Porridge is a 1979 film based upon the television series of the same name which was released under the title Doing Time in the United States.

All the regular sitcom warders and inmates were involved, with the exception of Lukewarm, Heslop, and Harris. There was also a new governor, played by Geoffrey Bayldon. The film represented the last finished work by Richard Beckinsale, the actor who played Godber. He died in March 1979, a few weeks after its completion.^[1]

Synopsis[link]

Set a year before the final episode of the series, Fletcher and Godber are forced by another inmate to escape from prison and then have to try to break back in before they're found by the police.

Three one-off characters made an impact in the film. Rudge, played by Daniel Peacock, was a young, timid prisoner in the Godber mould, seen arriving for his three-year stretch for shoplifting at the beginning of the film. He came into his own when he showed his outstanding football skills during the game which led to the breakout. Oakes, played by Barrie Rutter, was the violent armed robber who arrived in the same van as Rudge and was sprung for the breakout, reluctantly taking Fletcher and Godber with him. Beale, played by Christopher Godwin, was a new prison officer who subscribed to the firm approach to the job, but proved easy to manipulate into recommending a celebrity football match.

Production[link]

Unlike the television episodes, the film is not a BBC production, with no references to the corporation on the DVD release (2003). The budget for the film was £250,000 and it was backed by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. It was shot mainly on location at Chelmsford Prison, Essex, UK, the prison being unoccupied at the time because it was being refurbished after a fire in one of the wings. The escape sequence was filmed in Buckinghamshire, there is also a brief shot of the gates of Maidstone Prison and sets were constructed for some cell and kitchen scenes. Most of the filming took place in freezing conditions in January and the resulting delays to the filming schedule meant that the part written for Tony Osoba had to be reduced because he had a commitment to appear in Charles Endell Esquire and his lines were given to other actors.^[3]

Music[link]

The opening credits of the film feature the hit "Without You" by Nilsson, and the closing credits contain a more upbeat song by the British singer Joe Brown, entitled "Free Inside".

Cast[link]

• Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher
• Richard Beckinsale as Lennie Godber
• Fulton Mackay as Mackay
• Brian Wilde as Barrowclough
• Peter Vaughan as Grouty
• Geoffrey Bayldon as Treadaway - Governor
• Christopher Godwin as Beal
• Barrie Rutter as Oakes
• Daniel Peacock as Rudge
• Sam Kelly as Warren
• Julian Holloway as Bainbridge
• Ken Jones as Ives
• Philip Locke as Banyard
• Gorden Kaye as Dines (coach driver)
• Karl Howman as Urquhart
• Derek Deadman as Cooper
• Tony Osoba as McClaren
• Oliver Smith as McMillan
• Zoot Money as Lotterby

References[link]

External links[link]

• Porridge (film) at the Internet Movie Database
• Porridge (film) at the British Comedy Guide

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