Reel Britannia

All at Sea with a Slightly Different Crew For episode 204 of the Reel Britannia podcast, we are taking to the high seas and hoisting the mainsail for the 1964 nautical romp, Carry On Jack.   The story follows the earnest but hopelessly inept Albert Poop-Decker (the brilliant Bernard Cribbins), who takes a commission as a midshipman on the frigate Venus. Naturally, things go pear-shaped before he even leaves the tavern, leading to a frantic voyage involving a stolen identity, a remarkably resourceful young woman named Sally (Juliet Mills), and the decidedly cowardly Captain Fearless (Kenneth Williams). Directed by series stalwart Gerald Thomas, the film features a lively score composed by Eric Rogers and marks Talbot Rothwell's second Carry On script following his debut with Carry On Cabby. But what makes Jack a particularly fascinating watch is who isn't on deck. Scott is joined by Steven, Tony, and Mark to debate a crucial question for the franchise's history: does the film suffer from a lack of familiar faces like Sid James and Joan Sims, or do Cribbins and Mills make a thoroughly welcome addition to the family? Along with spotting Jim Dale (making another welcome appearance after Cabby) and enjoying Charles Hawtrey as the hapless Walter Sweetley, we'll be unpacking the picture in our familiar warm, conversational, and lightly irreverent style. This episode, along with the complete Reel Britannia back catalogue, is available wherever listeners download their podcasts and at: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia Listeners can also follow the podcast on X at @rbritanniapod. If you're enjoying our cinematic voyages, please note that special bonus episodes are available through the Reel Britannia Patreon, inviting listeners to support the podcast and enjoy additional film discussions. #CarryOnJack #BernardCribbins #JulietMills #KennethWilliams #BritishComedy #BritishCinema #CarryOnFilms #ReelBritannia #Podcast

A Licence to Confuse and a Swinging Sixties Spectacle For episode 203 of the Reel Britannia podcast, we are tumbling down a deeply psychedelic cinematic rabbit hole with the delightfully baffling 1967 spoof, Casino Royale.   The premise, should you choose to try and follow it, sees the original, legendary Sir James Bond (David Niven) coaxed out of a genteel retirement to take down the nefarious syndicate SMERSH. His tactical masterstroke? Confusing the enemy by renaming every single active agent—male or female—James Bond. Naturally, absolute chaos ensues.   Produced by Charles K. Feldman and steered by a famously sprawling committee of writers and directors, the film boasts a dizzying, star-studded cast that includes Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, Woody Allen, and Orson Welles. But the real question we're asking this week is where exactly this extravagant behemoth fits into the 007 canon. Scott is joined by Steven, Tony, and Mark to figure out if the film is strictly for the die-hard fans, an odd little cinematic curio, a completely disjointed mess, or simply a wonderfully unhinged snapshot of the swinging sixties. Expect our familiar warm, conversational, and lightly irreverent style as we try to make sense of the glorious excess of it all.   This episode, along with the complete Reel Britannia back catalogue, is available wherever listeners download their podcasts and at: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia Listeners can also keep up with our latest ramblings and follow the podcast on X at @rbritanniapod.   If you're enjoying the show, do bear in mind that special bonus episodes are available through the Reel Britannia Patreon, inviting listeners to support the podcast and enjoy even more of our late-night film discussions. #CasinoRoyale #JamesBond #DavidNiven #PeterSellers #SwingingSixties #BritishCinema #ReelBritannia #Podcast #007 #ClassicFilm

Digging Up Trouble Behind Enemy Lines For episode 202 of the Reel Britannia podcast, we're trading our civvies for khaki and marching straight into the chaotic world of a genuine British comedy icon. This time around, the team is discussing the 1958 Norman Wisdom classic, The Square Peg.   Directed by John Paddy Carstairs and written by Jack Davies, the film follows the hapless road mender Norman Pitkin (Wisdom, naturally) and his perpetually flustered boss Mr Grimsdale (Edward Chapman) as they find themselves unexpectedly drafted into the Pioneer Corps. Before long, the pair are parachuted into occupied France, where Pitkin discovers he is the spitting image of a ruthless Nazi commandant, General Schreiber. What follows is a brilliantly executed dual-role performance that perfectly showcases Wisdom's immense gift for physical comedy and timing.   Supported by a wonderful cast that includes Honor Blackman and the glorious Hattie Jacques, it's a masterclass in slapstick that cemented Wisdom's place as a box office giant. The Reel Britannia team will be unpacking the film in our familiar warm, conversational, and lightly irreverent style, chatting about the ingenuity of the doppelgänger setup and the sheer, exhausting energy of Pitkin's war effort.   This episode, along with the complete Reel Britannia back catalogue, is available wherever listeners download their podcasts and at: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia Listeners can also follow the podcast on X at @rbritanniapod. If you fancy even more film chat, special bonus episodes are available through the Reel Britannia Patreon. We'd love to invite listeners to support the podcast and enjoy our additional dives into the archives of British cinema. #TheSquarePeg #NormanWisdom #BritishComedy #BritishCinema #ReelBritannia #Podcast #EdwardChapman #ClassicComedy

Dublin soul, magnificent music and enough creative differences to sink a small record label. This episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago, before the terribly sad news of Glen Hansard's death earlier this week. We remember him with great affection as Outspan Foster, one of the unforgettable faces and voices at the heart of The Commitments. Dublin has the music. Jimmy Rabbitte has the ambition. What he does not yet have is a band, any money, or the faintest idea how to keep a roomful of volatile musicians from throttling one another. This time on Reel Britannia, Scott is joined by Maurice in Melbourne, Kerry in Boston and Tom from just down the road for Alan Parker's joyous, foul-mouthed and gloriously chaotic 1991 musical comedy. Based on Roddy Doyle's novel, The Commitments follows Jimmy's attempt to bring soul music to the working-class streets of Dublin by assembling a group whose talent is matched only by its ability to argue. The team discusses the film's extraordinary cast, including Robert Arkins, Andrew Strong, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Bronagh Gallagher, Colm Meaney and Glen Hansard. There is also plenty of admiration for the thunderous soundtrack, the sharp dialogue and Parker's knack for making the whole enterprise feel as though it might either conquer the world or collapse before the next rehearsal. So pull on your sharpest suit, warm up the brass section and try not to mention creative differences. The Commitments are ready to play, although whether they will all still be speaking by the encore is another question.   This and all previous episodes are available wherever you download your podcasts and at: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia   #ReelBritannia #TheCommitments #AlanParker #RoddyDoyle #GlenHansard #IrishCinema #BritishFilmPodcast #FilmPodcast  

Fletch Gets Out. Getting Back In Is the Tricky Bit. For its landmark 200th episode, Reel Britannia is heading behind bars for Porridge – The Movie, the 1979 big-screen outing for one of Britain's best-loved television comedies. Ronnie Barker returns as the wily Norman Stanley Fletcher, still doing his best to serve his sentence with the minimum possible effort. Alongside him is Richard Beckinsale as the good-natured Lennie Godber, while Fulton Mackay's fearsome Mr Mackay and Brian Wilde's endlessly flustered Mr Barrowclough attempt to maintain something vaguely resembling order at Slade Prison. Peter Vaughan also appears as the quietly terrifying Harry "Grouty" Grout. When Fletcher is persuaded to help organise a football match between the prisoners and a celebrity team, he naturally suspects that something is amiss. Before long, he and Godber are caught up in an escape plan that leaves them facing an unusual problem: not how to get out of prison, but how to get back in before anyone notices. Directed by Dick Clement and written by Clement with Ian La Frenais, the film retains the warmth, sharp dialogue and beautifully observed characters of the original series. It is also one of those rare British sitcom spin-offs that feels like a proper film rather than an extended episode with a slightly larger catering budget. Join the Reel Britannia team as they celebrate episode 200 in their familiar warm, conversational and lightly irreverent style.   This episode and the complete Reel Britannia back catalogue are available wherever you download your podcasts and at: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/reelbritannia   Follow the podcast on X at @rbritanniapod. Special bonus episodes are also available through the Reel Britannia Patreon, where your support unlocks even more British film discussion.   #Porridge #PorridgeTheMovie #RonnieBarker #RichardBeckinsale #FultonMackay #BrianWilde #BritishComedy #BritishCinema #ReelBritannia #Podcast #Episode200