Elstree Calling
An unofficial website dedicated to Elstree Studios
Recommended Films:
Introduction:
On this page you will find a selection of just some of the many films made at Elstree Studios over the years which I highly-recommend.
Are You Being Served?
This film, a Big Screen spin-off from the hugely popular David Croft & Jeremy Lloyd sitcom of the same name, was made in 1977. The cast, which included John Inman, Mollie Sugden, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith and Trevor Bannister, were all on top form in this film. The storyline, incidentally, owes more to a stage version the cast performed in Blackpool, as opposed to the actual TV series.
The films sees certain staff members of Grace Bros. Department Store travelling abroad to the Costa Plonka to spend a holiday together, while rennovations are taking place back at the store in London.
Great fun, especially for fans of sitcoms who (like me) enjoy the odd double entendre or two, or three or four...
The Boys in Blue:
Released in 1983, The Boys in Blue stars the much-loved comedy double act Cannon & Ball (Tommy Cannon & Bobby Ball) as Sergeant Cannon and PC Ball who run a small police station in the quiet coastal town of Little Botham. Quiet that is until they accidentally discover that a gang of art thieves is operating in the area.
This film was produced by Greg Smith (who also made the four Confessions films) and made by his production company, Elstree (Production) Company. The director of the film (a remake of the classic Will Hay film, Ask a Policeman) was, incidentally, the legendary Val Guest.
The cast of the film reads like a who's who in British comedy and includes: Eric Sykes, Jack Douglas & Roy Kinnear.
A great film which can be watched by all the family together!
Confessions of a Window Cleaner:
Starring Robin Askwith, then fresh from roles in such films as Bless this House & Carry On Girls, Confessions of a Window was the first and (in my opinion) the best of the four Confessions films made between 1974 & 1977. But don't get me wrong, I like all of the four films!
Askwith works as a window cleaner with his randy brother-in-law, Sidney Noggett (Anthony Booth), in this comedy film which goes further than, say, a Carry On film. So not one for the kids!!
Anyone who has ever visited and knows the town of Borehamwood well (where Elstree Studios is situated) will recognise most of the locations in this film!
The film features wonderful support from performers including Bill Maynard, Dandy Nicholls, Sheila White, Linda Hayden and John Le Mesurier.
Holiday on the Buses:
In the the third and final part of the On the Buses film series, Jack and Stan find themselves with the sack from the Luxton Bus Depot after being involved in a bus crash. Fortunately Jack finds them jobs as a bus crew at a holiday camp in North Wales. But just when things like their on the up again for Harper and Butler, they discover that their old enemy Insprector Blake (Blakey) as also been employed there as Camp Security Inspector.
This film is great fun and went down the holiday camp route some six years before Hi-de-Hi! started!
Wilfred Branbell and Kate Williams were just two of the performers who joined the main cast for this film, which is like watching a saucy seaside postcard come to life!
The Likely Lads:
Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) and Terry Collier (James Bolam) had their adventures turned into a film which was first released in 1976. Most of the original cast was brought together for the film including Brigit Forsyth and Sheila Fearn.
The laughs really begin when Bob's wife, Thelma, talks Terry and his Finnish girlfriend into joining her and Bob on a weekend away in her fathers small caravan. But touring the Borth of England out of season when it's raining soon becomes a drag for Bob and Terry. Subsequently they decide to take matters into their hands and end the holiday by hooking up the caravan and going back home early on the Sunday morning- while their respective partners are still asleep in the caravan! With life seemingly going no-where in Newcastle, Terry decides to go travelling abroad by ship, that is until he realises he suffers from sea sickness before he has even left port! And just as in the brilliant TV series, Terry manages to cause problems for life-long friend Bob Ferris right throughout the film. A great screen version of the much-loved series!
Man About the House:
The main cast of the Thames TV sitcom of the same name were brought together at Elstree Studios at the start of 1974 for a Big Screen spin-off.
Richard O'Sullivan, the original man about the house, played Catering College student Robin Tripp, a man lucky enough to be sharing student accomodation with both Chrissy (Paula Wilcox) and Jo (Sally Thomsett). However, it's not all fun for Tripp who has to watch his step because of George (Brian Murphy) and Mildred (Yootha Joyce) Roper who live downstairs and keep their beedy eyes on them.
Faced with having the house they live in demolished by greedy property developers Spiros; Robin, Chrissy, Jo, George (reluctantly!) and Mildred decide to set up a campaign to block the demolition and redevelopment of the terrace they live on.
Another great sitcom spin-off film which took to the stages of Elstree in the Seventies. Hammer Films brought together a great cast of supporting actors & actresses for this film which included: Arthur Lowe, Jack Smethurst and Spike Milligan.
Mutiny on the Buses:
This film was the second of three spin-off films to the LWT series which started on ITV in 1969.
The storyline of this film sees Stan Butler (Reg Varney) get engaged to one of the clippies at the Luxton Bus Depot, where he works as a bus driver. However, the course of true love never did run smoothly for Butler, and a variety of disasters along the way puts paid to his relationship. This film, made by Hammer Films, also stars Doris Hare, Bob Grant, Michael Robbins, Anna Karen and Stephen Lewis as Blakey the Inspector.
As with the Confessions films, Mutiny on the Buses used a variety of locations in-and-around the town of Borehamwood, which is home to Elstree Studios.
A great film with lots of harmless saucy laughs which all the family will enjoy!