which is normally restricted to caravans, are Sandra and Carol, two leggy girls who are hoping to camp. Although Major Leep, the site owner, points out no tents are allowed, he’s quick to bend the rules when Sandra shows a bit of thigh, claims she’s got a bad leg and will need it massaged later. Their cunning gets them through the gates and they pitch their tent next to Fred and Ernie’s caravan, who are soon eyeing them up.

In the Lipmores’ van, Arthur is already fed up to the back teeth with the moaning Daphne Barnes, his mother-in-law; he’s soon getting the blame for the expletives pouring out of the beak of Daphne’s myna bird, and is somewhat relieved when it later escapes from its cage. But Daphne becomes a changed woman when she stumbles across her ex-husband, Henry, who’s working at the site as an odd-job man. Now with nearly £20,000 in the bank, thanks to a win on the Pools, they rekindle their love after ten years apart.

A lack of progress on the girl front sees Fred and Ernie head for a pint at the local where they learn from the landlord that the caravan site is riddled with holes caused by Roman mining; they take little notice but their ignorace comes back to haunt them later.

To liven up the site, Major Leep is planning a cabaret evening and contacts a theatrical agent for a singer. When he interrupts the conversation to talk to his caretaker about paint stripper, the agent gets the wrong end of the stick and thinks he’s after a stripper. Everyone is shocked when the dancer arrives and starts her erotic act, but while the men are lapping it up, the women aren’t so pleased. When some decide to leave they find they’re stuck to the recently painted chairs, tearing their trousers and skirts in the process.

Before the holiday is over, the old Roman mines reveal themselves, swallowing the caravans, just as it’s time to go home.

MEMORIES

‘Some times I would dress the sets and other times just be on the floor as a standby, ready to do whatever was needed. I remember working on Behind and in the scene where Kenneth Williams and Elke Sommer are in a caravan that is leaking, I controlled the drips with the use of intravenous drip feeds, like you have in hospitals. We made little holes in the ceiling of the caravan and had the drips coming through.

‘In another film, I remember having to drop ice-cream down one of the actress’s cleavage. While standing on a lamp stand, hanging over her breasts with a pair of tongs holding a dollop of ice-cream, I waited for Gerald [Thomas] to say: “Action with the cornet”, at which point I dropped it straight down into her breasts. Working on the Carry Ons was certainly great fun.’

WALLY HILL – Standby Chargehand

BIDET, CITIZEN

Played by Peter Butterworth

Seen in Don’t Lose Your Head, Citizen Bidet is the assistant of Citizen Camembert, chief of the secret police. His incompetence drives Camembert mad at times as they set out to stop the Black Fingernail, alias Sir Rodney Ffing, from rescuing the aristocracy from the guillotine.

BIG HEAP

Played by Charles Hawtrey

Chief of a tribe of Indians in Cowboy, Big Heap is an accommodating, well-spoken man who agrees to help Rumpo Kid prevent the new marshal arriving at Stodge City by attacking the stagecoach he’s travelling in. The attack fails, though, when sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who’s also travelling in the coach, puts up strong resistance, shooting several Indians in the process.

BIGGER, FRANCIS

Played by Frankie Howerd

A charlatan spiritualist, Francis Bigger is a firm believer in positive thinking and preaches his message around the country. With his motto, ‘Learn to think the Bigger way’, he tries teaching the power of thinking is the way to health and happiness. Accompanied by his lifeless assistant, Chloe Gibson, he’s telling everyone that nothing will happen to them if they think positive, then falls off a stage and ends up in the Borough County Hospital with a bruised coccyx. When he mishears Dr Tinkle talking to Miss Gibson he thinks he’s only got days to live and deciding to make his loyal assistant happy for the last few days of his life, marries her, only to discover later, to his horror, that his days aren’t numbered at all. Seen in Doctor.

BILIUS

Played by David Davenport

Seen in Cleo, Bilius stands alongside Julius Caesar, acting as his bodyguard. Champion gladiator of Rome, he’s soon ousted from his position by Hengist Pod who’s classed as a hero after inadvertently stumbling across Bilius’s attempts to dispose of the Roman leader.

BILKINGTON RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT

The top secret base in Spying where Professor Stark was developing a secret formula before being blown up while carrying out his duty.

BIND, CHARLIE

Played by Charles Hawtrey

One of the rather green agents who are sent to recover the top secret formula stolen by Milchmann for the detestable Dr Crow in Spying. His codename is Yellow Peril and his agent’s number, 00 – 0.

BINDER, LADY

Played by Elspeth March

Seen in Don’t Lose Your Head, Lady Binder congratulates Sir Rodney Ffing on the charity ball he’s organised at his home, Ffing Hall.

BINN, DR ARTHUR

Played by Kenneth Connor

Binn is the new ship’s doctor on the Happy Wanderer. Seen in Cruising, he joined the vessel from Consolidated Marmalade where he worked as the factory’s medical officer. Falls in love with Flo Castle, one of the passengers, and although his early advances are spurned, finally ties the knot with the blonde, despite his timidity.

BINNEY, NEIL

Camera Operator for Khyber location work on Up The Khyber, and Behind

Born in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in 1931, Neil Binney followed his parents into the film industry (his father was a projectionist at Pinewood, his mother a wardrobe mistress) by working as a clapperboy on the 1946 Sydney Box-produced The Years Between.

After completing National Service – he served two years as a photographer in the RAF – he joined the London Studios of Technicolor, as assistant cameraman, and stayed ten years. Among the many films he worked on were Hollywood classics such as The Man Who Knew Too Much; he also spent time working in Italy.

He left Technicolor in the 1960s and turned freelance, clocking up numerous credits as a camera operator, including Billy Liar, This Sporting Life, The Vampire Lovers, On the Buses, Conan the Destroyer, Shanghai Surprise and A Fish Called Wanda. On television he was behind the camera for, among others, Minder and Space Precinct.

Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey) dons his cycling gear (Spying)

His final job was on the 1997 picture, Fierce Creatures, after which he retired from the profession.

BINNING, TANYA

Role: Virginia in Cleo

Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, in 1946, Tanya Binning was a successful model and television personality by the time she arrived in the UK. Although her early ambition was to be a florist, she was chosen for a part in the controversial 1962 film, Mondo Cane, leading to her rapid rise to top cover-girl for Australian magazines. A handful of other films followed, all produced in New Zealand, including Runaway, Don’t Let It Get You and Funny Things Happen Down Under.

BIRD, HARRY

Played by Roy Hines

In Teacher, Bird is one of the main culprits among the school kids who set out to cause havoc when a school inspector and a child psychiatrist visit Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School. He’s also interviewed by Mr Wakefield when he’s found out of bounds in the school’s storeroom.

BIRD OWNER

Played by Molly Weir

Seen in Regardless, the woman calls Helping Hands when she wants someone to look after her collection of birds. However, a mix-up sees Mike Weston, who was expecting to be working as a bouncer at a strip club, turn up by mistake.

‘BIRDS OF PARADISE, THE’

Played by Laraine Humphrys, Linda Hooks, Penny Irving and Eva Reuber-Staier

The girls entertain the patrons of the Old Cock Inn in Dick. The group is run by Madame Desiree, a Cockney by birth who’s adopted a French accent over the years.

BISHOP

Played by Derek Francis

Shares a train compartment with Terence Philpot in Loving. He can’t believe his ears when Philpot tells his friend, with whom he’s been staying, that his wife makes love beautifully. When he broaches the subject with Philpot, he’s much relieved to hear that Philpot was only thinking of his friend’s best interests because to tell him the truth, that he didn’t enjoy bedding his wife, might offend.

BISHOP, BERNIE

Played by Kenneth Connor

In the fourth round of an eliminating contest, boxer Bernie Bishop breaks his hand. He’s admitted to Haven Hospital in Nurse and faces the prospect of never fighting again. It looks as if his son, Jeremy, will be following in his father’s footsteps, though, because he’s already practising on the family cat.

BISHOP, CHARLES

Set Dresser on Dick and Behind

Charles Bishop, who’s now an art director, has built up a lengthy list of film and television credits. His television work covers productions such as Interpol Calling, The Persuaders! and The Champions, while his film credits include Nearly A Nasty Accident, Mystery Submarine, The Eagle Has Landed, Moonraker, Superman II, Supergirl, Return to Oz and Empire of the Sun.

BISHOP, JANE

Played by Susan Shaw

Boxer Bernie Bishop’s attractive wife is seen in Nurse, visiting her husband at Haven Hospital.

BISHOP, JEREMY

Played by Jeremy Connor

Seen in Nurse, Jeremy is Bernie Bishop’s little boy. He arrives at Haven Hospital the day his father is discharged, greeting him with a slap across the face.

BISSET, DONALD

Role: Patient in Again Doctor

Donald Bisset, born in London in 1911, was a veteran of stage and screen. His television work included appearances in Crane, Doctor Who, Doctor in the House, The Professionals, Pollyanna, Love for Lydia and The Old Curiosity Shop during the 1960s and ’70s. By this time, he’d already cut his teeth in films, having been cast in productions such as Murder in the Cathedral, Little Red Monkey, The Brain Machine, Up the Creek and The Headless Ghost.

He remained busy in the profession until his death in 1995, with later assignments seeing him play Mr Morgan in 1993’s The Black Velvet Gown, a manservant in The Hound of the Baskervilles and Trafford Simcox in Paradise Postponed. He was also a published children’s writer.

BLACK FINGERNAIL, THE

For ‘The Black Fingernail’ in Don’t Lose Your Head, see ‘Ffing, Sir Rodney’.

BLACKLER, GEORGE

Make-up designer on Nurse, Teacher, Constable, Regardless and Cruising

George Blackler began working as a make-up artist in the 1940s with such classics as The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, A Canterbury Tale and A Matter of Life and Death. He remained busy throughout the ’50s and ’60s, notching up a host of credits, ranging from The Long Memory, Above Us the Waves and A Town Like Alice to Follow A Star, Raising the Wind and A Pair of Briefs. His television work, meanwhile, included various episodes of The Avengers and The Saint.

He was still working in the industry during the 1970s on such films as Lust for a Vampire, Twins of Evil, The Satanic Rites of Dracula and Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers.

BLACKSMITH

Played by Tom Clegg

When the incompetent Marshall P. Knutt locks himself in his own cell in Cowboy, the blacksmith uses a crowbar to break open the door.

BLAIN, JOSEPHINE

Role: Hospitality Girl in Up The Khyber.

BLAKE, DENIS

Role: Rubbatiti in Screaming!

The late Denis Blake worked on various film and television productions during his career, including Casino Royale.

BLASTED OAK, THE

A local landmark on the London Road in the parish of Upper Dencher, it’s where Harriett tells Captain Fancey and Sergeant Strapp, of the Bow Street Runners, to meet Dick Turpin. Seen in Dick.

BLEZARD, JOHN

Art Director on Again Doctor

Born in Kendal in 1927, John Blezard graduated from the Old Vic Theatre School and initially worked in television. During the 1960s he started in films as art director on such pictures as The City of the Dead, Mary Had A Little, Reach for Glory, That Riviera Touch, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Hoffman.

As a production designer his films include Firepower, The Wicked Lady and Bullseye!. Among the television productions he worked on in this capacity are The Adventures of Black Beauty, Peter the Great, Heidi and The Whipping Boy.

Most recently, he was assistant producer on Michael Winner’s 1999 production, Parting Shots.

BLISS, SIDNEY

Played by Sidney James

Co-owns the Wedded Bliss Agency with Sophie Bliss. Seen in Loving, Sidney and Sophie claim they’ve been happily married ten years but it’s all a front; their lies are for the benefit of the company – how can they run a successful marriage agency having never tied the knot themselves? The trouble is, Sidney Bliss is one for the girls and continually dismisses talk of getting married when Sophie raises the subject. The love of his life is Esme Crowfoot but she drops out of circulation when she becomes engaged to Gripper Burke. It’s only when a frustrated Sophie plans to leave the Wedded Bliss Agency for good that Sidney comes to his senses and realises he can’t manage without his long-term partner.

BLISS, SOPHIE

Played by Hattie Jacques

One half of the Wedded Bliss Agency, a marriage bureau run with her partner of ten years, Sidney Bliss. Seen in Loving, Sophie – whose real name is Sophie Plummet – and Sidney claim they’ve been happily married for a decade but it’s all a lie for the benefit of the company. The neglected Sophie Bliss ends up doing most of the donkey work around the office whilst Sidney goes off vetting all the attractive females who happen to walk through the door of their fourth-floor office.

When she can’t take any more, Sophie tries her luck with Mr Snooper, a bachelor working as a marriage guidance counsellor who’s told by his boss to find a wife if he wants to save his job, but it doesn’t work out; fortunately for her, Sidney realises how much he actually needs her in his business and personal life and they tie the knot in front of all the happy – or not so happy in most cases – couples they’ve united over the years.

BLOGGS, MURIEL

Played by Barbara Windsor

For Muriel Bloggs in Girls, see ‘Springs, Hope’.

BLONDE IN PUB

Played by Claire Davenport

Known as the Closet Queen of Camden Town because she can only make love standing up inside a closet, the corpulent blonde is seen in Emmannuelle during Leyland’s flashback sequence. She takes the chauffeur back to her flat in Mayfair and it isn’t long before they’re undressed and heading for the closet; even the return of the blonde’s drunk husband doesn’t deter them.

BLOOMER, SERGEANT MAJOR ‘TIGER’

Played by Windsor Davies

The loud-mouthed sergeant major, christened Tiger by his admirer, Private Ffoukes-Sharpe, shouts his way through England in a vain attempt to inject some order and discipline into experimental 1313 anti-aircraft battery.

BLUNT, EVELYN

Played by June Whitfield

Evelyn, who’s seen in Abroad, is a member of the party which travels to the Mediterranean resort of Elsbels with Wundatours Limited. It’s certainly a holiday to remember because she goes through a complete transformation, thanks to Georgio, the hotel barman, who makes her realise what she’s been missing over the years in her sexless marriage. Her constant henpecking and whinging disappear, much to the delight of her sexually frustrated hubby, Stanley. The Blunts have one daughter, though we learn nothing about her other than that she has many of her mother’s traits.