Book Review: 'The Man Who Was Private Widdle' Explores the Sad Life of Carry On Actor Charles Hawtrey

Roger Lewis's short, reissued biography, 'The Man Who Was Private Widdle,' offers a "waspishly funny and deeply touching" look at the life of Charles Hawtrey, a prominent actor in the 'Carry On' film series.

Hawtrey, who appeared in 23 of the films, is best remembered as Private Widdle in 'Carry On Up The Khyber.' Despite the "shoddy" production quality of the movies, Lewis argues that they poignantly capture the "tawdry, small-town Englishness of the mid-20th century." The book highlights the stark contrast between Hawtrey's on-screen cheerfulness and his private reality, which was marked by loneliness and sadness, as described by fellow actor Joan Sims.

Lewis praises Hawtrey's innate comedic talent, noting his ability to convey eccentricity with subtle gestures. He even rates Hawtrey's acting ability above that of Kenneth Williams, whose "flared nostrils threatened to engulf you like railway tunnels."

A Darker Ambience

Beneath Hawtrey's "apparent imperturbability lay a darker ambience, a warped world of irrational needs, ambiguousness and sexual anxiety," Lewis writes. Hawtrey was known to be petulant, demanding top billing and often feeling unappreciated and ignored due to typecasting as a 'Carry On' actor. This led him to retire to Deal, Kent, where he lived a "lonely, drunken existence."

His daily consumption reportedly included two and a half bottles of port, whisky, and gin and vermouth. Lewis notes that Hawtrey's genuine drunkenness sometimes translated into brilliant performances, as seen in films like 'At Your Convenience' and 'Abroad.' However, his behavior also made him a "trouble-maker" in local pubs.

A Fireman Fantasy

Attracted to "burly young men," Hawtrey once indulged a fantasy during a house fire. He reportedly ran upstairs, seeking to be carried downstairs by a fireman, "and he insisted it had to be the biggest fireman."

Lewis concludes that Hawtrey, though a "minor figure," serves as a lens through which to examine "the cold hard nothingness of existence."