Norman Hudis (27 July 1922 – 8 February 2016) was an English writer for film, theatre and television, and is most closely associated with the first six of the ''

Carry On Carry On may refer to: * ''Carry On'' (franchise), a British comedy media franchise *Carry-on luggage or hand luggage, luggage that is carried into the passenger compartment * ''Carry On'' (film), a 1927 British silent film * ''Carry On'' (novel), ...

...'' film series, for which he wrote the screenplays until he was replaced by

Talbot Rothwell Talbot Nelson Conn “Tolly” Rothwell, OBE (12 November 1916 – 28 February 1981) was an English screenwriter. Life and career Rothwell was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He had a variety of jobs during his early life: town clerk, poli ...

Life and career

Born in

Stepney Stepney is a district in the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The district is no longer officially defined, and is usually used to refer to a relatively small area. However, for much of its history the place name appl ...

, London, Hudis began his writing career on a local newspaper, the ''

Hampstead & Highgate Express The Ham & High, officially the Hampstead & Highgate Express is a weekly paid newspaper published in the London Borough of Camden by Archant. The newspaper is priced at £1 and is published every Thursday. History Founded in 1860, from 1862 it ...

''. When World War II broke out, Hudis joined the

RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

and served in the Middle East writing for ''Air Force News''. Like many other post-war writers his first foray into entertainment was writing for camp concerts. After the war Hudis decided to become a playwright, but only one of his plays ''Here Is The News'' met with critical success. This was enough to get him noticed by

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...

, who offered him a job as trainee screenwriter. During the two years he spent there he failed to get any of his screenplays into production. Hudis left Pinewood and became a freelance writer and was soon to become a prolific screenwriter of

B movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

during the 1950s. He was the writer for the

biopic A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

The Tommy Steele Story ''The Tommy Steele Story'' is a 1957 British film directed by Gerard Bryant and starring Tommy Steele, dramatising Steele's rise to fame as a teen idol. Along with ''Rock You Sinners'', it was one of the first British films to feature rock and ro ...

'' (1957). Hudis met the film producer

Peter Rogers Peter Rogers (20 February 1914 – 14 April 2009) was an English film producer. He is best known for his involvement in the making of the ''Carry On'' series of films. Life and career Rogers began his career as a journalist for his loc ...

in the year of its release who offered him the job of writing another screenplay for

Tommy Steele Sir Thomas Hicks (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star. After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, London, Steele reco ...

(''

The Duke Wore Jeans ''The Duke Wore Jeans'' is a 1958 British comedy musical film by producer Nat Cohen starring Tommy Steele and June Laverick. The songs for the film were released in 1958 by Decca on a 10" LP, a 7" EP and two 7" singles and, in more recent times, ...

'', 1958), which was directed by

Gerald Thomas Gerald Thomas (10 December 1920 – 9 November 1993) was an English film director, best known for the long-running ''Carry On'' series of British film comedies. Biography Born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, Thomas was educated ...

. (Peter Rogers' film producer wife

Betty Box Betty Evelyn Box, (25 September 1915 – 15 January 1999) was a prolific British film producer, usually credited as Betty E. Box. Early life and career Born in Beckenham, Kent, England, she initially planned to be a commercial artist or journa ...

, who produced the ''

Doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

'' film series, mostly worked with Gerald's brother, the director

Ralph Thomas Ralph Philip Thomas Military Cross, MC (10 August 1915 – 17 March 2001) was an English film director. He is perhaps best remembered for directing the ''Doctor Series, Doctor'' series of films. His brother, Gerald Thomas, was also a film dire ...

). The producer and director team of Peter and Gerald chose Hudis to rewrite the screenplay to

R. F. Delderfield Ronald Frederick Delderfield (12 February 1912 – 24 June 1972) was an English novelist and dramatist, some of whose works have been adapted for television and film. Biography Childhood in London and Surrey Ronald Frederick Delderfield ...

's ''The Bull Boys''. He obliged and the screenplay became the first of the '' Carry On...'' film series as ''

Carry On Sergeant ''Carry On Sergeant'' is a 1958 British comedy film about National Service starring William Hartnell, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Barker; it is the first in the series of ''Carry On'' films, with 31 entries released from 1958 to 1992. The film wa ...

''. Following the success of this Carry On début, Hudis wrote a further five Carry On's (''

Carry On Nurse ''Carry On Nurse'' is a 1959 British comedy film, the second in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). Of the regular team, it featured Joan Sims (in her ''Carry On'' film debut), Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawt ...

''; ''

Carry On Teacher ''Carry On Teacher'' is a 1959 British comedy film, the third in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released at the Plaza Cinema in London on 3 September 1959. It features Ted Ray in his only ''Carry On'' role, alongsid ...

''; ''

Carry On Constable ''Carry On Constable'' is a 1960 British comedy film, the fourth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released in February 1960. Of the regular team, it featured Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan ...

''; ''

Carry On Regardless ''Carry On Regardless'' is a 1961 British comedy film, the fifth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). The film revolves loosely around the activities of a job agency, 'Helping Hands', run by Sid James's character, Bert Handy ...

'' and ''

Carry On Cruising ''Carry On Cruising'' is a 1962 British comedy film, the sixth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was based on an original story by Eric Barker. P&O – Orient Lines were thanked in the credits. Regulars Sid James, Kenn ...

'') the highpoint being his second, ''Carry On Nurse'', which was the UK's top-grossing film of 1959. Hudis decided to move permanently to the United States in 1966 as he had received offers of work following the successful American release of ''Carry On Nurse''. His American television writing credits include, ''

The Wild Wild West ''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western, espionage, and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels w ...

'', ''

The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

'', ''

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' is an American spy fiction television series produced by MGM Television, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television and first broadcast on NBC. The series follows secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who wo ...

'', ''

Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to: * ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series * ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...

'', ''

Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

'' and ''

Baretta ''Baretta'' is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a revised and milder version of a 1973–1974 ABC series, '' Toma'', starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey police ...

''. Hudis continued to write for film, TV and theatre. He was the co-writer of the long-running play ''

Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners ''Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners'' is an anthology-style play compiled and written by '' Carry On...'' writer Norman Hudis and producer Marc Sinden, who is also the director. It was originally devised by Sinden as a female rival to the ...

'', which has played around the world since 2003, and he also wrote the one-man play '' Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries by FF 8282'', the authorised adaptation of

Jeffrey Archer Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born 15 April 1940) is an English novelist, life peer, convicted criminal, and former politician. Before becoming an author, Archer was a Member of Parliament (1969–1974), but did not ...

's diaries which were written during his incarceration, both of which are produced by

Marc Sinden Productions Marcus Andrew Sinden (born 9 May 1954) is an English actor and film & theatre director and producer. Sinden has worked in film and theatre (mainly in London's West End Theatre, West End) as both actor and producer and directed the documentary ...

. He also wrote the semi-autobiographical play ''Dinner with Ribbentrop'' about his time working with the notoriously

anti-Semitic Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...

actor

Eric Portman Eric Harold Portman (13 July 1901 – 7 December 1969) was an English stage and film actor. He is probably best remembered for his roles in several films for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger during the 1940s. Early life Born in Halifax, ...

. He died at the age of 93 on 8 February 2016. His son,

Stephen R. Hudis Stephen R. Hudis (born May 17, 1957) is an English actor, stunt coordinator, and film director, director. Career As a child, he worked as an actor in the 1972 John Wayne film ''The Cowboys'', and starred in the 1973-1974 TV series ''Skiboy'', p ...

is a Hollywood director. His sister Sylvia Holness

udis Udis (endonym ''Udi'' or ''Uti'') are a native people of the Caucasus that currently live mainly in Russia and Azerbaijan, with smaller populations in Georgia (country), Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other countries. Their total number ...

lives in England. In 2008 Norman Hudis wrote his autobiography ''No Laughing Matter: How I Carried On'', published by Apex Publishing Ltd.

Selected filmography

* '' Breakaway'' (1955) * ''

Passport to Treason ''Passport to Treason'' is a 1956 British mystery thriller. It stars Rod Cameron, Lois Maxwell, and Clifford Evans. It was directed by Robert S. Baker and written by Kenneth R. Hayles and Norman Hudis, based on the Manning O'Brine novel of th ...

'' (1956) * ''

Bond of Fear ''Bond of Fear'' is a 1956 British crime drama film directed by Henry Cass and starring Dermot Walsh, Jane Barrett, and John Colicos. Premise John Sewell and his family are taken hostage by a desperate fugitive called Dewar who is a stowaway i ...

'' (1956) * ''

High Terrace ''High Terrace'' is a 1956 black and white British mystery film directed by Henry Cass and starring Dale Robertson, Lois Maxwell, Derek Bond, Eric Pohlmann and Lionel Jeffries. Plot Beautiful fledgeling actress Stephanie Blake (Lois Maxwell) i ...

'' (1956) * ''

West of Suez ''West of Suez'', released in the United States as ''The Fighting Wildcats'', is a 1957 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Keefe Brasselle, Kay Callard and Karel Stepanek. Premise An adventurer is hired to assassinate t ...

'' (1957) * ''

The Crooked Sky ''The Crooked Sky'' is a low budget 1957 black and white British melodrama/crime film, directed by Henry Cass from a story by Maclean Rogers and Charles F. Vetter.Weaver 2011, p. 18. The film stars Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris, Anton ...

'' (1957) * ''

Hour of Decision The ''Hour of Decision'' was a live weekly radio broadcast produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. First broadcast in 1950 by the American Broadcasting Company, it was a half-hour program featuring sermons from noted evangelist Bi ...

'' (1957) * ''

Face in the Night ''Face in the Night'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Griffith Jones, Lisa Gastoni and Vincent Ball. It was based on the novel ''Suspense'' by prolific crime writer Bruce Graeme. The film was released in the ...

'' (1957) * '' Stranger in Town'' (1957) * ''

'' (1958) * ''

Mark of the Phoenix ''Mark of the Phoenix'' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Julia Arnall, Sheldon Lawrence and Anton Diffring. The screenplay concerns an American jewel thief who comes into possession of a newly developed meta ...

'' (1958) * ''

Please Turn Over ''Please Turn Over'' is a 1959 British comedy film written by Norman Hudis, produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas. It featured Ted Ray, Julia Lockwood, Jean Kent, Joan Sims, Leslie Phillips, Charles Hawtrey, Lionel Jeffries a ...

'' (1959) * '' No Kidding'' (1960) * ''

Twice Round the Daffodils ''Twice Round the Daffodils'' is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Juliet Mills, Donald Sinden, Donald Houston, Kenneth Williams, Ronald Lewis, Andrew Ray, Joan Sims and Jill Ireland. The film was adapted from the ...

'' (1962) * ''

Nurse on Wheels ''Nurse on Wheels'' is a 1963 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas, and starring Juliet Mills, Ronald Lewis, and Joan Sims. ''Nurse on Wheels'' shares its cast and production team with the ''Carry On'' films, but the film is not an of ...

'' (1963) * ''

Mister Ten Per Cent ''Mister Ten Per Cent'' is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Peter Graham Scott and starring Charlie Drake, Derek Nimmo and Wanda Ventham. It was shot at Elstree Studios and on location in London. It was the last in a series of four films ...

'' (1967) * ''

The Karate Killers ''The Karate Killers'' is a 1967 American spy film and feature-length film version of ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.''s third season two-part episode " The Five Daughters Affair". The episodes were originally broadcast in the United States on March 31, ...

'' (1967) * ''

How to Steal the World ''How To Steal the World'' is a 1968 American action– adventure film, taken from a two-part episode of the TV series ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'', with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as secret agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. The film ...

'' (1968) * ''

A Monkey's Tale ''A Monkey's Tale'' (french: Le Château des singes; literally "The Castle of Monkeys") is a feature-length animated film directed by Jean-François Laguionie. It was released in 1999, and won the Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the fifth ...

'' (1999)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hudis, Norman 1922 births 2016 deaths People from Stepney English dramatists and playwrights English screenwriters English male screenwriters English television writers People educated at Willesden County Grammar School Royal Air Force personnel of World War II English male dramatists and playwrights British male television writers