''Please Turn Over'' (also known as P.T.O.) is a 1959 British

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

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 (franchise), ''Carry On'' series'' of British film comedies. Early life Born in Kingston upon Hull, Hull, East Riding ...

and starring Ted Ray, Julia Lockwood, Jean Kent,

Joan Sims Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress and comedienne, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress). On television, she is known for ...

Leslie Phillips Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. He appeared in the '' Carry On'' ...

, Charles Hawtrey,

Lionel Jeffries Lionel Charles Jeffries (10 June 1926 – 19 February 2010) was an English actor, director, and screenwriter. He appeared primarily in films and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Golden ...

and

Victor Maddern Victor Jack Maddern (16 March 1928 – 22 June 1993) was an English actor. He was described by ''The Telegraph'' as having "one of the most distinctive and eloquent faces in post-war British cinema." Life and career Born in Seven Kings, ...

. It was written by Norman Hudis based on the 1959 play ''Book of the Month'' by Basil Thomas and produced by

Peter Rogers Peter Rogers (20 February 1914 – 14 April 2009) was an English film producer. He is best known for creating the ''Carry On'' series of films. Life and career Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper, before graduat ...

. An English town is thrown into chaos when the daughter of one of the residents publishes a book detailing the supposed secrets of the inhabitants.

Plot

In a quiet English town, seventeen-year-old Jo Halliday lives a fairly boring life working as a hairdresser and living at home, with her nagging mother, pompous father, and fitness-obsessed aunt. Her father, an accountant, continually wishes that his dreamy, untidy daughter could be more like his secretary, Miss Millicent Jones. One morning, the local newspaper reveals that Jo has written a book—''Naked Revolt''—which is an instant bestseller. It tells the story of a young girl who discovers the truth about her family and neighbours, and flees to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

to become a prostitute. Unfortunately, the town's residents believe the book to be a true portrait of the family. Her father finds himself under suspicion at work, as his colleagues believe he has been stealing money, and her mother is regarded as a harlot who has been conducting a twenty-year affair with a retired army officer who gives her driving lessons and is Jo's real father. Her local doctor is portrayed as a philanderer who is sexually involved with a number of his patients while ignoring the desperate advances of his drunken assistant, Jo's aunt. In fact, none of this is true: her father is scrupulously honest and in love with her mother; the local doctor is a shy man, and the former army officer is simply a family friend. Jo has left town for London with a young playwright, Robert Hughes, who is interested in turning her book into a play. After discovering they are kindred spirits, the two become engaged. When they return home, Jo is confronted by her angry family and neighbours. The doctor is threatening to sue, and her father and mother have begun questioning each other's fidelity but when he hears of the Doctor's planned lawsuit, Jo's father rises to her defense; stating that he approves of her talent if not her methods. Aunt Gladys further calms the Doctor by confessing her unrequited love for him, and they become a couple.

Cast

* Ted Ray as Edward Halliday * Jean Kent as Janet Halliday *

as Dr. Henry Manners *

as Beryl, maid * Julia Lockwood as Jo Halliday * Tim Seely as Robert Hughes, playwright * Charles Hawtrey as jewellery salesman * Dilys Laye as Miss Millicent Jones, secretary *

as Ian Howard, driving instructor *

June Jago June Jago (31 March 1928 – 29 July 2010) was an Australian-born actress, who worked in stage, television and film in her native country and the United Kingdom, Biography Jago made her stage debut in Australia and went to Britain in the 1950s ...

as Gladys Worth, aunt *

Colin Gordon Colin Gordon (27 April 1911 – 4 October 1972) was a British actor. Although primarily a stage actor he made numerous appearances on television and in cinema films, generally in comedies. His stage career was mainly in the West End, but he w ...

as Maurice *

Joan Hickson Joan Bogle Hickson (5 August 1906 – 17 October 1998) was an English actress of theatre, film and television. She was known for her role as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series '' Miss Marple''. She also narrated a number of ...

as saleswoman *

as man at station * Ronald Adam as Mr. Appleton *

Cyril Chamberlain Cyril Chamberlain (8 March 1909 – 30 April 1974) was an English film and television actor. He appeared in a number of the early '' Carry On'', '' Doctor'' and '' St. Trinian's'' films. Chamberlain's first film appearance was in the 1936 Mich ...

as Mr. Jones *

Marianne Stone Marianne Stone (23 August 1922 – 21 December 2009) was an English character actress. She performed in films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s, typically playing working class parts such as barmaids, secretaries and landladies. Stone app ...

as Mrs. Waring * Anthony Sagar as barman *

Lee Patterson Lee Patterson (March 31, 1929 – February 14, 2007) was a Canadian film and television actor. British career He moved to the UK, where he specialised in playing virile American types in British films. He appeared in a number of films during ...

as Rod * Myrtle Reed as Dr.Manners' seductive patient

Reception

Box office

''Kine Weekly'' called it a "money maker" at the British box office in 1960.

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Though the complementary plot-within-a-plot construction of this stage farce aims its satire at middle-class life, precocious writers and current fashions in writing, the material is for the most part rather thin and uncinematic. Several of the characters, too, fail to come off, though Joan Sims is enjoyable in the small role of a daily help, and Lionel Jeffries extracts the maximum amount of comedy from a driving lesson scene." ''The

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...

Guide to Films'' gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "Notwithstanding its '' Carry On'' credentials, this gentle comedy of embarrassment could not be further from the bawdy humour of the celebrated series. Adapted by Norman Hudis, it boasts Leslie Phillips, Joan Sims and Charles Hawtrey among those aghast at the revelations contained in a potboiling novel populated by local luminaries. It's a one-joke affair, but director Gerald Thomas ensures the cast keeps it light and frothy."

Precedent

The literary theme had been used before, by D. E. Stevenson, in the 1934 novel ''Mrs.Buncle's Book''. The 1881 novel ''Cape Cod Folks'' by Sarah Pratt McLean Greene, a semi-fictionalized account of the characters she met during her two years teaching in Cedarville, Massachusetts, also caused offence among some of the residents for the way they were depicted in the novel, and some sued for libel.

References

External links

* {{Gerald Thomas 1959 films British comedy films 1950s English-language films 1959 comedy films Films directed by Gerald Thomas Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films produced by Peter Rogers Films with screenplays by Norman Hudis British films based on plays 1950s British films