Norman Hudis
Encyclopedia
Norman Hudis, born 27 July 1923 (age 88) in Stepney
, England
is a writer for film
, theatre
and TV and is most closely associated with the first six of the Carry On... film series, for which he wrote the screenplays.
He started his writing career on a local newspaper, the Hampstead & Highgate Express. When World War II
broke out Hudis joined the RAF 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
, unfortunately only one of his plays Here Is The News met with critical success. This small success was enough to get him noticed by Pinewood Studios
, 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 during the 1950s. He was the writer for the biopic The Tommy Steele Story.
Hudis met the film producer
Peter Rogers
in 1957 who offered him the job of writing another screenplay for Tommy Steele
(The Duke Wore Jeans), which was to be directed by Gerald Thomas
. (Peter Rogers' film producer wife Betty Box
, who produced the Doctor
film series, mostly worked with Gerald's brother, the director Ralph Thomas
).
The producer and director team of Peter and Gerald chose Hudis to rewrite the screenplay to R. F. Delderfield
's The Bull Boys. He obliged and the screenplay became the first of the enormously successful Carry On... film series as Carry On Sergeant
. Following the success of this Carry On début, Hudis wrote a further five Carry On's (Carry On Nurse
; Carry On Teacher
; Carry On Constable
; Carry On Regardless
and Carry On Cruising
) the highpoint being his second, Carry On Nurse, which was the UK's top grossing
film of 1959.
In 1966 Hudis decided to move permanently to the U.S.
as he'd received offers of work following the commercial success of Carry On Nurse over there. His US TV writing credits include, The Wild Wild West
, The F.B.I., The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (The Karate Killers)
, Hawaii Five-O
, Cannon
and Baretta
.
Norman Hudis continues to write for film, TV and theatre. He is the co-writer of the long-running play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners
, which has played around the world since 2003 and he has also written the one-man play Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries by FF 8282
, the authorised adaptation of Jeffrey Archer's intensely personal diaries which were written during his incarceration, both of which are produced by Marc Sinden Productions. He also wrote the semi-autobiographical play Dinner with Ribbentrop about his time working with the notoriously anti-Semetic actor Eric Portman
.
His son, Stephen R. Hudis
is a Hollywood director
. He has a sister called Slyvia Holness[Hudis]. His great-niece is Shonisha Brackett whom lives in England.
In 2008, Hudis wrote his autobiography No Laughing Matter: How I Carried On, published by Apex Publishing Ltd.
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is a writer for film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and TV and is most closely associated with the first six of the Carry On... film series, for which he wrote the screenplays.
He started his writing career on a local newspaper, the Hampstead & Highgate Express. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out Hudis joined the RAF and served in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far 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
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, unfortunately only one of his plays Here Is The News met with critical success. This small success was enough to get him noticed by Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
, who offered him a job as trainee screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. 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 during the 1950s. He was the writer for the biopic The Tommy Steele Story.
Hudis met the film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Peter Rogers
Peter Rogers
Peter Rogers was a British film producer.Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper before graduating to scriptwriting religious informational films...
in 1957 who offered him the job of writing another screenplay for Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:...
(The Duke Wore Jeans), which was to be directed by Gerald Thomas
Gerald Thomas
Gerald Thomas was an English film director, born in Hull.-Early life:Thomas was training in medicine when the Second World War began. He then served in the British army during the war, in Europe and the Middle East...
. (Peter Rogers' film producer wife Betty Box
Betty Box
Betty Evelyn Box was a prolific British film producer. She is considered one of the best of her generation, with a flair for making genuinely popular British films....
, who produced the Doctor
Doctor Series
The Doctor series are a series of comic novels by British physician Richard Gordon covering the antics of a group of young doctors. The Doctor film series were developed from them. The early films featured Dirk Bogarde in the lead as Doctor Sparrow and Donald Sinden as Benskin...
film series, mostly worked with Gerald's brother, the director Ralph Thomas
Ralph Thomas
Ralph Thomas was an English film director, born in Hull. He is perhaps best known for directing the Doctor series of films....
).
The producer and director team of Peter and Gerald chose Hudis to rewrite the screenplay to R. F. Delderfield
R. F. Delderfield
Ronald Frederick Delderfield was a popular English novelist and dramatist, many of whose works have been adapted for television and are still widely read.-Childhood in London and Surrey:...
's The Bull Boys. He obliged and the screenplay became the first of the enormously successful Carry On... film series as Carry On Sergeant
Carry On Sergeant
Carry On Sergeant is the first Carry On film. Its first public screening was on 1 August 1958 at Screen One, London. Actors in this film who went on to be part of the regular team in the series were Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor and Terry Scott...
. Following the success of this Carry On début, Hudis wrote a further five Carry On's (Carry On Nurse
Carry On Nurse
Carry On Nurse is the second Carry On film, released in 1959. Of the regular team, it featured Joan Sims , Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey, with Hattie Jacques and Leslie Phillips. The film was written by Norman Hudis based on the play Ring For Catty by Patrick Cargill and Jack...
; Carry On Teacher
Carry On Teacher
Carry On Teacher is the third Carry On film, released in 1959. It features Ted Ray in his only Carry On role, alongside series regulars; Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques. Leslie Phillips and Joan Sims make their second appearances in the series here, having made...
; Carry On Constable
Carry On Constable
Carry On Constable is the fourth Carry On film. It was released in 1960. Of the regular team, it featured Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques. Sid James makes his debut in the series here, while early regulars Leslie Phillips, Eric Barker and Shirley...
; Carry On Regardless
Carry On Regardless
Carry on Regardless was the fifth in the series of Carry On films to be made. It was released in 1961. By now a fairly regular team was established with Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Kenneth Williams all having appeared in previous entries. Hattie Jacques - who was...
and Carry On Cruising
Carry On Cruising
Carry On Cruising is the sixth Carry On film and was released in 1962. It was the first in the Carry On series to be filmed in colour and was based on an original story by Eric Barker. P&O - Orient Lines were thanked in the credits. Regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor appear in...
) the highpoint being his second, Carry On Nurse, which was the UK's top grossing
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
film of 1959.
In 1966 Hudis decided to move permanently to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as he'd received offers of work following the commercial success of Carry On Nurse over there. His US TV writing credits include, The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on CBS for four seasons from September 17, 1965 to April 4, 1969....
, The F.B.I., The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (The Karate Killers)
The Karate Killers
The Karate Killers is a 1967 film based on the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. The film was based on the two-part episode of the series 'The Five Daughters Affair' which aired in April 1967 by NBC.-Synopsis:...
, Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, Cannon
Cannon (TV series)
Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976.The primary protagonist was the title character, Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad....
and Baretta
Baretta
Baretta is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a milder version of a successful 1973–74 ABC series, Toma, starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey police officer David Toma...
.
Norman Hudis continues to write for film, TV and theatre. He is the co-writer of the long-running play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners
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...
, which has played around the world since 2003 and he has also written the one-man play Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries by FF 8282
Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries
Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries by FF 8282 is the authorised theatrical adaptation of Jeffrey Archer's 3-volume diary of his time in jail, . "FF 8282" was Archer's prisoner number while incarcerated....
, the authorised adaptation of Jeffrey Archer's intensely personal diaries which were written during his incarceration, both of which are produced by Marc Sinden Productions. He also wrote the semi-autobiographical play Dinner with Ribbentrop about his time working with the notoriously anti-Semetic actor Eric Portman
Eric Portman
Eric Portman was a distinguished English stage and film actor...
.
His son, Stephen R. Hudis
Stephen R. Hudis
-Movie career:As child worked as actor in The Cowboys and was later an established stunt coordinator, Hudis is scheduled to direct The Summoning, a movie about the Urban legend Bloody Mary.-External links:*...
is a Hollywood director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He has a sister called Slyvia Holness[Hudis]. His great-niece is Shonisha Brackett whom lives in England.
In 2008, Hudis wrote his autobiography No Laughing Matter: How I Carried On, published by Apex Publishing Ltd.
Selected filmography
- BreakawayBreakaway (1955 film)Breakaway is a 1955 British thriller film directed by Henry Cass from a script by Norman Hudis. It stars Tom Conway, Michael Balfour, Honor Blackman and Arthur Lowe. A Private eye is hot on the tail of a stolen secret formula and a kidnapped young woman....
(1955) - Passport to Treason (1956)
- Bond of Fear (1956)
- High TerraceHigh TerraceHigh Terrace is a 1956 British mystery film directed by Henry Cass and starring Dale Robertson, Lois Maxwell, Derek Bond, Eric Pohlmann and Lionel Jeffries.-Cast:*Dale Robertson as Bill Lang*Lois Maxwell as Stephanie Blake...
(1956) - West of SuezWest of SuezWest of Suez is a 1957 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Keefe Brasselle, Kay Callard and Karel Stepanek. An adventurer is hired to assassinate the leader of an Arab movement advocating peace, but is unable to complete his mission....
(1957) - A Crooked Sky (1957)
- Stranger in TownStranger in Town (film)Stranger in Town is a 1957 British crime film directed by George Pollock and starring Alex Nicol and Anne Paige. Arthur Lowe also made a brief appearance in the film...
(1957) - The Duke Wore JeansThe Duke Wore JeansThe Duke Wore Jeans is a 1958 English film by producer Nat Cohen starring Tommy Steele and June Laverick. The songs from the film are mostly available on Tommy's many compilation CDs but no British CD has been pressed of the Original Soundtrack probably due to the fact of there being only 9 songs...
(1958) - Twice Round the DaffodilsTwice Round the DaffodilsTwice Round the Daffodils is a 1962 British comedy drama film directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Juliet Mills, Donald Sinden, Donald Houston, Kenneth Williams, Ronald Lewis, Andrew Ray, Joan Sims and Jill Ireland. A new group of patients arrive at a hospital to be treated for tuberculosis where...
(1962) - Nurse on WheelsNurse on WheelsNurse 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 official member of the Carry On series.-Cast:* Juliet Mills as Joanna...
(1963)