No Kidding

Within 20 minutes of watching this film, which I can only describe as soppy and sugar coated, the notion of a married couple, played by Leslie Phillips and Geraldine McEwan, playing temporary surrogate parents to a motley crew of a large number of children from very different cultural & social backgrounds in a large, rambling country house invites disbelief. The children are frankly too good to be true, being simply caricatured as young people who are 'glacial' in terms of feelings and emotions. It's supposed to be a 'feel good' film where an ordinary, well intentioned middle class couple try to make a loving home, where liberal values of tolerance, love and care will create a happy community of young people, where everyone is taught duty, respect and a sense of responsibility. It has a strong cast, but sadly they're wasted, as the unfunny 'comedy scenes' are painful to watch, and despite the usual parade of British stereotypical characters bobbing in and out of the film, trying to enliven and inject life into the proceedings, it doesn't work, but simply makes the whole thing a tiresome experience. Give this film a miss!

David and Catherine Robinson inherit an estate and decide to run a summer camp for the children of wealthy parents who are looking for a nice place to dump their children for the summer. The children are a rambunctious lot, especially the American boy. You can tell he's American from the little tough guy American slang he uses, an affectation that quite rightly annoys David. The film and it's characters are engaging throughout although stereotypical. All of the actors were very good indeed but hands down the most memorable and funniest performance is that by Joan Hickson, who was a riot as the drunken cook. It was also interesting to see two Miss Marple's - Hickson and McEwan - in the same movie. Hickson was also in another movie, 'An Alligator Named Daisy,' that featured another Miss Marple, the eccentric Margaret Rutherford. An amusing and pleasant movie that's worth a watch.

On watching this lame comedy it occurred to me that many of the elements of the previous years' "Carry On Teacher" were recycled in this film.The kids in both films go out of control in the first half.They then come together for a common purpose.In Teacher to keep Ted Ray at the school and in this film to save the home from being closed down.Leslie Phillips is of course a common element to both films.However the only performances worthy of note in this film are those of Irene Handel and Joan Hickson.It goes to show that even given a good cast and reliable director and first class writer that the team were still capable of churning out unfunny comedies between Carry Ons.Peter Rogers always maintained that the title was the star of the Carry Ons.that was patently untrue.Take,James,Williams,Hawtrey,Jacques out of a film and you end up with a very dull film.

Before they concentrated on the Carry On franchise, producer Peter Rogers, director Gerald Thomas, write Norman Hudis, composer Bruce Montgomery et al made a series of comedies such as "No Kidding". David (Leslie Phillips) and Catherine (Geraldine McEwan) Robinson inherit Chartham Place, a large country home, and convert it into a holiday home for rich children. The children come from a cross section of families but, in general, all suffer neglect from their bust parents. They include an arrogant American brother and sister, the son of a social climbing scrap merchant, two sons of a Middle East King, two daughters of African politicans, the daughter of a Duke, a boy with a seriously ill mother and a sexy teenager with a vivid imagination (Julia Lockwood). As with comedies of this genre there is minimal plot. Christine encourages the children's "freedom", obviously until freedom goes too far. A matron (June Jago) feuds with the drunken cook (Joan Hickson, enjoying herself immensely) who, in turn, is abetted by the caretaker (Noel Purcell). An officious alderwoman (Irene Handl) has an eye on the property for a community center. Given these acting professionals the acting is good across the board. Geraldine McEwan shows the greatest range and its a pity that she isn't better known in North America. Overall this comedy can be recommended, it may not have belly laughs but will bring many smiles.

It comes as quite a shock to see a lynx-eyed young Geraldine McEwan scampering about this twee little piece of whimsy made in the summer of 1960 by 'Carry On' producers Peter Rogers & Gerald Thomas.

As usual it has an amazing cast ranging from a teenaged Francesca Annis to Earl Cameron (now 102 years old)! But the real star is probably Birchens Spring, near Beaconsfield, where the exteriors were shot (the interiors were filmed at Pinewood).

Designed in the thirties by John Campbell for a South African diamond merchant named Rissik, and set in about twelve acres on a rise alongside the road to Amersham, it was shortly afterwards bought for £12,000 by Dirk Bogarde who renamed it Raiding Hall before later selling it to - Peter Rogers!