Peter Rogers book - Britmovie

dremble wedge · 16-01-2008, 07:53 PM

I've just finished reading 'Mr Carry On' the authorised biography of Peter Rogers by Morris Bright and Robert Ross.

I enjoyed it, but in an air of horrible fascination: although the book is sympathetic (bordering on hagiography) to Rogers he comes across in the majority of his actions as a deeply unpleasant individual.

The debate surrounding the parsimonious fees the Carry On actors received is well known (although I wasn't aware that the first pay rise Kenneth Williams got was for his last role in the series Carry On Emmannuelle where his salary rose from £5,000 to £6,000!).

Also well known is the furore surrounding the lack of repeat fees paid to the actors for the TV compilations that seemed to be on every night in the 80s and the moral vacuum exhibited there (bear in mind that Charles Hawtrey ended up in a bedsit in his last years and could have done with the money).

I had no idea that Rogers was such a ruthless (heartless?) operator. Bernard Cribbins and Liz Fraser were effectively sacked from the Carry On series; Cribbins for complaining when he got hit by a plastic bullet during the making of Carry On Spying and Fraser because she spoke to the distributors about how the Carry Ons could be marketed more effectively.

In addition Joan Sims was warned about her behaviour when she formed a relationship with a set carpenter(!), Barbara Windsor humiliated, Jim Dale castigated for not accepting a role in Carry On Up the Jungle and Charles Hawtrey regularly left out of casts to teach him a lesson.

If all this was in a muckraking Carry On expose I may take it with a pinch of salt, but it is his official biography and Rogers defends his behaviour in a series of nauseating, self-aggrandizing comments.

The penny-pinching in regard to the films/actors is nowhere in sight when it comes to Rogers' personal life; the book is full of tales of how he owned two Rolls-Royces at a time and always traded one in each year for the latest model. Or how he made a profit of £60,000 from selling a piano. Or how he bought a vast house from Dirk Bogarde and considered travelling to Pinewood each day by helicopter because the traffic was getting too heavy...

It's an interesting read despite its adulatory tone and the fact that it's appallingly written but I'm not sure I'll ever watch a Carry On in quite the same way again!

Windthrop · 16-01-2008, 08:25 PM

Having read Williams diaries and Leslie Philips autobio I am not surprised. When it comes to repeat fees alot of performers were either not interested in maintaining their rights in films/programmes or sold them for a quick profit only to regret it years later when the product became TV fodder. Phil Silvers was seen in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in the early 70s at Billingham Forum during the Panto season, despite being in declining health and spirits, because he sold all his rights in Bilko for a quick buck. A couple of local people I know were enlisted by to 'entertain' him during the month run and said he was very bitter about selling his rights in Bilko. I can't image Rogers would encourage the 'team' to hold on to their rights but the concept of a Film or TV programme having a substantial life after its initial run would not have occured to the performers.

julian_craster · 17-01-2008, 09:05 AM

Morris Bright is well known for his poorly written, sycophantic showbiz books. I will not be reading this !

orpheum · 17-01-2008, 11:36 AM

I believe that Peter Rogers was made bankrupt,in which case the ghosts of Hawtry and Williams must be having a quiet laugh.

Windthrop · 17-01-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orpheum

I believe that Peter Rogers was made bankrupt,in which case the ghosts of Hawtry and Williams must be having a quiet laugh.

Didn't know about that but I do know his recently published novels were from a publishing house where the writer pays printing/publication costs - bit sad that.

julian_craster · 17-01-2008, 12:47 PM

I believe that Peter Rogers was made bankrupt,in which case the ghosts of Hawtry and Williams must be having a quiet laugh.

This sounds incredible.....considering that (unlike the actors...) he receives a large cheque every time a CARRY ON film is screened on tv worldwide, or a DVD is sold.....

dremble wedge · 17-01-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orpheum

I believe that Peter Rogers was made bankrupt,in which case the ghosts of Hawtry and Williams must be having a quiet laugh.

It says in the book that he lost a substantial amount (£500,000 is speculated) in a dodgy business deal in the late 80s and on the advice of his accountants filed for bankruptcy.

He is quoted as saying "My life didn't change that much and I soon recovered" - presumably thanks to the constant exposure of the Carry Ons on TV!

Windthrop · 05-02-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julian_craster

Morris Bright is well known for his poorly written, sycophantic showbiz books. I will not be reading this !

Agree it isn't that well written and it is at pains to find excuses for the subject but it is not entirely uncritical.

16-01-2008, 07:53 PM	#1
dremble wedge is omeletting Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: derbyshire Posts: 1,626 Country: iTrader: (0)	Peter Rogers book I've just finished reading 'Mr Carry On' the authorised biography of Peter Rogers by Morris Bright and Robert Ross. I enjoyed it, but in an air of horrible fascination: although the book is sympathetic (bordering on hagiography) to Rogers he comes across in the majority of his actions as a deeply unpleasant individual. The debate surrounding the parsimonious fees the Carry On actors received is well known (although I wasn't aware that the first pay rise Kenneth Williams got was for his last role in the series Carry On Emmannuelle where his salary rose from £5,000 to £6,000!). Also well known is the furore surrounding the lack of repeat fees paid to the actors for the TV compilations that seemed to be on every night in the 80s and the moral vacuum exhibited there (bear in mind that Charles Hawtrey ended up in a bedsit in his last years and could have done with the money). I had no idea that Rogers was such a ruthless (heartless?) operator. Bernard Cribbins and Liz Fraser were effectively sacked from the Carry On series; Cribbins for complaining when he got hit by a plastic bullet during the making of Carry On Spying and Fraser because she spoke to the distributors about how the Carry Ons could be marketed more effectively. In addition Joan Sims was warned about her behaviour when she formed a relationship with a set carpenter(!), Barbara Windsor humiliated, Jim Dale castigated for not accepting a role in Carry On Up the Jungle and Charles Hawtrey regularly left out of casts to teach him a lesson. If all this was in a muckraking Carry On expose I may take it with a pinch of salt, but it is his official biography and Rogers defends his behaviour in a series of nauseating, self-aggrandizing comments. The penny-pinching in regard to the films/actors is nowhere in sight when it comes to Rogers' personal life; the book is full of tales of how he owned two Rolls-Royces at a time and always traded one in each year for the latest model. Or how he made a profit of £60,000 from selling a piano. Or how he bought a vast house from Dirk Bogarde and considered travelling to Pinewood each day by helicopter because the traffic was getting too heavy... It's an interesting read despite its adulatory tone and the fact that it's appallingly written but I'm not sure I'll ever watch a Carry On in quite the same way again!

16-01-2008, 08:25 PM	#2
Windthrop has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Yorks Posts: 4,987 Country: iTrader: (0)	Having read Williams diaries and Leslie Philips autobio I am not surprised. When it comes to repeat fees alot of performers were either not interested in maintaining their rights in films/programmes or sold them for a quick profit only to regret it years later when the product became TV fodder. Phil Silvers was seen in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in the early 70s at Billingham Forum during the Panto season, despite being in declining health and spirits, because he sold all his rights in Bilko for a quick buck. A couple of local people I know were enlisted by to 'entertain' him during the month run and said he was very bitter about selling his rights in Bilko. I can't image Rogers would encourage the 'team' to hold on to their rights but the concept of a Film or TV programme having a substantial life after its initial run would not have occured to the performers. __________________ That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

17-01-2008, 11:36 AM	#4
orpheum has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,306 Country: iTrader: (4)	I believe that Peter Rogers was made bankrupt,in which case the ghosts of Hawtry and Williams must be having a quiet laugh. __________________ Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

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17-01-2008, 09:05 AM	#3
julian_craster has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Isle of Foula, UK Posts: 1,564 Country: iTrader: (0)	Morris Bright is well known for his poorly written, sycophantic showbiz books. I will not be reading this !

17-01-2008, 12:47 PM	#6
julian_craster has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Isle of Foula, UK Posts: 1,564 Country: iTrader: (0)	I believe that Peter Rogers was made bankrupt,in which case the ghosts of Hawtry and Williams must be having a quiet laugh. This sounds incredible.....considering that (unlike the actors...) he receives a large cheque every time a CARRY ON film is screened on tv worldwide, or a DVD is sold.....