Please Turn Over

For some strange reason this film has evinced reviews which either claim that this film is the funniest thing since sliced bread or a dismal broad farce.It in my opinion is neither.It does have some funny moments but is not as consistently funny as some of the Carry Ons nor does it have great actors in every part.After all it has to be said that Ted Ray is no Sid James.Also it must be added that the idea that a 17year old schoolgirl in the early 60s could have the experience or knowledge to write a racy book is extremely unlikely.Furthermore the section where the actors play their alter egos from the book does go on a bit too long ,is a bit repetitive and not that funny.It is a reasonably funny if unmemorable film.

The movie started out as a rather genteel suburban comedy, but got surprising a lot better. A clever plot for its day, with a good cast. Not up there with the Ealing comedies, but far superior to the Carry On films.

Early carry on cast Good script and well executed Worth a watch

Produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas, the legendary duo responsible for the Carry On series, this comedy is as mildly racy and as funny, but of greater subtlety. It concerns Jo Halliday, a seventeen year-old girl from a commonplace English suburban background who writes a scandalous novel that seems to depict the Halliday family -- and not in a favorable light. In it her accountant father becomes an embezzler and a sugar daddy to his secretary, her mother is having an affair with a retired military officer who is a family friend, and her lovelorn aunt is pining for her employer, a doctor who carries on with all his women patients. The book, of course, is a best seller and the whole town is gossiping about the girl's poor family and creating considerable problems for each member. The comedic complications unwind deftly, with an hilarious sequence depicting the characters as they appear in the way over-the-top book. The acting is superb, but we expect that with British films from the '50's. Ted Ray anchors the family and the film as the father. Jean Kent, an outstanding dramatic actress who had starred in such films as The Browning Version and The Woman in Question, shines as well in comedy and is wonderful as the slightly daffy mother. Joan Sims, of Carry On fame, is a riot as the maid. Also featured are familiar comedic actors Leslie Phillips as the doctor, Dilys Laye as the secretary, June Jago as the aunt. Lionel Jeffries as the family friend (whose efforts to teach the Jean Kent character to drive a car are simply hilarious), and Colin Gordon, Charles Hawtrey, Ronald Adam, and Joan Hickson. Best of all, though, is the leading actress who plays Jo, Julia "Toots" Lockwood, the young daughter of film great Margaret Lockwood. She is thoroughly charming and immensely appealing and at the same time plays her part with great sensitivity and conviction. Unfortunately, Toots didn't have a big film career, although she worked on the stage and on TV until she retired in the mid '70s. But she's a standout in this film, which is a must see for those who like British comedy of the period.

I started to watch a noir but knew I wasn't in the mood and searched for something comedic - good choice as it happens. It's a shame as these old films drift further and further back into oblivion that they fade away from view as during troubling times a lighter than air comedy provides a momentary escape from worry and cares.

This production should not be associated with carry on films despite the director being one Gerald Thomas - I personally found it operated on a different level and it was rather more 'sophisticated' than any Carry On production - in this film the characters are depicted as 'real' in real life settings whereas in Carry On films there's a nod to reality but not much more than that... the fun and laughs for me came when the 'book characters' are revealed and where there were truly funny moments - it's worth watching the whole film just for those segments. The comedic acting in all of these was I felt, good too - you can pick your own favourite from them but the one with 'mother and uncle' was, I thought, sublime - really all those segments were very amusing with some laugh out loud moments. I'm glad I found this film never having seen it previously and I feel the story stands up well for the times we live in seeing as it involves publicity about less than admirable behaviour - something we are confronted by constantly these days because of online content about peoples crimes and misdemeanors ... Finally, it's always really charming to see England as it was back in the day - car-less roads, small shops, smart attire; you could do a lot worse than spending an hour and a half watching this - you never know, it may make you laugh and forget any cares for that time.