Cor, Blimey!

Having just watched the film I have to agree in parts with the bottom two contributors in that the inaccuracies in the film are a let down. I sat there and laughed when they used Bresslaw in place of Scott for the Henry scene.

That said, what a superb film. Don't be fooled, as one of the other contributors said for Barbara Windsor to put herself in the film gives it an air of accuracy.

It is a homage to those characters it portrays. Too often a film biopic will show someone completely different to the truth. This film gave it warts and all. Superbly acted by the front three and a game of spot the carry on stars throughout. I'd echo a shame that it couldn't show some of the other principle characters in depth but I suppose when you've got ninety minutes you go with what you can.

Very amusing to see the Goldfinger characters, in particular as Shirley Eaton had been a carry on actress.

You could only feel despair for Williams, a tortured soul hiding behind a screen of caustic veneer. Sid James character starts as a dirty old man who it soon shows as someone of very little repertoire other than the same parlour trick to seduce. The caravan incident is straight out of Carry On although I think the connotations of Ronnie Knights hard-man are far too camp and weak.

Overall though, massively enjoyable. Those who found this disturbing should take off those rose tinted glasses.

Despite the fact that a number of chronological inaccuracies can be a little off-putting, the sheer talent and warmth of the actors bringing these well-known and much loved characters to life goes a long way toward redeeming the film from its obvious shortcomings. The principal casting is sublime, without exception. Even the late Kenneth MacDonald, better known as Mike in Only Fools and Horses, has a great cameo as Barbara Windsor's comically sinister minder and associate of her then husband, Ronnie Knight.

For me, the film comes into its own in the second half, as the characters cope with the looming demise of the Carry On franchise and confront their own unravelling lives. It's hard to imagine a more convincing Kenneth Williams than Adam Godley, although the other players are just as accomplished.

One point to take issue with, for me, is the portrayal of Sid James, although Geoffrey Hutchings' performance is flawless and convincing. It's well known that the real Sid had his flaws, but many of his fellow cast-members, male and female, have described him in interviews as a gentleman, well-mannered and considerate, a pleasure to work with, a generous actor and thoroughly nice man. This doesn't really shine through in the portrayal, and early in the film especially, he is represented as little more than an unwashed serial sex-pest. The passion-fruit gag (best left to the imagination) becomes cringe-worthy and I think is way overdone.

As the film progresses, a more human side emerges and we see Sid's enormous popularity and warm relationship with his fans, as his infatuation with Barbara Windsor becomes destructive. Samantha Spiro's Barbara Windsor is so believable that you almost don't notice when the real Babs herself joins Adam Godley's Kenneth Williams for some poignant reminiscing in the closing moments of the film.

Many of the real Carry on Gang, despite giving so much pleasure to millions around the world, remained unfulfilled personally and professionally, and endured disappointments and great unhappiness in their off-screen lives. They were exploited very badly by the Carry On producers, who continued to make millions from endless repeats around the world, while the stars themselves had taken relatively modest, one-off fees.

Forgiving some of the film's flaws, it's a nice tribute to a wonderful and much loved generation of British actors and entertainers.

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.

The British public's love affair with the 'Carry On' movies continues with this triumphant re-telling of actress Barbara Windsor's ill-fated romance with her comedy co-star Sidney James.

The film covers the period 1964-1978 and is based on Terry Johnson's hugely successful 1998 stage-play "Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick", now nicely opened up for the big screen. Utilising many of the play's original actors, including Samantha Spiro, Geoff Hutchings and Adam Godley, 'Cor Blimey!' is a real treat for any self-respecting 'Carry On' fan. In particular, Spiro excels as the younger Babs Windsor. She is uncannily accurate in looks, mannerisms and voice, so much so that when the real Windsor appears as herself in the final scene, the join between the two actresses is hardly noticeable.

Hutchings and Godley are also perfectly cast as Sid James and Kenneth Williams respectively, but viewers expecting just laughs will be a little disappointed. Aside from the leads, Williams is portrayed as a lonely unfulfilled hypochondriac and Charles Hawtrey (played by Hugh Walters) as an alcoholic mother's boy.

Always moving and sensitively acted, 'Cor Blimey!' is a touching but extremely engaging and enjoyable film. Many fans will be left with tears in their eyes by the end. Several factual inaccuracies aside, this is top notch entertainment, no messing about! Highly recommended.

We know that many of the actors in the long running Carry On series had personal problems - perhaps this is why they were so funny and we laughed with them not at them. This film could have only been made by people with a deep affection for the Carry On films and the actors involved. Don't expect an air brushing of history to pretend all the Carry On actors were perfect. Also this is only an interpretation of the events and characters and does not purport to be autobiographical. It is both very funny and also very sad - the two masks of comedy and tragedy. The impersonations are extremely good. The fact that Barbara Windsor was willing to take part must at least indicate approval from one Carry On cast member.