What is the most iconic sound in British cinema? Eric Coates' stirring Dambusters theme? The glugs and gurgles of Alec Guiness's experiment in The Man in the White Suit? Edith Evans' strangled cry of "A handbag!"? For many, the definitive sound of British cinema is the mucky laugh of Sid James. Over thirty years after his death, his legend continues to grow.
He was born in South Africa he did a variety of jobs including diamond cutter and fairground boxer before settling down to cutting hair. He dabbled a bit in radio, but it was while serving in the war that he joined an entertainment troop and got serious about an acting career. He arrived in Britain in 1946 and quickly established himself in the business. His versatility made him useful for bit parts, playing anything from an American gangster in No Orchids for Miss Blandish to a Lord in Man in Black, but he soon established a persona as a working-class Londoner.
His climb up the cast lists was hastened by his role in the radio sitcom Hancock's Half Hour. As Tony Hancock's spivvy friend, his voice became well-known to millions of listeners. In 1956 the series transferred to television and viewers were able to match the craggy features to the distinctive voice. By 1960, the ever-insecure Hancock had dumped him from the show but James was too well established for his career to be harmed. He appeared in many other successful sitcoms over the years - Citizen James, George and the Dragon, Bless This House - and began his connection with the series with which he would become synonymous: the Carry Ons.
His first Carry On was number four in the series, Carry On Constable, but he soon became the series' mainstay with his seedy Everyman figure a perfect foil for his more outrageous co-stars. His hard working schedule took its toll and he had his first heart attack in 1967, which meant he had to be replaced in ...Follow That Camel by Phil Silvers. He recovered, but continued the punishing schedule and died onstage in Sunderland.
| 1947 | Black Memory |
| 1947 | The October Man |
| 1947 | It Always Rains on Monday |
| 1947 | Night Beat |
| 1948 | No Orchids for Miss Blandish |
| 1948 | Man in Black |
| 1949 | Once a Jolly Swagman |
| 1949 | The Small Back Room |
| 1949 | Paper Orchid |
| 1949 | Give Us This Day |
| 1950 | The Lady Craved Excitement |
| 1950 | Last Holiday |
| 1951 | Talk of a Million |
| 1951 | The Galloping Major |
| 1951 | The Lavender Hill Mob |
| 1951 | The Magic Box |
| 1951 | Lady Godiva Rides Again |
| 1952 | Cosh Boy |
| 1952 | I Believe in You |
| 1952 | The Tall Headlines |
| 1952 | Emergency Call |
| 1952 | The Gift Horse |
| 1952 | Time, Gentlemen, Please! |
| 1952 | Father's Doing Fine |
| 1952 | Miss Robin Hood |
| 1952 | Venetian Bird |
| 1953 | The Wedding of Lilli Marlene |
| 1953 | The Yellow Balloon |
| 1953 | The Titfield Thunderbolt |
| 1953 | The Flanagan Boy |
| 1953 | The Square Ring |
| 1953 | Will Any Gentleman...? |
| 1953 | Park Plaza 605 |
| 1953 | Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? |
| 1953 | Escape By Night |
| 1954 | For Better, for Worse |
| 1954 | The Weak and the Wicked |
| 1954 | The House Across the Lake |
| 1954 | The Rainbow Jacket |
| 1954 | Father Brown |
| 1954 | Seagulls Over Sorrento |
| 1954 | The Belles of St Trinian's |
| 1954 | The Crowded Day |
| 1954 | Orders are Orders |
| 1954 | Aunt Clara |
| 1955 | It's a Great Day |
| 1955 | A Yank in Ermine |
| 1955 | Out of the Clouds |
| 1955 | The Glass Cage |
| 1955 | A Kid for Two Farthings |
| 1955 | John and Julie |
| 1955 | The Deep Blue Sea |
| 1955 | Joe Macbeth |
| 1956 | The Extra Day |
| 1956 | Wicked as They Come |
| 1956 | Trapeze |
| 1956 | Ramsbottom Rides Again |
| 1956 | Dry Rot |
| 1956 | The Iron Petticoat |
| 1957 | Interpol |
| 1957 | The Smallest Show on Earth |
| 1957 | Quatermass II |
| 1957 | The Shiralee |
| 1957 | Hell Drivers |
| 1957 | The Story of Esther Costello |
| 1957 | Campbell's Kingdom |
| 1957 | A King in New York |
| 1958 | The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw |
| 1958 | The Silent Enemy |
| 1958 | Another Time, Another Place |
| 1958 | Next to No Time |
| 1958 | The Man Inside |
| 1958 | I Was Monty's Double |
| 1959 | Desert Mice |
| 1959 | Make Mine a Million |
| 1959 | Too Many Crooks |
| 1959 | The Thirty-Nine Steps |
| 1959 | Idle on Parade |
| 1959 | Upstairs and Downstairs |
| 1959 | Tommy the Toreador |
| 1960 | Watch Your Stern |
| 1960 | And the Same to You |
| 1960 | Carry On Constable |
| 1963 | Carry On Cabby |
| 1964 | The Beauty Jungle |
| 1964 | Carry On Cleo |
| 1965 | Three Hats for Lisa |
| 1965 | The Big Job |
| 1966 | Carry On Cowboy |
| 1966 | Carry On... Don't Lose Your Head |
| 1968 | Carry On... Up the Khyber |
| 1969 | Carry On Camping |
| 1969 | Carry On Again Doctor |
| 1970 | Carry On Up the Jungle |
| 1970 | Carry On Loving |
| 1971 | Carry On Henry |
| 1971 | Carry On at Your Convenience |
| 1972 | Bless This House |
| 1972 | Carry On Matron |
| 1972 | Carry On Abroad |
| 1973 | Carry On Girls |
| 1974 | Carry On Dick |
