Jim
Dale Trivia
- Jim Dale was very proud of doing his stunts in Again
Doctor. He went down the stairs on the trolley, and he jumped in to
the hammock on the island. These caused a him serious injury, and he
suffered with back problems for years. This was all good training for
him as years later he took the role of P T Barnum on Broadway, and
this is full of stunts.
- Eric Rogers transcripted all the music for Lionel Barts
Oliver. Bart was unable to read or write music and so employed
Rogers to do the job. Bart sung while he wrote them down. Years
later Jim took on the role of Fagin in a revival of the musical in the
West End and Broadway.
- Phil Silvers' sight was failing fast, and to compensate
for this fact he was wearing contact lenses as well as glasses. It was
a familiar sight to see Jim Dale, Peter Butterworth and Silvers scratting
around the sand for a lost lens whilst filming Follow That Camel.
- Jim Dale was originally considered for the coach driver
in Camping, but he was unavailable, and so the part was cut back and given to
Julian Holloway.
- In Columbus, the bit where Jim Dale and Bernard Cribbins arrive at
America was filmed at the same place as The Bernard Cribbins/Kenneth
Williams scene from Jack.
- Jim Dale was second choice for the role of
Columbus. First choice went to Robbie Coltrane - Unbelievable.
- Sara Crowe married Jim Dale's son whilst filming
Columbus after meeting on the set of Columbus. He was playing one of
the Spanish Inquisitor and his dad's double.
- Sid James and Jim Dale came up with the gag in Don't
Lose Your Head, where a
messenger is told to drop the message in to the basket and the Duc will read
it later.
- Jim recalls that he only has a cameo role in Jack, but
remembers that unusually one of his adlibbed jokes was used. Where he is
showing Bernard Cribbins to the Inn a fit of bowing breaks out and
eventually Jim says, "I'd get in if I were you, they'll be shut".
The script is normally the bible in a Carry On.
- Jim Dale was the original person in mind for the
character of Jungle Boy in Up The Jungle, but Jim had become a respected comedian and actor
and thought the grunting and groaning was beneath him, so he refused.
Terry Scott filled the part.
- The title song from Screaming was recorded and released by a pop star
called Boz. But the version in the film has the credit Anon. It
was in fact sung by Jim Dale.