Product Description

For the first time, in NO LAUGHING MATTER, Norman Hudis, who wrote the first six Carry On movies, reveals his hitherto secret, decades-long and quixotic writing-activity since he left the series. It's this: He Carried On Writing Carry On stories in the hope that, one day, he'd be asked to return and come up with one! Two typical intriguing examples, elaborated in these memoirs: "Carry On Under The Pier If Wet", skewering two doughty British institutions, the seaside concert-party and boarding-house - and, most audacious of all, "Carry On Shylock Holmes." More firsts revealed within these pages: Norman's frank and terse opinions about, among others, Ted Ray, Hattie Jacques, Joan SIms ("Did I sleep with her?"), Charles Hawtrey ("Do you believe in fairies?"), Kenneth Connor and Kenneth Williams and, in Hollywood, Elvis Presley, Robert Young, Anne Baxter, Erik Estrada, Joan Crawford and Harold Shmidlap ("Who's he?" Hint: legendary creator of the TV series "Frontier Accountant.") Emerging, somewhat bewildered, but with a firm sense of comedy implanted in him by undergoing upbringing by a rather odd family, Norman felt compelled to seek substitute families to redress the balance: respectively as a young newspaperman, then serving airman in the WWII RAF, plus post-war film publicist and, finally, fully home, as a writer. This autobiography, therefore, with a fitting foreword by Carry On producer Peter Rogers, is Norman Hudis in a succinct and delightful nutshell. In his words: "I call the book NO LAUGHING MATTER as an understatement, because my life, beginning with the upbringing by my unconventional family, has actually been such a hysterical hoot, it's no great wonder that I write comedy. After all, let's face it, I've lived it."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #268482 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Review
This book takes you back to the very early days of those Carry On films, packed with double meanings and just a bit of titilation that made you laugh and happy too. Get this book and go back to those bawdy, but innocent days, for a bit more carry on insights you never dreamed you would know about. You won't regret it. --Philip Solomon, Wolverhampton City Radio 101.8FM (Presenter)

In a sense, Hudis closes the door on the Carry On era, for his book dispels much of the mystery. Crucially, though, it leaves intact the mystique. Good job done, Mr. Hudis. Few people can claim to have made an entire nation laugh for years on end, but you did. --Mike Hallowell, The Shields Gazette

About the Author
Norman Hudis, born 1922 started as a junior reporter and joined the RAF in the Second World War. Towards the end of his five-and-a-half years service, he was on the editorial staff of the Cairo-based Air Force News and travelling, as the war s youngest war correspondent, the length and breadth of the Middle East .Post-war, aiming to become a playwright, he had a modest success with his first effort, Here Is The News enough for Pinewood Studios to offer him a screenwriting contract. Then he went freelance as a prolific writer of B movies. Hudis-scripted, low-budget The Tommy Steele Story was a million-pound box-office success and Hudis was then offered a long-term contract by its producer Peter Rogers. With director Gerald Thomas at the helm, the Carry On production trio was complete, for the three of them went on to film Carry On Sergeant and five others, including the archetypal Carry On Nurse top British box-office film of its year. Not so incidentally, Hudis is married to SRN, Rita. They have two sons, Stephen and Kevin. Following the huge Carry On success, he moved to America in response to offers. There, he has written for The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Marcus Welby, Simon and Simon, Baretta (Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award), The Story of Esther (three awards), Hawaii Five-O, Cannon, etc. Hudis now works for producers in both countries.

Customer Reviews

No Laughing Matter: How I Carried On
A great book on the life of one of Britains most famous scriptwriters. From his early life to life in the Forces serving in Africa to his modern day writing. From the Carry On's to How he carried on - A fantastic read.

great reading matter:
Norman is one of the best script writers ever and now he has taken time to write his story and it is a fantastic read giving a great insight into the early days of carry on(from the man who set the pattern for the best british comedy film series ever).The book moves on from Pinewood to his adventures in the USA,writing for many top tv series and throughout the book Normans family life is woven in to give the full story of a throughly pleasant man.How about a book of unused carry on scripts Norman or better still a script for a new carry on film!!