Carry
On Matron Trivia
- Peter Rogers registered the title of Carry On Matron
in September 1968, just before the release of Carry On Doctor, and set the
wheels in motion for production soon after the release of Carry On Again
Doctor. Clearly medical fare was proving popular and producer Peter Rogers
was keen to rush a further entry into production. However, ironically,
regular Carry On scribe Talbot Rothwell wasn’t the original choice for
scriptwriter. Agent Peter Eade, who represented Kenneth Williams and Joan
Sims, also represented writer Norman Hudis who had scripted the first six
Carry On films including the pioneering medical classic Carry On Nurse.
Signed up for £5000, Norman Hudis was set to begin work on Carry On Matron
but his membership of the Writers’ Guild of America caused problems. So much
so that the deal fell through. By 10th February 1970, Peter Rogers informed
the Rank Organisation that: “you have probably heard that I have cancelled
the Norman Hudis contract and transferred it to Talbot Rothwell.”
- Carry On regular Jack Douglas makes his series debut
with a brief cameo as a much blessed, jittering father who staggers out of
the maternity ward and mutters the immortal words: “can you get me the
Guinness Book of Records please?” As early as 1968 Alexandra Dane had
recommended that Peter Rogers recruit Jack into the Carry On team. His
agent, Michael Sullivan, who also represented Sid James and Charles Hawtrey,
secured Jack a one-day cameo in the film. Jack was paid a Special Rate of
£25 for his contribution, filmed on 25th October 1971. So pleased were the
producer and director that a crate of Dom Perignon champagne arrived at his
home bearing the note: ‘Welcome to the Carry On team, Peter Rogers and
Gerald Thomas.’
- Two of the longest serving members of the Carry On
team, Hattie Jacques and Sid James, are treated to scripted in-jokes from
Talbot Rothwell that reflect their earlier screen successes. The summary of
the television medical drama that Hattie, along with Charles Hawtrey,
settles down to watch is taken directly from the 1946 Alastair Sim classic
Green For Danger, a film which gave Hattie her first big screen credit as
the sinister radio announcer broadcasting anti-British propaganda. Sid
James, a prolific small-time crook in British films of the 1940s and 1950s,
is promoted to the leader of a criminal gang here. The set-up is
particularly similar to the 1959 black comedy Too Many Crooks which starred
George Cole and Terry-Thomas. Sid James was part of the criminal fraternity
as was Bernard Bresslaw who returns to bemuse and bewilder Sid in Carry On
Matron.
- The much respected director of photography Ernie
Steward had been working on the films, on and off, since Carry On Up The
Khyber. As a subtle, on-set joke, the medical book that hypochondriac
surgeon Kenneth Williams consults, The Psychology of Jealousy, is authored
by Ernest Steward. He would work on his tenth and final Carry On film, Carry
On Behind, in 1975 before retiring.
- Carry On director Gerald Thomas was always praised
for his speedy filming technique and his mind boggling ability to capture a
scene in the least number of takes. For Carry On Matron he was proud to
announce at the end of film party on Thursday 18th November 1971 that he was
six and a half days ahead of schedule. As Kenneth Williams noted in his
diary entry for that day: “he said it was a record for him. I should think
it was a record for the industry.”
- Madeline Smith proved popular with the crew, so Peter
Rogers asked her to come back for Abroad, but due to work commitments, she
had to decline. The part went to Sally Geeson.
- The plot of the Medical Drama that Hattie Jacques and
Charles Hawtrey settle down to watch is taken directly from the 1946 Green
for Danger, which gave Hattie her first talking role.
- Due to the production costs being finalised, Jack
Douglas' agent couldn't get a fee for his small cameo. Peter Rogers
sent him a crate of Dom Perignon to make up for this fact, something the connoisseur
Jack much appreciated.
- Ernest Stewart the Carry On Director of Photography
wrote a book called The Psychology Of Jealousy - the same book that Sir
Bernard Cutting refers too in his study.
