Sid James
(1913-1976)

Dvds | Videos | The Lavender Hill Mob | Tony Hancock

British Actor

    Show business's most famous motto is, of course: "The show must go on'. That rule was broken, however, when Sid James died on the opening night of a new stage production of the comedy The Mating Season. Said the play's producer:

      'This is one show that will not go on. Sid was irreplaceable.'

    This most loved of British film comedy actors, with his crumpled face, slitted eyes, disappearing tightly wavy hair and inimitable raucous iaugh, was actuary born in South Africa.

    His early life was spent in manual labour there: he was a coal heaver, a stevedore, a diamond polisher and a professional boxer. Batterings in the ring made his homely features even more so.




Sid James
    During World War Two, as well as being an officer with an anti-tank regiment in the Middle East, Sid served with an entertainment unit, and decided to have a go at acting as a career, travelling to Britain in 1946 on his srvice gratuity.

    Breaking into repertory work almost straight away, he was soon grasped by the busy British post-war film industry, and became one of those faces that cropped up all over the place without you knowing the name to go with it. He could play shady East End characters, friendly cockneys, brash Americans with equal conviction, and his confident acting style soon put him in good featured roles. His first major comedy was The Lavender Hill Mob: he and Alfie Bass were the other two members of the bullion robbery gang headed by Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway.

    In the same year (1951), he made two more film comedies, Lady Godiva Rides Again and The Galloping Major, and played a comic singing gangster in the London stage production of Kiss Me Kate

    Sid was playing almost a role a month for British films in 1954 when he began the famous comedy partnership with Tony Hancock, at first on radio, in Hancock's Half Hour (1954-9) as part of the gaggle of funny supporting players, then in tandem with Hancock on TV (1956-60) as the seedy duo living at 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam. This quickly became the nost popular TV comedy series in Britain. James, with his deflating cry of 'Allo, 'Ancock', was soon getting as many laughs as his partner, much to the discomfort of the star, who eventually had Sid dropped from the show.

    Via a guest spot in another hit radio programme, Educating Archie, Sid bounced back into films to become a leading member of the Carry On gang. He made 19 films with them altogether, but really came into his own in costume, superb as Henry VIII in Carry On Henry, but also incongruously and delightfully cast as the Rumpo Kid, the villain of Carry On Cowboy; Sir Rodney Ffing (alias the Black Fingernail), the scourge of the French in Don't Lose Your Head; Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in Carry On Up the Khyber, and Turpin the highwayman in Carry On Dick. Through all these, the grin, chortle and demeanour remained the same; and comic ripostes were fired at perfect speed. The characters were leering and lecherous ... and likeable. He was enjoyably Sid James in all of them and his entrances were something to be savoured.

    Latterly he enjoyed success at the head of casts of TV situation comedies, notably George and the Dragon, Taxi and Bless This House.

    He survived a heart attack in 1967 to offer audiences another nine years of a man who, in comedy at least, always seemed to have the answer. There was national grief when a second heart attack killed him at 62. Said Carry On co-star Hattie Jacques:

      'He belied his TV and film image as a brash man. That image was everything Sid was not in real life.'


    f i l m o g r a p h y

      "Carry On Laughing!" (1975) TV Series .... Various Characters (Series 1) (1975)
      Carry On Dick (1974) (as Sidney James) .... Dick Turpin/Rev. Flasher
      Carry On Girls (1973) .... Sidney Fiddler
      Carry On Christmas (1973) (TV) .... Various Characters
      Bless This House (1972) .... Sid Abbot
      Carry On Abroad (1972) .... Vic Flange
      ... aka Mad Holiday!, A (1972)
      Carry On Matron (1972) (as Sidney James) .... Sid Carter
      ... aka Preggers Opera, The (1972) (UK)
      ... aka Womb at the Top (1972) (UK)
      "Bless This House" (1971) TV Series (as Sidney James) .... Sid Abbott
      Carry On at Your Convenience (1971) (as Sidney James) .... Sid Plummer
      ... aka Carry On Round the Bend (1971)
      Carry On Henry (1971) (as Sidney James) .... King Henry VIII
      ... aka Carry On Henry VIII (1971) (USA)
      All This, and Christmas Too! (1971) (TV) (as Sidney James) .... Sid Jones
      Tokoloshe (1971) .... Blind Man
      Carry On Loving (1970) (as Sidney James) .... Sidney Bliss
      Carry On Up the Jungle (1970) (as Sidney James) .... Bill Boosey
      ... aka Carry On Up the Congo (1970)
      Carry On Again Christmas (1970) (TV) .... Long John Silver

      Carry On Again Doctor (1969) (as Sidney James) .... Gladstone Screwer
      Carry On Camping (1969) (as Sidney James) .... Sid Boggle
      "Two in Clover" (1969) TV Series .... Sid Turner
      Carry On Christmas (1969) (TV) .... Ebenezer Scrooge
      Carry On... Up the Khyber (1968) .... Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond
      Carry on Doctor (1967) .... Charlie Roper
      Don't Lose Your Head (1966) .... Sir Rodney Ffing/The Black Fingernail
      ... aka Carry On Don't Lose Your Head (1968) (reissue title)
      ... aka Carry On Pimpernel (1966) (USA)
      ... aka Carry On: Don't Lose Your Head (1968) (reissue title)
      "George and the Dragon" (1966) TV Series .... George Russell
      Where the Bullets Fly (1966) (as Sidney James) .... Mortuary Attendant
      Big Job, The (1965) .... George Brain
      ... aka What a Carry On: The Big Job (1965) (UK: video box title)
      Three Hats for Lisa (1965) (as Sidney James) .... Sid Marks
      ... aka One Day in London (1965) (UK)
      Carry On Cowboy (1965) (as Sidney James) .... Johnny Finger/The Rumpo Kid
      ... aka Rumpo Kid (1965)
      ... aka Rumpo Kid, The (1965)
      Beauty Jungle, The (1964) (as Sydney James) .... 'Butlin' Judge
      ... aka Contest Girl (1966) (USA)
      Carry On Cleo (1964) (as Sidney James) .... Mark Antony
      ... aka Caligula: Funniest Home Videos (1965) (USA: video title)
      "Taxi!" (1963) TV Series .... Sid Stone
      Carry On Cabby (1963) (as Sidney James) .... Charlie Hawkins
      ... aka Call Me a Cab (1963)
      We Joined the Navy (1962) (uncredited) .... Dance Instructor
      ... aka We Are in the Navy Now (1962) (USA: TV title)
      What a Carve Up (1962) .... Sid
      ... aka No Place Like Homicide! (1962) (USA)
      Weekend with Lulu, A (1962) .... Patron
      Carry On Cruising (1962) (as Sidney James) .... Captain Wellington Crowther
      Raising the Wind (1961) .... Sid
      ... aka Roommates (1961) (USA)
      What a Whopper! (1961) .... Harry
      Double Bunk (1961) .... Sid
      Green Helmet, The (1961) .... Richie Launder
      Carry On Regardless (1961) (as Sidney James) .... Bert Handy
      And the Same to You (1960) (as Sidney James) .... Sammy Gatt
      Pure Hell of St. Trinian's, The (1960) .... Alphonse O'Reilly
      Watch Your Stern (1960) (as Sidney James) .... CPO Mundy
      ... aka What a Carry On: Watch Your Stern (1994) (UK: video box title)
      "Citizen James" (1960) TV Series .... Sidney Balmoral James
      Carry On, Constable (1960) (as Sidney James) .... Sgt. Frank Wilkins

      Desert Mice (1959) .... Bert
      Make Mine a Million (1959) .... Sid Gibson
      Tommy the Toreador (1959) .... Cadena
      Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) .... P.C. Edwards
      Idle on Parade (1959) .... Herbie
      ... aka Idol on Parade (1959) (USA)
      Next to No Time (1959) .... Albert, Cabin Steward
      39 Steps, The (1959) (as Sidney James) .... Perce
      I Was Monty's Double (1958) .... Civilian Desk Clerk
      ... aka Hell, Heaven or Hoboken (1958)
      Sheriff of Fractured Jaw, The (1958) .... The drunk
      Too Many Crooks (1958) .... Sid
      Silent Enemy, The (1958) (as Sidney) .... Chief Petty Officer Thorpe
      Man Inside, The (1958) .... Franklin
      Another Time, Another Place (1958) (as Sidney James) .... Jake Klein
      Pantomania: Babes in the Wood (1957) (TV) .... The Genie/Friar Tuck
      Campbell's Kingdom (1957) .... Timid Driver
      Smallest Show on Earth, The (1957) .... Mr. Hogg, Marlene's Dad
      ... aka Big Time Operators (1957) (USA)
      Story of Esther Costello, The (1957) .... Ryan
      ... aka Golden Virgin, The (1957)
      King in New York, A (1957) (as Sidney James) .... Johnson - TV Advertiser
      Hell Drivers (1957) (as Sidney James) .... Dusty, Truck Driver
      ... aka Hard Drivers (1957)
      Interpol (1957) (as Sidney James) .... Joe
      ... aka Pickup Alley (1957) (USA)
      Shiralee, The (1957) (as Sidney James) .... Luke Sweeney
      Quatermass 2 (1957) (as Sydney James) .... Jimmy Hall
      ... aka Enemy from Space (1957) (USA)
      ... aka Quatermass II: Enemy from Space (1957) (USA)
      Dry Rot (1956) .... Flash Harry
      Extra Day, The (1956) .... Barney West
      "Hancock's Half Hour" (1956) TV Series .... Sidney James
      Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956) .... Black Jake
      Wicked as They Come (1956) .... Frank Allen
      ... aka Portrait in Smoke (1957) (USA)
      Iron Petticoat, The (1956) (as Sidney James) .... Paul
      ... aka Not for Money (1956)
      Crime of the Century, The (1956) (TV) .... Abbie
      Trapeze (1956) (as Sidney James) .... Snake Charmer
      It's a Great Day (1955) .... Harry Mason
      Joe MacBeth (1955) .... Banky
      John and Julie (1955) .... Mr. Pritchett
      Yank in Ermine, A (1955) .... Manager
      Deep Blue Sea, The (1955) (as Sidney James) .... Mna
      Kid for Two Farthings, A (1955) .... Ice Berg
      Glass Cage, The (1955) .... Tony Lewis
      ... aka Glass Tomb, The (1955) (USA)
      Out of the Clouds (1955) .... Gambler
      Crowded Day, The (1954) .... Watchman
      ... aka Shop Spoiled (1954) (USA)
      For Better, for Worse (1954) .... The Foreman
      ... aka Cocktails in the Kitchen (1955) (USA)
      Orders Are Orders (1954) .... Ed Waggermeyer
      Aunt Clara (1954) .... Honest Sid
      Crest of the Wave (1954) (as Sidney James) .... Seaman Charlie 'Badge' Badger
      ... aka Seagulls Over Sorrento (1954) (UK)
      Belles of St. Trinian's, The (1954) .... Benny
      Father Brown (1954) .... Parkinson
      ... aka Detective, The (1954) (USA)
      Rainbow Jacket, The (1954) .... Harry
      House Across the Lake, The (1954) (as Sidney James) .... Beverly Forrest
      ... aka Heat Wave (1954) (USA)
      Escape by Night (1953) .... Gino Rossi
      Weak and the Wicked, The (1953) (as Sidney James) .... Syd Baden
      ... aka Young and Willing (1954) (USA)
      Wedding of Lilli Marlene, The (1953) .... Fennimore Hunt
      Will Any Gentleman...? (1953) .... Mr. Hobson
      Park Plaza 605 (1953) .... Supt. Williams
      ... aka Norman Conquest (1953) (USA)
      Square Ring, The (1953) .... Adams
      Flanagan Boy, The (1953) .... Sharkey
      ... aka Bad Blonde (1953) (USA)
      ... aka Woman Is Trouble, The (1953)
      Titfield Thunderbolt, The (1953) (as Sidney James) .... Hawkins
      Yellow Balloon, The (1953) (as Sydney James) .... Barrow Boy
      Cosh Boy (1952) .... Police Sergeant
      ... aka Slasher, The (1953) (USA)
      ... aka Tough Guy, The (1952)
      Emergency Call (1952) .... Danny Marks
      ... aka Emergency! (1952)
      ... aka Hundred Hour Hunt, The (1953) (USA)
      Father's Doing Fine (1952) .... Taxi Driver
      Gift Horse (1952) (as Sidney James) .... Ned Hardy, Owner Golden Bull
      ... aka Glory at Sea (1953) (USA)
      Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? (1952) .... Hank Hanlon
      Miss Robin Hood (1952) (as Sidney James) .... Sidney
      Time Gentlemen Please! (1952) (as Sidney James) .... Eric Hace
      ... aka Nothing to Lose (1952)
      Venetian Bird (1952) .... Bernardo
      ... aka Assassin, The (1953) (USA)
      ... aka El Alaméin (1952)
      Tall Headlines, The (1952) .... Mr. Spencer
      ... aka Frightened Bride, The (1953) (USA)
      I Believe in You (1952) .... Sgt. Body
      Magic Box, The (1951) .... Sergeant in Storeroom
      Talk of a Million (1951) .... John C. Moody
      ... aka You Can't Beat the Irish (1951)
      Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951) .... Lew Beeson
      Galloping Major, The (1951) .... Bookmaker
      Lavender Hill Mob, The (1951) (as Sidney James) .... Lackery
      Here's Television (1951) (TV) (as Sidney James)
      Lady Craved Excitement, The (1950) .... Carlo
      Last Holiday (1950) .... Joe Clarence

      Family Affairs (1949) (TV) (as Sidney James)
      Man in Black (1949) .... Henry Clavering/Hodson
      Paper Orchid (1949) .... Freddy Evans
      Give Us This Day (1949) .... Murdin
      ... aka Christ in Concrete (1949) (USA)
      ... aka Salt and the Devil (1949)
      ... aka Salt to the Devil (1949) (USA)
      Small Back Room, The (1949) (as Sidney James) .... 'Knucksie' Moran, barkeeper
      ... aka Hour of Glory (1952) (USA)
      No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948) .... Ted the Barman
      ... aka Black Dice (1948)
      Once a Jolly Swagman (1948) .... Rowton
      ... aka Maniacs on Wheels (1948) (USA)
      Front Page, The (1948) (TV) (as Sidney James) .... Hildy Johnson
      Kid Flanagan (1948) (TV) (as Sidney James) .... Sharkey Morrison
      It Always Rains on Sunday (1948) (uncredited) .... Bandleader
      Black Memory (1947) .... Eddie Clinton
      October Man, The (1947) (uncredited) .... Man crossing railway bridge
      Night Beat (1947) .... Nixon



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    jean harlow | greta garbo | ava gardner | audrey hepburn | edward g. robinson | john garfield
    erich von stroheim | wim wenders | madeleine carroll | marlene dietrich | rita hayworth | margaret lockwood



    sid james dvds




    sid james videos





    sid james

    dvds | videos

    clark gable | alfred hitchcock | robert montgomery | robert donat | grace kelly | conrad veidt
    humphrey bogart | howard hawks | frank capra | charlie chaplin | lauren bacall | fritz lang
    jean harlow | greta garbo | ava gardner | audrey hepburn | edward g. robinson | john garfield
    erich von stroheim | wim wenders | madeleine carroll | marlene dietrich | rita hayworth | margaret lockwood




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    Changes last made: 2004
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