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{{Infobox television | {{Infobox television | ||
| image = Cor, Blimey!.jpg | | image = Cor, Blimey!.jpg | ||
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| screenplay = | | screenplay = | ||
| story = | | story = | ||
| director = [[ | | director = [[Terry Johnson (dramatist)|Terry Johnson]] | ||
| starring = [[ | | starring = [[Geoffrey Hutchings|Geoffrey Hutchings]]<br />[[Samantha Spiro|Samantha Spiro]]<br />[[Adam Godley|Adam Godley]] | ||
| narrated = | | narrated = | ||
| theme_music_composer = [[ | | theme_music_composer = [[Barrington Pheloung|Barrington Pheloung]] | ||
| country = | | country = | ||
| language = | | language = | ||
| Line 24: | Line 23: | ||
| distributor = | | distributor = | ||
| budget = | | budget = | ||
| network = [[ | | network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] | ||
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2000|04|24}} | | first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2000|04|24}} | ||
| last_aired = | | last_aired = | ||
| Line 30: | Line 29: | ||
| followed_by = | | followed_by = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Cor, Blimey!''''' is a 2000 TV film that follows the relationship between [[Carry On (film series)|''Carry On'' film]] actors [[Sid James]] (played by [[ | '''''Cor, Blimey!''''' is a 2000 TV film that follows the relationship between [[Carry On (film series)|''Carry On'' film]] actors [[Sid James]] (played by [[Geoffrey Hutchings|Geoffrey Hutchings]]) and [[Barbara Windsor]] (played by [[Samantha Spiro|Samantha Spiro]]). | ||
The film, first broadcast on [[ | The film, first broadcast on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] in April 2000, was adapted by [[Terry Johnson (dramatist)|Terry Johnson]] from his stage play ''[[Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick]]'' which debuted at the [[Royal National Theatre|Royal National Theatre]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/176719.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=The carry on behind the Carry On films | date=21 September 1998 | access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref> | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
''Cor, Blimey!'' starts with the arrival of Sid James's new wardrobe assistant on the set of ''[[Carry On Cleo]]'', at [[Pinewood Studios]] in 1963. Sid is depicted as a [[gambling]] womaniser with antipathy toward his professional rival, actor Kenneth Williams (played by [[Adam Godley]]). | ''Cor, Blimey!'' starts with the arrival of Sid James's new wardrobe assistant on the set of ''[[Carry On Cleo]]'', at [[Pinewood Studios|Pinewood Studios]] in 1963. Sid is depicted as a [[gambling|gambling]] womaniser with antipathy toward his professional rival, actor Kenneth Williams (played by [[Adam Godley|Adam Godley]]). | ||
James meets actress Barbara Windsor, who's at Pinewood to dub one of her scenes in ''[[Carry On Spying]]'', and immediately falls for her; everyone, including Windsor, assumes he's just infatuated with her. | James meets actress Barbara Windsor, who's at Pinewood to dub one of her scenes in ''[[Carry On Spying]]'', and immediately falls for her; everyone, including Windsor, assumes he's just infatuated with her. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 40: | ||
James pursues Windsor, keeping an eye on her during the famous flying-bikini-top scene in ''[[Carry On Camping]]''. In 1973, he becomes obsessed with her while on location for ''[[Carry On Girls]]'', and Windsor decides to sleep with him once, assuming that he would then lose interest; however, the two end up having a long affair. | James pursues Windsor, keeping an eye on her during the famous flying-bikini-top scene in ''[[Carry On Camping]]''. In 1973, he becomes obsessed with her while on location for ''[[Carry On Girls]]'', and Windsor decides to sleep with him once, assuming that he would then lose interest; however, the two end up having a long affair. | ||
By 1976, the affair is over; a few months later, James dies at the age of 62, after having a heart attack on stage during the opening night of ''The Mating Season'' at the [[Sunderland Empire Theatre]]. | By 1976, the affair is over; a few months later, James dies at the age of 62, after having a heart attack on stage during the opening night of ''The Mating Season'' at the [[Sunderland Empire Theatre|Sunderland Empire Theatre]]. | ||
The drama ends with Kenneth Williams reassuring Windsor that James's death was not her fault and Windsor encouraging the melancholic Williams to enjoy life more. For the final scene, Windsor replaced Spiro and played herself. | The drama ends with Kenneth Williams reassuring Windsor that James's death was not her fault and Windsor encouraging the melancholic Williams to enjoy life more. For the final scene, Windsor replaced Spiro and played herself. | ||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
* [[Geoffrey Hutchings]] as [[Sid James]] | * [[Geoffrey Hutchings|Geoffrey Hutchings]] as [[Sid James]] | ||
* [[Samantha Spiro]] and [[Barbara Windsor]] as Barbara Windsor | * [[Samantha Spiro|Samantha Spiro]] and [[Barbara Windsor]] as Barbara Windsor | ||
* [[David McAlister]] as [[Gerald Thomas]] | * [[David McAlister|David McAlister]] as [[Gerald Thomas]] | ||
* [[Adam Godley]] as [[Kenneth Williams]] | * [[Adam Godley|Adam Godley]] as [[Kenneth Williams]] | ||
* [[Hugh Walters (actor)|Hugh Walters]] as [[Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]] | * [[Hugh Walters (actor)|Hugh Walters]] as [[Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]] | ||
* [[Steve Spiers]] as [[Bernard Bresslaw]] | * [[Steve Spiers|Steve Spiers]] as [[Bernard Bresslaw]] | ||
* Chrissie Cotterill as [[Joan Sims]] | * Chrissie Cotterill as [[Joan Sims]] | ||
* Derek Howard as [[Kenneth Connor]] | * Derek Howard as [[Kenneth Connor]] | ||
* [[Maria Charles]] as Alice Hawtrey | * [[Maria Charles|Maria Charles]] as Alice Hawtrey | ||
* [[Abigail McKern]] as [[Olga Lowe]] | * [[Abigail McKern|Abigail McKern]] as [[Olga Lowe]] | ||
==Production== | ==Production== | ||
[[Geoffrey Hutchings]] found it difficult to play Sid James because there was little archive material of James as himself. The actor used James' distinctive "guttural laugh" as a "way in" to the character.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Thomas |title=The Sid and Babs carry on |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/719630.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=22 April 2000 |access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> [[Samantha Spiro]] "felt a sense of responsibility" playing Barbara Windsor, who appears as herself in the final scene.<ref name="bbc"/> | [[Geoffrey Hutchings|Geoffrey Hutchings]] found it difficult to play Sid James because there was little archive material of James as himself. The actor used James' distinctive "guttural laugh" as a "way in" to the character.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Thomas |title=The Sid and Babs carry on |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/719630.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=22 April 2000 |access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> [[Samantha Spiro|Samantha Spiro]] "felt a sense of responsibility" playing Barbara Windsor, who appears as herself in the final scene.<ref name="bbc"/> | ||
==Basis in reality== | ==Basis in reality== | ||
| Line 65: | Line 64: | ||
The action covers the period from 1964 until Sid James' death on stage in 1976. However, events are not necessarily depicted in chronological order and a few liberties are taken with continuity. For example: | The action covers the period from 1964 until Sid James' death on stage in 1976. However, events are not necessarily depicted in chronological order and a few liberties are taken with continuity. For example: | ||
* Bernard Bresslaw is seen playing Harold Crump in ''[[Carry On Spying]]'' and Cardinal Wolsey in ''[[Carry On Henry]]'' when in fact these parts were played by [[ | * Bernard Bresslaw is seen playing Harold Crump in ''[[Carry On Spying]]'' and Cardinal Wolsey in ''[[Carry On Henry]]'' when in fact these parts were played by [[Bernard Cribbins|Bernard Cribbins]] and [[Terry Scott]] respectively. | ||
* Just before James's death, Barbara Windsor is seen walking off the set of ''[[Carry On Emmannuelle]]'' in disgust at the poor script when, in fact, she never went near the studios. Also, that film did not go into production until nearly two years after James's death. | * Just before James's death, Barbara Windsor is seen walking off the set of ''[[Carry On Emmannuelle]]'' in disgust at the poor script when, in fact, she never went near the studios. Also, that film did not go into production until nearly two years after James's death. | ||
* The scene in which Sid James reads of [[Tony Hancock|Tony Hancock's]] death follows a scene set in 1969. Yet Hancock died the previous year, 1968. | * The scene in which Sid James reads of [[Tony Hancock|Tony Hancock's]] death follows a scene set in 1969. Yet Hancock died the previous year, 1968. | ||
* At the time the film reaches its climax and portrays James's death, ''[[Carry On England]]'' had not even been filmed, yet Kenneth Williams refers to the movie and his disdain for it. | * At the time the film reaches its climax and portrays James's death, ''[[Carry On England]]'' had not even been filmed, yet Kenneth Williams refers to the movie and his disdain for it. | ||
* In the scene immediately before his death in April 1976, James's dresser discusses leaving his employ to work on the Bond film ''[[ | * In the scene immediately before his death in April 1976, James's dresser discusses leaving his employ to work on the Bond film ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'', a film that was released back in 1967. In the same scene, she informs him that the transition of UK government from [[Edward Heath|Edward Heath]] to [[Harold Wilson|Harold Wilson]] is taking place, an event that actually happened in February 1974. | ||
* Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor finding out about James's death from the TV news together is also wrong - Windsor was informed at home by telephone after returning from rehearsing ''[[ | * Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor finding out about James's death from the TV news together is also wrong - Windsor was informed at home by telephone after returning from rehearsing ''[[Twelfth Night|Twelfth Night]]'' at [[Chichester|Chichester]], and Williams found out by telephone from his agent after spending the evening with his mother. | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
On [[ | On [[Rotten Tomatoes|Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on {{nowrap|86 reviews}}, with a [[weighted average|weighted average]] rating of 3.5/5.<ref name="rottomatoes">{{cite web |title=Cor Blimey! (20oo) - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cor_blimey/ |website=Rotten Tomatoes.com |publisher=Flixer |access-date=1 September 2018}}</ref> | ||
[[ | [[Mark Lawson|Mark Lawson]], writing for ''[[The Guardian|The Guardian]]'', complimented Johnson's adaptation. He writes, "bringing the ''Carry On'' movies to television via the stage is his most complicated mixed-media installation yet, but it succeeds triumphantly ... Johnson understands how differently material needs to be shaped for theatre's rectangle of open air and television's oblong of glass." He praises the "depth and intelligence of Johnson's script."<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Lawson |author-link=Mark Lawson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/apr/24/tvandradio.television1 |title=Naughty but nice |work=The Guardian |date=24 April 2000|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> Lawson also praises Hutchings, Spiro and Godley's portrayals of [[Sid James|James]], [[Barbara Windsor|Windsor]] and [[Kenneth Williams|Williams]] respectively. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*''[[ | *''[[Babs (2017 film)|Babs]]'' – Spiro reprises Barbara Windsor in the BBC 2017 Drama. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 23:56, 14 February 2023
| Cor, Blimey! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Based on | Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick by Terry Johnson |
| Written by | Terry Johnson |
| Directed by | Terry Johnson |
| Starring | Geoffrey Hutchings Samantha Spiro Adam Godley |
| Theme music composer | Barrington Pheloung |
| Production | |
| Producer | Margaret Mitchell |
| Cinematography | Paul Wheeler |
| Editor | Martin Sharpe |
| Running time | 108mins |
| Production company | Company Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 24 April 2000 |
Cor, Blimey! is a 2000 TV film that follows the relationship between Carry On film actors Sid James (played by Geoffrey Hutchings) and Barbara Windsor (played by Samantha Spiro).
The film, first broadcast on ITV in April 2000, was adapted by Terry Johnson from his stage play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick which debuted at the Royal National Theatre in 1998.[1]
Plot
Cor, Blimey! starts with the arrival of Sid James's new wardrobe assistant on the set of Carry On Cleo, at Pinewood Studios in 1963. Sid is depicted as a gambling womaniser with antipathy toward his professional rival, actor Kenneth Williams (played by Adam Godley).
James meets actress Barbara Windsor, who's at Pinewood to dub one of her scenes in Carry On Spying, and immediately falls for her; everyone, including Windsor, assumes he's just infatuated with her.
James pursues Windsor, keeping an eye on her during the famous flying-bikini-top scene in Carry On Camping. In 1973, he becomes obsessed with her while on location for Carry On Girls, and Windsor decides to sleep with him once, assuming that he would then lose interest; however, the two end up having a long affair.
By 1976, the affair is over; a few months later, James dies at the age of 62, after having a heart attack on stage during the opening night of The Mating Season at the Sunderland Empire Theatre.
The drama ends with Kenneth Williams reassuring Windsor that James's death was not her fault and Windsor encouraging the melancholic Williams to enjoy life more. For the final scene, Windsor replaced Spiro and played herself.
Cast
- Geoffrey Hutchings as Sid James
- Samantha Spiro and Barbara Windsor as Barbara Windsor
- David McAlister as Gerald Thomas
- Adam Godley as Kenneth Williams
- Hugh Walters as Charles Hawtrey
- Steve Spiers as Bernard Bresslaw
- Chrissie Cotterill as Joan Sims
- Derek Howard as Kenneth Connor
- Maria Charles as Alice Hawtrey
- Abigail McKern as Olga Lowe
Production
Geoffrey Hutchings found it difficult to play Sid James because there was little archive material of James as himself. The actor used James' distinctive "guttural laugh" as a "way in" to the character.[2] Samantha Spiro "felt a sense of responsibility" playing Barbara Windsor, who appears as herself in the final scene.[2]
Basis in reality
The drama is a fictionalised account of the affair which happened between Windsor and James.[3] Fellow Carry On actors Bernard Bresslaw, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey and Joan Sims are seen as minor characters.
The action covers the period from 1964 until Sid James' death on stage in 1976. However, events are not necessarily depicted in chronological order and a few liberties are taken with continuity. For example:
- Bernard Bresslaw is seen playing Harold Crump in Carry On Spying and Cardinal Wolsey in Carry On Henry when in fact these parts were played by Bernard Cribbins and Terry Scott respectively.
- Just before James's death, Barbara Windsor is seen walking off the set of Carry On Emmannuelle in disgust at the poor script when, in fact, she never went near the studios. Also, that film did not go into production until nearly two years after James's death.
- The scene in which Sid James reads of Tony Hancock's death follows a scene set in 1969. Yet Hancock died the previous year, 1968.
- At the time the film reaches its climax and portrays James's death, Carry On England had not even been filmed, yet Kenneth Williams refers to the movie and his disdain for it.
- In the scene immediately before his death in April 1976, James's dresser discusses leaving his employ to work on the Bond film You Only Live Twice, a film that was released back in 1967. In the same scene, she informs him that the transition of UK government from Edward Heath to Harold Wilson is taking place, an event that actually happened in February 1974.
- Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor finding out about James's death from the TV news together is also wrong - Windsor was informed at home by telephone after returning from rehearsing Twelfth Night at Chichester, and Williams found out by telephone from his agent after spending the evening with his mother.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on 86 reviews, with a weighted average rating of 3.5/5.[4]
Mark Lawson, writing for The Guardian, complimented Johnson's adaptation. He writes, "bringing the Carry On movies to television via the stage is his most complicated mixed-media installation yet, but it succeeds triumphantly ... Johnson understands how differently material needs to be shaped for theatre's rectangle of open air and television's oblong of glass." He praises the "depth and intelligence of Johnson's script."[5] Lawson also praises Hutchings, Spiro and Godley's portrayals of James, Windsor and Williams respectively.
See also
- Babs – Spiro reprises Barbara Windsor in the BBC 2017 Drama.
References
- ^ "The carry on behind the Carry On films". BBC News. 21 September 1998. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ a b Thomas, Rebecca (22 April 2000). "The Sid and Babs carry on". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ "Barbara Windsor – Biography on Bio". Thebiographychannel.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Cor Blimey! (20oo) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Flixer. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ Lawson, Mark (24 April 2000). "Naughty but nice". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
External links
- Cor, Blimey! at IMDb
