Richard Webber - The Complete A–Z of Everything Carry On

He died in 1987, aged seventy-eight.

BROOK, OLGA

Continuity on Cleo

Olga Brook began working in continuity from the mid-1930s and was assigned to some memorable films. During a career lasting more than three decades, her film credits included Sleeping Car to Trieste, Morning Departure, Private’s Progress, The Green Man, I’m All Right Jack and Smokescreen.

BROOKING, JOHN

Role: 3rd Sealord in Jack

Supporting artist John Brooking, born in London in 1911, began a steady film and television career in the 1950s, appearing in such pictures as Innocents in Paris, The Gift Horse, The Two-Headed Spy, An Honourable Murder and The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner.

He was seen in various television programmes, such as The Vise, The Cheaters and Danger Man , and had a running part, Dr Stephen Brooks, in Emergency – Ward 10.

He died in 1966.

BROOKS, RAY

Role: Georgio in Abroad

Born in Brighton in 1939, Ray Brooks became an assistant stage manager at the age of sixteen and went on to appear many times in the West End in such productions as Snap and Absent Friends.

The voice behind the classic children’s character Mr Benn, Brooks’s other television work includes Gideon’s Way, Danger Man, Doomwatch, Coronation Street, Big Deal, Cathy Come Home, Growing Pains and the recent BBC series, Two Thousand Acres of Sky.

He began working in films in 1961’s Girl on a Roof , with other credits including The Last Grenade, Tiffany Jones and House of Whipcord.

BROOKS, SUSAN

Played by Zena Clifton

One of the beauty contestants eager to win the Miss Fircombe crown in Girls. A Scottish lass who embarrassingly slips on the catwalk when the event’s saboteurs, members of the Fircombe Women’s Lib Movement who are against the contest, pour slippery liquid over the stage.

BROWNE, DEREK

Camera Operator on Henry

Born in Kenton, Middlesex, in 1927, Derek Browne left school at fourteen and began his career in the film industry at Denham Studios, working as a clapper boy on 1944’s On Approval with Googie Withers and Clive Brook. Before he was called up for National Service, serving with the RAF in Palestine, he worked on and made an uncredited appearance in the 1940s classic, A Canterbury Tale.

He returned to civvy street and joined Pinewood in 1947, initially as a focus puller, but left after a year to work freelance, which he continued doing until retiring in the late 1990s after five decades in the business.

Promoted to camera operator in 1960, his first film in this capacity was Michael Powell’s The Queen’s Guards. Other credits include The Bedford Incident, Zeppelin, For the Love of Ada, Omen II, Trail of the Pink Panther, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Memphis Belle.

BROWN, HERBERT

Played by Norman Rossington

A dimwit in Sergeant who’s become part of the furniture around Heathercrest National Service Depot after failing to graduate from three different intakes. Just when it seems as if he’ll never have the aptitude to pass out, he receives additional tuition from James Bailey and steps in to replace a sick member of Able Platoon for their final day of tests. It may be a shock to everyone’s system but Brown joins up as a regular.

BROWN, MRS

Not seen at the Finisham Maternity Hospital in Matron but her specimen is! It’s collected by Nurse Ball from Dr Prodd’s consulting room.

BROWNING

Played by Brian Osborne

One of the Bow Street Runners in Dick.

BRUTUS

Played by Brian Oulton

Julius Caesar’s political ally is seen in the senate during Cleo.

BRYAN, DORA

Role: Norah in Sergeant

Born in Parbold, Lancashire, in 1923, Dora Bryan made her name playing character parts in British movies during the 1940s and ’50s, and for her long-running stage portrayal of Dolly Levi in the hit musical Hello, Dolly! , clocking up over 800 appearances in two years at Drury Lane.

Daughter of a director in a local cotton bobbin mill, she began her acting career at Oldham Repertory Theatre and by the time war was declared in 1939, she was leading lady. During hostilities, she joined ENSA, and made her West End debut shortly after.

By the 1950s she was a recognisable face on the screen, regularly cast as maids, waitresses, shop assistants and cooks in a host of films, including Once Upon A Dream, Adam and Evelyne, The Interrupted Journey, Something in the City, No Highway and The Fake. Excepting the role as Rita Tushingham’s sluttish mother in A Taste of Honey , which Bryan regarded as her most important and won her a BAFTA for Best Actress, typecasting meant the scope of screen roles offered was limited.

She continued to act on the stage in countless productions and has made frequent excursions onto the television screen, including roles in Last of the Summer Wine, Dinnerladies and Heartbeat. (Note: Bryan used to own the Clarges Hotel in Brighton, used as the location for the hotels in At Your Convenience and at Fircombe in Girls.)

BUCK, JANE

Continuity on Dick

Jane Buck began her career in continuity during the 1950s. Among the films she worked on over the years are Shadow of a Man, The Angry Hills, The Break, Clash By Night, Porridge, Chariots of Fire, Quartet and latterly, in 1983, Heat and Dust.

BULL, CAPTAIN

Played by David Lodge

The captain was unsuccessful in trying to instil discipline into the experimental mixed-sex anti-aircraft battery 1313 in England. He was eventually driven to the bottle by the antics of the rabble he tried in vain to lead, relinquishing command, much to his delight, to Captain Melly, who arrives with hopes and aspirations, many of which are quashed within days.

BULLOCK

Played by David Lodge

One of the Bow Street Runners in Dick.

BULSTRODE, MISS

An unseen patient mentioned in Again Doctor. She’s staying at Dr Nookey’s private clinic for the weight-loss treatment which has secured him fame and fortune.

BULSTRODE, MR

Played by Philip Stone

The bank manager in Convenience whom Boggs goes to see about a loan to fulfil the large bidet order. ( Note: the scene was cut from the film.)

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE. DAY

C.S. of door, as Boggs is shown in.

CASHIER: Mr Boggs, sir.

(As Boggs comes in, carrying a briefcase, the manager gets up and comes into shot to greet him and we now see that it is the man who was in the football ground stand with a hearing aid. His name is Bulstrode and (like most bank managers these days) he treats his caller very warily at first.)

BULSTRODE: My dear Mr Boggs, how good to see you again. Do sit down, sit down.

BOGGS: Thank you, Mr Bulstrode. And how have you been?

BULSTRODE: Oh, not too bad. But you know how trying this business is these days. Credit squeezes … bank rate … overdrafts … it’s all very worrying.

BOGGS: Yes, yes, of course. In the circumstances, it must be a relief to know that it’s other people’s money you’re gambling with?

BULSTRODE: (Not sure about this.)Yes … well, and what can I do for you?

BOGGS: (Producing it.)I thought you’d like to see this contract we’ve just taken on. (Hands it over.)For nineteen thousand odd, as you’ll see …

BULSTRODE: Very good, Mr Boggs. Congratulations. This should put you well in credit again.