Sidney James
Acting
Biography
Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; May 8, 1913 – April 26, 1976) was a South African-born English-based actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona. Bruce Forsyth summed up his talent thus: "He was a natural at being natural."
Born: May 8, 1913
Place of Birth: Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa
Known For
The World of Budgerigars
Sid James learns of the joys of owning a budgerigar.
Time, Gentlemen, Please!
Because of its high productivity and "almost" 100 per cent employment, the town of Hayhoe, England is expecting a visit from the Prime Minister. The "almost" is because of Dan Dance (Eddie Byrne), an old rogue who would rather drink and philosophize than work. The Village Council are determined to have a perfect record so they connive to have the old man put into the alms-house which has been unoccupied for many years, where he must abide by rules laid down 400 years ago. A new Vicar arrives and discovers that, because of the circumstances created by the Council, Dan Dance is entitled to 6,000 pounds a year at the expense of the village.
Next to No Time
Unassuming planning engineer David Webb finds himself on the Queen Elizabeth to New York with instructions to negotiate a high-powered loan. His lack of confidence means he is completely out of his depth, at least until he finds his personality changes every day during the hour the ship's clocks stop to make allowance for their westward passage.
Look at Life
Look at Life was a regular British series of short documentary films of which 507 were produced between 1959 and 1969 by the Special Features Division of the Rank Organisation for screening in their Odeon and Gaumont cinemas. The films always preceded the main feature film that was being shown in the cinema that week. It replaced the circuit's newsreel, Universal News, which had become increasingly irrelevant in the face of more immediate news media, particularly on television with the launch of ITN on the Independent Television service, which began broadcasting in parts of the United Kingdom in 1955.
Miss Robin Hood
In this delightful fantasy adventure, a mild-mannered writer of adventure stories for girls finds himself presented with an intriguing proposition from an elderly fan. She suggests that they conspire to steal a secret whiskey formula from ruthless distillers, who themselves stole it from her family in years gone by. With the recipe back in hand however, it's not long before they attract attention from the Inspectors of Scotland Yard.
What's a Carry On?
Documentary commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 'Carry On' comedy film series. Archive clips and out-takes are mixed with interviews with the cast.
Joe Macbeth
A gangster's wife drives him to kill as she pushes him to the top.
Citizen James
Citizen James is a BBC sitcom that ran for three series between 24 November 1960 and 23 November 1962. The show featured comedian and actor Sid James and Sydney Tafler with Bill Kerr and Liz Fraser appearing in early episodes. It was initially written by the comedy writing team of Galton and Simpson, who based the characters very much on the "Sidney Balmoral James" and "Bill Kerr, the dim-witted Australian" roles that they had played in Hancock's Half Hour. The first series was set around 'Charlie's Nosh Bar', a cafe in Soho, and centred around Sid's get-rich-quick schemes. He is helped by "Billy the Kerr" and quite often frustrated by the local bookmaker Albert Welshman. Liz Fraser played Sid's long-suffering girlfriend who has been waiting for seven years for Sid to set the date. Changes were made to the format after the first series. Sid James' character was changed to be something of a people's champion, campaigning for social justice. Bill Kerr and Liz Fraser departed and Sidney Tafler played a different character: Charlie Davenport. The location switched from Soho to Sid and Charlie sharing a house. Later episodes were written by then Morecambe & Wise writers Sid Green and Dick Hills.
Bless This House
Bless this house is a British sitcom starring Sid James and Diana Coupland that aired on ITV from the 2nd February 1971 to the 22nd April 1976. It was written by Derek Collyer, David Comming, B.C. Cummins, Harry Driver, George Evans, Dave Freeman, Carla Lane, Brian Platt, Vince Powell, Adele Rose, Mike Sharland, Bernie Sharp, Myra Taylor, Jon Watkins and Lawrie Wyman. It was made for the ITV network by Thames Television. In 2004, Bless this house came 67th in Britain's best sitcom.
Too Many Crooks
Accident-prone Fingers runs a pretty unsuccessful gang. They try and rob wealthy but tricky Billy Gordon - who distrusts banks and fears the Inland Revenue - but he sees Fingers and the boys off. So they decide to kidnap his daughter, only to end up with his wife Lucy. Gordon makes out he couldn't be more pleased, spuring Lucy to take charge of the hopeless bunch of villains.
Filmography
as Self (Archive Footage)
as Various Characters (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Self
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
as (Archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as Various Characters (archive footage)
as Self
as Prince Rupert / Arnold Basket
as Baron Hubert
as Lovelace
as Sir Francis Drake
as Big Dick Turpin
as Mr. Belcher / Seed Pod / Sir Henry / Sergeant Will Ball / Robin Hood
as Councillor Sid Fiddler
as Vic Flange
as Sid Abbot
as Sid Carter
as Sid Jones
as Sid Plummer
as King Henry VIII
as Sid Abbott
as Long John Silver
as Sidney Bliss
as Mr. Bill Boosey
as Ebenezer Scrooge
as Gladstone Screwer
as Sid Boggle
as Sid Turner
as Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond
as Mr. Charlie Roper
as Sir Rodney Ffing, the Black Fingernail
as Mortuary Attendant
as Johnny Finger, the Rumpo Kid
as George Brain
as Harry Parsons
as Sid Marks
as Mark Antony
as 'Butlins' Judge
as Charlie Hawkins
as Dance Instructor
as Captain Wellington Crowther
as Harry Sutton
as Sid Butler
as Sid
as Sid Randall
as Richie Launder
as Café Patron
as Mr. Bert Handy
as Alphonse O'Reilly
as Chief Petty Officer Mundy
as Sergeant Frank Wilkins
as Sammy Gatt
as Cadena
as P.C. Edwards
as Herbie
as Perce Baker
as Sid
as Sid Gibson
as Bert Bennett
as Narrator
as Self - Commentator
as The Drunk
as Porter YMCA
as Schaffner
as Franklin
as Albert, Cabin Steward
as Jake Klein
as Chief Petty Officer Thorpe
as Sidney Balmoral James
as Joe Ryan
as Johnson - TV Advertiser
as Tim, MacDonald's driver-rigger
as Dusty, Truck Driver
as Luke
as Jimmy Hall
as Mr. Hogg
as Joe - First Bartender
as Flash Harry
as Chantey Jack
as Paul
as Snake Charmer
as Frank Allenborg
as Black Jake
as Barney West
as Man outside bar
as Banky
as Ice Berg
as Mr. Pritchett
as Tony Lewis
as Henry, the Gambler
as Harry Mason
as Nightclub manager
as Honest Sid
as Ed Waggermeyer
as Joe, the Night Watchman
as Benny
as Charlie Badger
as Foreman
as Bert Parkinson
as Harry
as Beverly Forrest (as Sidney James)
as Syd Baden
as Gino Rossini
as Fennimore Hunt
as Hank Hanlon
as Supt. Williams (as Sidney James)
as Mr. Hobson
as Adams
as Sharkey (as Sidney James)
as Harry Hawkins
as Charlie
as Desk Sergeant
as Sidney (as Sidney James)
as Bernardo
as Taxi Driver
as Eric Hace
as Ned Hardy, Landlord Golden Bull
as Danny Marks
as Mr. Spencer, neighbor
as Sergeant Body
as Army Sergeant
as Lew Beeson
as Lackery
as Bookmaker
as John C. Moody
as Joe Clarence
as Henry Clavering / Hodson
as Murdin
as Freddy Evans (as Sidney James)
as 'Knucksie' Moran
as Rowton
as Hildy Johnson
as Self
as uncredited
as Nixon (as Sidney James)
as Eddie Clinton