Charters and Caldicott

If you like the 1940s music in the film Millions Like Us starring Patrica Roc, then you may want to have a look at the website. I have started detailing the music that forms the soundtrack. Other recent additions include more film stills and posters plus details of the ebook version of Stella Bingham's 1980's Charters and Caldicott book. http://www.chartersandcaldicott.co.uk

The Charters and Caldicott actors, Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne, appeared in several other films playing similar characters but with different names due to issues on rights to the names. One of the other films they appeared in is the 1945 horror film - Dead Of Night. The film had interlinking stories - all great in their own right. The soundtrack was also mood setting - details of the tunes used have been added to the Charters and Caldicott website http://www.chartersandcaldicott.co.uk

Hope nobody minds this shameful advertising. I have just had my book published ; it's titled Charters and Caldicott - As War Begins covering the first four films that the Charters and Caldicott characters appeared in - The Lady Vanishes, Night Train To Munich, Crook's Tour and Millions Like Us. Hope it generates interest. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/151777876X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1445618991&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=charters+caldicott&dpPl=1&dpID=41PlTIKHb9L&ref=plSrch

This post is not about the events in Syria but about my new book, Charters and Caldicott: As War Begins which in itself is how comedy was used in film making during the events leading up to the start of the second world war - not quite the same approach used today.

As War Begins covers four of the many films that the two Charters and Caldicott characters appear in - The Lady vanishes, Night train To Munich, Crook's Tour and Millions Like Us.

Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes introduced Charters and Caldicott to the British cinema going public in 1938. They were two British travellers who were reluctantly caught up in the eventual rescue of an elderly secret agent who was carrying a message about the enemies war preparations and discussions. Initially, they appeared unfussed about how the lady vanished or why, not because they didn't care, but because they didn't want their journey delayed any further than it already had been and which could prevent them from getting to Manchester in time to see a cricket match. It was only when the dining car in which they (and the other British characters were in) was diverted on to a branch line did they decide to get involved and resolve the issue with the fascist powers. Is this a sublime hint from Hitchcock that Britain needed to wake up and react to the events developing across Europe? furthermore, was the fact that it was only British people in the dining car (it was afternoon tea time after all) a further hint that at this point in time, it was only the British who stood alone facing the enemy?

In Night Train To Munich (1940), the plot had similarities to the earlier film, some of the actors and characters were the same and the plot involved secret agents on a train journey across Europe before war was declared. Although this time the British were trying to rescue a top scientist from the Germans who wanted to put him to work on their war efforts. Charters and Caldicott again bring the comedy element to the thriller; quoting lines from their passport to stop the German officals from harrassing them and making light of Hitler's Mein kempf book. It is only when they get fed up of being pushed from pillar to post and when they are informed by Irene Handl's character that Britain decaklred war on germany that mnorning do they spring in to action. Their first task is to place a secret message under a doughnut inviting Rex Harrison's character to the lavatory to find out more information.

In Crook's Tour, another journey, but this time across the Middle East, Turkey and eastern Europe sees Charters and Caldicott become embroiled in another espionage story - involving oil - not only a critical issue in today's world but even more critical during a time of war. Who is the enemy though?

Back home in Britain in Millions Like Us which depicted life on the homefront during the war, Charters and Caldicott are in the army but doing a Dad's Army type role by laying mines on a south coast beach - this was partly foretold to them by a German Officer in night Train To Munich - they need to get back to Briatin as all the best jobs will have gone.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charters-Caldicott-As-War-Begins/dp/151777876X

There's still time to buy this book as a for either yourself of for a friend - see how comedy was used to good use in bringing light relief to British people during war and a time that must been horrific to those who lived through it.

is this an approach that would benefit people in the current crisis?

I have been busy over the last few weeks adding several more pages to the Charters and Caldicott website along with lots more information about the several films that Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne featured in. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.chartersandcaldicott.co.uk

I have been busy over the past few months adding several more pages to the Charters and Caldicott website along with lots more information about the several films that Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne featured in. Hope you enjoy.

the latest addition is a page I've started about the 1980's BBC TV series titled titled Charters and Caldicott. A further recent addition is about a film that chrurchill tried to ban - Next of Kin.

http://www.charterandcaldicott.co.uk

I have had a busy but fun time promoting my book and have had some success in having it reviewed in a number of magazines and journals, locally, nationally and even internationally. It has been featured in magazines as diverse as Vintage Life, Now Then, The Sixer, My Kind of Town, Down Your Way, Arts Beat, Sight and Sound and Zelda. It has even been promoted by Renown Films who are behind the Talking Pictures TV Channel.

 

As War Begins covers four of the many films that the two Charters and Caldicott characters appear in - The Lady vanishes, Night train To Munich, Crook's Tour and Millions Like Us.

 

Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes introduced Charters and Caldicott to the British cinema going public in 1938. They were two British travellers who were reluctantly caught up in the eventual rescue of an elderly secret agent who was carrying a message about the enemies war preparations and discussions. Initially, they appeared unfussed about how the lady vanished or why, not because they didn't care, but because they didn't want their journey delayed any further than it already had been and which could prevent them from getting to Manchester in time to see a cricket match. It was only when the dining car in which they (and the other British characters were in) was diverted on to a branch line did they decide to get involved and resolve the issue with the fascist powers. Is this a sublime hint from Hitchcock that Britain needed to wake up and react to the events developing across Europe? furthermore, was the fact that it was only British people in the dining car (it was afternoon tea time after all) a further hint that at this point in time, it was only the British who stood alone facing the enemy?

 

In Night Train To Munich (1940), the plot had similarities to the earlier film, some of the actors and characters were the same and the plot involved secret agents on a train journey across Europe before war was declared. Although this time the British were trying to rescue a top scientist from the Germans who wanted to put him to work on their war efforts. Charters and Caldicott again bring the comedy element to the thriller; quoting lines from their passport to stop the German officals from harrassing them and making light of Hitler's Mein kempf book. It is only when they get fed up of being pushed from pillar to post and when they are informed by Irene Handl's character that Britain decaklred war on germany that mnorning do they spring in to action. Their first task is to place a secret message under a doughnut inviting Rex Harrison's character to the lavatory to find out more information.

 

In Crook's Tour, another journey, but this time across the Middle East, Turkey and eastern Europe sees Charters and Caldicott become embroiled in another espionage story - involving oil - not only a critical issue in today's world but even more critical during a time of war. Who is the enemy though?

 

Back home in Britain in Millions Like Us which depicted life on the homefront during the war, Charters and Caldicott are in the army but doing a Dad's Army type role by laying mines on a south coast beach - this was partly foretold to them by a German Officer in night Train To Munich - they need to get back to Briatin as all the best jobs will have gone.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charters-Caldicott-As-War-Begins/dp/151777876X

 

There's still time to buy this book as a for either yourself of for a friend - see how comedy was used to good use in bringing light relief to British people during war and a time that must been horrific to those who lived through it.