Cor, Blimey! (2000) (TV)

Director:

Terry Johnson

Writer:

Terry Johnson (written by)

Release Date:

24 April 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Dramatisation of the love affair between Sidney James and Barbara Windsor, played out against the backdrop of the 'Carry On' films during the 1960s and 1970s. |

Plot Keywords:

Carry On | Affair | Fling | Marriage | Actor

Cast

Jacqueline Defferary	...	Sally
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Sid James
David McAllister	...	Gerald Thomas (as David McAlister)
Jason Round	...	Clapper Loader
Adam Godley	...	Kenneth Williams
Steve Speirs	...	Bernard Bresslaw
Hugh Walters	...	Charles Hawtrey
Samantha Spiro	...	Barbara Windsor
Alan Barnes	...	1st Assistant Director
Maria Charles	...	Charlie's Mum
Chrissie Cotterill	...	Joan Sims
Louise Delamere	...	Imogen
Alice Bailey Johnson	...	Alice
Derek Howard	...	Kenneth Connor
Richard Vanstone	...	Alf

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, England, UK

Company:

Company Television

Trivia:

Based on Terry Johnston's play "Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick", performed in the Royal National Theatre in London, UK. Many members of the original cast - including the three leads Samantha Spiro, Geoffrey Hutchings and Adam Godley - reprised their original stage roles for this adaptation.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the latter part of the film, which is set in 1976, Sid's wardrobe assistant says she has been asked to take part in the making of the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967), which was made in 1967.

Quotes:

Barbara Windsor: I think heaven's being left alone with a Steinbeck in the edit suite. You sit in front of your life and you're allowed to re-edit it. Cut the rotten bits, loop the sex, montage the good moments. Live it over and over, a bit better every time. And eventually, make it perfect.

Movie Connections:

References Goldfinger (1964)

Fascinating piece of pop lore

The "Carry On" movies were probably better distributed in Canada than the States, because we'd been weaned on British humour by the CBC, but they were strictly B-market, playing small town theatres and drive-in double bills. Still, aside from Sidney James with his TV shows, it's doubtful that the majority of those appreciative rural audiences could attach names to the faces on the screen, and while we drooled with the rest of this continent over the doings of the Beatles and Mick and Marianne and even Peter and Britt, the lives of the "Carry On" crew were an unknown commodity.

"Cor Blimey!" is something I tuned into out of idle curiosity and found myself rivetted. While I don't doubt it has its share of inaccuracies (some even I spotted, like misplaced productions in the time frame), the warts-and-all depictions of these troubled comedians has an authenticity I don't for a moment doubt. The friendship (yes, friendship) between James and Williams is particularly provocative, as they verbally spar on a constant basis and, deep down, enjoy every second of it, and each other. A telling moment is when Kenneth learns of Sid's death, and his smart alecky composure instantly falls away to a look of stunned grief. Adam Godfrey is nothing short of amazing as the caustic Williams (that moment where he tells the little autograph hunter to bugger off is horribly hilarious), a beautifully realized portrait of a brilliant and frustrated soul driven to extremes of exhibitionism. I remember reading the Joe Orton biography years ago, and being mystified that a "Carry On" comic was so thick with the doomed literary couple, like trying to evision Soupy Sales hanging out with Paul and Jane Bowles. Clearly Williams was exactly their type, and it's a pity that the rather tepid "Prick Up Your Ears" didn't incorporate him as a character.

While the story's focal point, Sid James' loosing battle with the bottle and his crazed romantic obsession with Barbara, who only has deep loyal friendship to offer, is rich and poignant, I could've done with more details about the rest of the "Carry On" crew. We only get the most fleeting glimpses of the (excellently cast) Charles Hawtrey and Joan Sims and Bernard Bresslaw. Also there's some conspicuous absenses, such as the divine Hattie Jacques (Dawn French would've been ideal). One moment that brings to mind another reviewer's comment on the amusing blend of film artifice and reality, is when Sid has his first stroke and he's in the hospital with the Jacques-like floor matron (Claire Cathcart). I was thinking for sure that this was a recreation of the "Carry On Doctor" set, until Barbara shows up to visit.

Anyway, I'll leave disputes over the film's tastefulness and historical accuracy to people of the Isles who better knew these stars, but for someone from this side of the pond for whom the "Carry On" films is a delightful 60s/70s footnote, this finely done TV film is an intelligent and illuminating watch.