Raising the Wind (1961)

A line-up of stars from the Carry On fraternity get together for this laboured but likeable Gerald Thomas comedy about five poverty-stricken music students at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Arts – studying under gruff tutor and world-famous conductor Sir Benjamin Boyd (James Robertson-Justice) – who decide to share a flat to cut their living costs and have somewhere to practice together.

The five – playboy Mervyn Hughes (Leslie Phillips), bookish double-bassist Miranda Kennaway (Liz Fraser), trumpeter Malcolm Stewart (Paul Massie), accident-prone harpist Jill Clemons (Jennifer Jayne), and Alex Spendlove (Jimmy Thompson) – get into quite a few scrapes,  adventures and drunken escapades, including impersonating a celebrity quintet.

But when Mervyn accidentally sells a catchy pop tune to a music publisher, he risks losing his scholarship unless he and his friends can raise the money to buy the rights back.

Studying with them at the Academy is Harold (Kenneth Williams), a smug, objectionable toffee-nosed swot with designs on a prize for conducting.

These accomplished funnymen go through their usual paces with aplomb, but the film belongs to the delightful Esma Cannon as their deaf landlady, Mrs Deevens, and Sid James as the disreputable music publisher behind Mervyn’s predicament.

Sir Benjamin Boyd
James Robertson-Justice
Mervyn Hughes
Leslie Phillips
Malcolm Stewart
Paul Massie
Harold Chesney
Kenneth Williams
Miranda Kennaway
Liz Fraser
Jill Clemons
Jennifer Jayne
Alex Spendlove
Jimmy Thompson
Sid
Sidney James
Harry
Lance Percival
Mrs Deevens
Esma Cannon
Dr Morgan Rutherford
Eric Barker
Sir John
Geoffrey Keen
Janet
Jill Ireland
Mrs Bostwick
Joan Hickson
Phil (Bass trombone player)
Jim Dale
Prof. Gerald Abrahams
Frank Forsyth
Prof. Parkin
Oliver Johnston
Doris
Dorinda Stevens

Director
Gerald Thomas