The lesser-known comedies of Sidney James

Sid James was beloved by British television viewers, radio listeners and film-goers for almost three decades. Emigrating from South Africa to his parents' native Britain in 1946, he quickly established himself as a hard-working and reliable character actor, and became especially well-known for his line of rogues, crooks and loveable Cockney womanisers.

Off-screen, Sid was a devoted family man but never the less had his own foibles: a number of affairs are well publicised, as are his three wives, and his compulsive gambling. The role he played in Carry On At Your Convenience, keenly studying the Racing Post and taking tips from a budgie (no, really) was perhaps the closest he ever came to being himself on screen. You can be sure, had he lived into the internet age, he'd be in awe of the gambling opportunities on offer, whether casino-like games as on JohnSlots, or through virtual turf accountants.

Sid's roles in the Carry On films are of course his best remembered, but they are certainly not the extent of his talent or filmography. A workaholic, he left a myriad of other comedies for us to enjoy for decades to come - and we took a look at a few of his best, lesser-known films here.

The Galloping Major is a 1951 feature directed by Henry Cornelius and starring Basil Radford, Jimmy Hanley and Hugh Griffith.

The story revolves around a retired major, played by Basil Radford (who also created the story), who is a horse racing enthusiast. He decides to buy a racehorse and establishes a syndicate of locals in his north-London neighbourhood to raise the necessary funds. Establishing an unlikely alliance with a rent collector and friendly bus driver to head the organising committee, they face various challenges and obstacles as they attempt to turn their horse into a winner.

The film was a commercial success and remains hugely enjoyable to this day - and thanks to a 2022 restoration, is beautiful to see, too. Alongside the sparkling performances and script, it features real-life racehorses, tracks and personalities of the day, which added to the excitement and authenticity of the picture.

Sid's role is small, but very apt, for in this world of horse-racing, he plays a bookmaker.

Orders Are Orders (1954) is a forces-comedy with a little bit of showbiz, and arguably Sid's earliest prominent film role.

Adapted from an early 1930s play of the same name, Sid appears here alongside other future comedy legends Tony Hancock (with whom he had just started appearing in the original radio version of Hancock's Half Hour at the time of release), Peter Sellers and Bill Fraser. Set on a contemporary army base, it sees the entire order of the encampment turned upside down when a film crew from Hollywood descend to shoot a sci-fi picture.

Sid James plays the role of boisterous producer/director Ed Waggermeyer, around whose film-making scheming all the action of the film rotates. It doesn't stand up as one of the better features of the mid-1950s, but contains some brilliant performances and is well worth seeking out for the combination of not-yet-star names on show.

Released by British Lion, Make Mine A Million is a 1959 film in which Sid enjoys second billing to the huge comedy star Arthur Askey. The film is a satirical take on the worlds of television and advertising, and follows the story of a small-time businessman who comes up with a scheme to make a million pounds.

Sid James plays the role of washing powder maker Sid Gibson, who tricks television make-up department employee Arthur Ashton (Askey) into running an advert for his product, Bonko, on the strictly non-commercial channel he works for (a clear spoof of the BBC).

The plot follows as Ashton is fired for his part in the ploy, and the pair enter a formal partnership to hijack the broadcaster's signals to put ever more adverts for Bonko on the air, getting into a series of farcical scrapes.

Notable for a huge number of cameos and supporting roles from other comedy stars - such as Bernard Cribbins, Tommy Trinder, Dickie Henderson, Kenneth Connor and Barbara Windsor - it is repeated on television from time to time and can also be bought on DVD.