Gerald Thomas (10 December 1920 – 9 November 1993) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, pr ...

, best known for the long-running '' Carry On'' series of British film comedies.

Biography

Born in

Hull Hull may refer to: Structures * Chassis, of an armored fighting vehicle * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a ship * Submarine hull Mathematics * Affine hull, in affi ...

East Riding of Yorkshire The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Riding or East Yorkshire, is a ceremonial county and unitary authority area in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and west, South Yorkshire t ...

, England, Thomas was educated in Bristol and London, and was training in medicine when

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

began. He served four years in the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...

during the war, and upon his return to civilian life thought it too late to continue his medical studies. He began his movie career at Denham Studios, eventually becoming an assistant film editor beginning with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage ...

's ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' (1948). His editing work included many films directed by his older brother,

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

. His own directorial debut was the

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

'' Circus Friends'' (1956), produced by the

Children's Film Foundation The Children's Film Foundation (CFF) was a non-profit organisation which made films for children in the United Kingdom originally to be shown as part of childrens' Saturday morning matinée cinema programming. The films typically were about 55 ...

. His first feature was the thriller '' Time Lock'' the following year. Beginning with the farcical military comedy '' Carry On Sergeant'' (1958), Thomas directed all 30 films in the '' Carry On'' series of British comedies, produced by Peter Rogers, ending with '' Carry On Emmannuelle'' (1978) and the belated '' Carry On Columbus'' (1992). Additionally, he directed the framing sequences of the compilation film '' That's Carry On!'' (1977). Other works as director include the comedy '' Please Turn Over'' (1959) and a drama of post-war Austria, '' The Second Victory'' (1986).

Personal life

Thomas was married, and the couple had three daughters. He died at home of a heart attack. Thomas's nephew is the film producer

Jeremy Thomas Jeremy Jack Thomas, CBE (born 26 July 1949) is a British film producer, founder and chairman of Recorded Picture Company. He produced Bernardo Bertolucci's ''The Last Emperor'', which won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2006 he rece ...

. He is commemorated with a green plaque on The Avenues, Kingston upon Hull.

Films directed

* '' Circus Friends'' (1956) * '' Time Lock'' (1957) * '' The Vicious Circle'' (1957) * ''

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 time ...

'' (1958) * '' Carry On Sergeant'' (1958) * '' Chain of Events'' (1958) * '' The Solitary Child'' (1958) * '' Please Turn Over'' (1959) * ''

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 Hawtr ...

'' (1959) * '' Carry On Teacher'' (1959) * ''

Watch Your Stern ''Watch Your Stern'' is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Kenneth Connor, Eric Barker and Leslie Phillips. The film was based on the play ''Something About a Sailor'' by Earle Couttie. The Royal Navy provided coop ...

'' (1960) * '' No Kidding'' (1960) * '' Carry On Constable'' (1960) * ''

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. ...

'' (1961) * '' Raising the Wind'' (1961) * ''

The Iron Maiden ''The Iron Maiden'' is a 1963 British comedy film. The film was directed by Gerald Thomas, and stars Michael Craig, Anne Helm, Jeff Donnell and Alan Hale, Jr. There are minor roles for '' Carry On'' stalwarts Jim Dale and Joan Sims, and th ...

'' (1962) * ''

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 ...

'' (1962) * ''

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 ...

'' (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) * '' Carry On Cabby'' (1963) * '' Carry On Jack'' (1963) * '' Carry On Spying'' (1964) * '' Carry On Cleo'' (1964) * '' The Big Job'' (1965) * '' Carry On Cowboy'' (1966) * '' Carry On Screaming'' (1966) * '' Don't Lose Your Head'' (1966) * ''

Follow That Camel ''Follow That Camel'' is a 1967 British comedy film, the 14th in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). Like its predecessor ''Don't Lose Your Head'', it does not have the words "Carry On" in its original title (though for screenin ...

'' (1967) * '' Carry On Doctor'' (1968) * '' Carry On... Up the Khyber'' (1968) * ''

Carry On Camping ''Carry On Camping'' is a 1969 British comedy film, the 17th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Hattie Jacques, Barba ...

'' (1969) * ''

Carry On Again Doctor ''Carry On Again Doctor'' is a 1969 British comedy film, the 18th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released in December 1969 and was the third to feature a medical theme. The film features series regulars S ...

'' (1969) * '' Carry On Up the Jungle'' (1970) * '' Carry On Loving'' (1970) * '' Carry On Henry'' (1971) * '' Carry On at Your Convenience'' (1971) * '' Bless This House'' (1972) * '' Carry On Matron'' (1972) * '' Carry On Abroad'' (1972) * '' Carry On Girls'' (1973) * '' Carry On Dick'' (1974) * '' Carry On Behind'' (1975) * '' Carry On England'' (1976) * '' Carry On Emmannuelle'' (1978) * '' The Second Victory'' (1987) * '' Carry On Columbus'' (1992)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Gerald 1920 births 1993 deaths English film directors English film editors Comedy film directors Parody film directors British parodists British Army personnel of World War II People from Kingston upon Hull