Charles Hawtrey has been destined to be remembered as whatshisname, the skinny one with glasses from the Carry on films. You know the one a bit like Kenneth Williams.
In a cruel irony, Hawtrey career was blighted by arguments over billing. He would often lose out on work or put people off employing him because he wanted to be top or higher up the bill.
Far from being just that chap in the Carry on films, Hawtrey had a incredible career.
He started out as a child actor in silent movies and in the theatre, he was Englands leading boy soprano with 'hit' records. He worked with a vast who's who of film and stage in the 1930's and 1940's. Errol Flynn, Lawrence Oliver, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Max Miller, Alastair Sims, George Formby and on almost endlessly) Admittedly he would exaggerate his links with such stars.
He was a writer, director and composer. (although without great success, except in one murder mystery where he played a role in drag only to be revealed as a man at the end of the play, so convincing was he, even theatre critics were stunned by the revelation)
The Henry and Norman Bones Mysteries (No I've never heard of them either) which he starred in with Patricia Hayes ran for 17 years on Radio, yet his involvement ended over an argument as to whether the billing should be Charles Hawtrey with Patricia Hayes, or Charles Hawtrey and Patricia Hayes.
Our House - an hour long sitcom on ITV he starred in with Hattie Jaques and Joan Sims ran to 39 episodes and a spin off series best of friends a further 13.
More remembered are his film with Will Hay and perhaps his time in the Army Game, another early sitcom.
In his early days, Hawtrey was well known for being utterly professional and very talented as a performer.
Unfortunately, Hawtrey acquired a drink problem which descended into alcoholism. For most of his later years the only people who would employ him were the Carry On Films and one organiser of theatre shows - Aubrey Philips who had to work round his drunkenness.
In another cruel twist of fate, Hawtrey felt he wasn't given big enough roles or high enough billing - which no doubt fueled his drinking and his awkward and rude behaviour - but these were the reasons people felt they could not give him bigger role or higher billing.
For the Carry On Film he was paid £2000 a time, (for 6 weeks filming) compared to £5000 commanded by Sid James and Kenneth Williams. Although he grumbled about the films, he was usually keen to promote them, as it meant a free meal., drink and being treated like a star for a day.
For touring in panto and such, he could get £250 a week plus expenses. Not bad, but not the £1000+ a week top stars would expect.
Well known as an eccentric - he would buy cheap cigarettes and expensive champagne. He's drink tea and bring sandwiches when filming to save money yet take a taxi for ridiculous journeys.
He did become very reclusive towards the end of this life, but was not without friends. It was his wish that few people came to his funeral. Admirably he was one of the first stars to come out as being gay.
People would ask for autographs thinking his name was Kenneth Williams or Kenneth Connor, so much so that he started saying "I suppose you think I'm fucking Barbara Windsor" and would be incredibly rude.
Did this mean he was right to be so concerned about billing all along ?
He felt typecast by the carry on films, yet without them and the endless repeats, for which he received no money, he would probably be hardly remembered at all.
whatshisname - the life and death of Charles Hawtrey by Wes Butters ISBN 13:978-0-9557670-7-4
Showing posts with label Carry On. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carry On. Show all posts
Monday, 29 August 2011
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Library Books July 2011
Sid James Cockney Rebel by Robert Ross iSBN 978 1 906779 35 1
Sid James is usually regarded as one of those strange (is it only British) Phenomena, an actor who played the same character time after time. You knew what to expect with Sid James.
James Robertson Justice, Terry Thomas, Kenneth Williams, Sean Connery - the line between acting and just being the persona they had adopted was far from clear.
Perhaps surprisingly given the number of films he was in, as well as plentiful TV and the unforgettable radio of Hancocks Half Hour - I believe this is only the second biography of Sid. It scores heavily over the previous attempt in that it has a lot more information and reminiscences from friends and colleagues. There is an obvious and undenied element of hero worship on the part of the author - but that works well in capturing the appeal of Sid James. It is interesting to note how much Sid resisted becoming a top of the bill star - and how he was concerned about his image and keen to see it evolve.
Paintings that changed the world by Klaus Reichold and Bernhard Graf ISBN 3-7913-1983-3
The first thing I liked about this book was that the introduction starts by saying "Of course, no painting really changed the world !" But it works very well as an overview of different paintings from cave painting from over 17,000 years ago to Andy Warhol in the 1960's. A page of text and often a few other relevant pictures offer context and explanation for each of the main pictures. I am always surprised about how small many original artworks are, quite often, no more than 60cm by 40cm.
Do you think that's wise - The life of John Le Mesurier by Graham McCann
ISBN 978-1 84513 583 6
A very warm and well written book. John Le Merurier is probably best know for playing Sgt Wilson in Dad's Army, but also memorable for host of films where you remembered he'd been in them, even though he might have been on screen for just a few minutes. As self-described jobbing actor, Le Mesurier was more than capable of taking on more challenging roles, which sometimes came his way. The book is excellent in dealing with his complicated relationships with Hattie Jacques and Tony Hancock. The only error I spotted was the claim Hancock used teleprompters for the HHH episode the lift - when that was recorded before the car accident that that led to Hancock using such machines.
My life in Comedy - Nicholas Parsons ISBN 9781845966218
Nicholas Parsons has already written an autobiography - so this book
Nicholas started as a straight actor but has had a career that has covered:
straight man, game show host, west end stage, cabaret, film and radio.
This book has anecdote's about lots of famous people he has worked with over the years,
rarely gushing and not afraid to be critical of some people !
the chapters on his role as a straight man and as chair of just a minute were interesting
as well as his reflections on comedians. His insight into the early days of TV and post war films
were good too.
The elephant to Hollywood - Michael Caine - the Autobiography ISBN 978-1-444-70003-9
A very chatty style - a rags to riches story and a remarkable 50 year career, he must be doing something right.
Sid James is usually regarded as one of those strange (is it only British) Phenomena, an actor who played the same character time after time. You knew what to expect with Sid James.
James Robertson Justice, Terry Thomas, Kenneth Williams, Sean Connery - the line between acting and just being the persona they had adopted was far from clear.
Perhaps surprisingly given the number of films he was in, as well as plentiful TV and the unforgettable radio of Hancocks Half Hour - I believe this is only the second biography of Sid. It scores heavily over the previous attempt in that it has a lot more information and reminiscences from friends and colleagues. There is an obvious and undenied element of hero worship on the part of the author - but that works well in capturing the appeal of Sid James. It is interesting to note how much Sid resisted becoming a top of the bill star - and how he was concerned about his image and keen to see it evolve.
Paintings that changed the world by Klaus Reichold and Bernhard Graf ISBN 3-7913-1983-3
The first thing I liked about this book was that the introduction starts by saying "Of course, no painting really changed the world !" But it works very well as an overview of different paintings from cave painting from over 17,000 years ago to Andy Warhol in the 1960's. A page of text and often a few other relevant pictures offer context and explanation for each of the main pictures. I am always surprised about how small many original artworks are, quite often, no more than 60cm by 40cm.
Do you think that's wise - The life of John Le Mesurier by Graham McCann
ISBN 978-1 84513 583 6
A very warm and well written book. John Le Merurier is probably best know for playing Sgt Wilson in Dad's Army, but also memorable for host of films where you remembered he'd been in them, even though he might have been on screen for just a few minutes. As self-described jobbing actor, Le Mesurier was more than capable of taking on more challenging roles, which sometimes came his way. The book is excellent in dealing with his complicated relationships with Hattie Jacques and Tony Hancock. The only error I spotted was the claim Hancock used teleprompters for the HHH episode the lift - when that was recorded before the car accident that that led to Hancock using such machines.
My life in Comedy - Nicholas Parsons ISBN 9781845966218
Nicholas Parsons has already written an autobiography - so this book
Nicholas started as a straight actor but has had a career that has covered:
straight man, game show host, west end stage, cabaret, film and radio.
This book has anecdote's about lots of famous people he has worked with over the years,
rarely gushing and not afraid to be critical of some people !
the chapters on his role as a straight man and as chair of just a minute were interesting
as well as his reflections on comedians. His insight into the early days of TV and post war films
were good too.
The elephant to Hollywood - Michael Caine - the Autobiography ISBN 978-1-444-70003-9
A very chatty style - a rags to riches story and a remarkable 50 year career, he must be doing something right.
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