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 Alfie Bass 

(1921 - 1987)

Alfie Bass was born in London in 1921 and was most often seen playing the part of a cockney and/or Jewish 'cloth cap' character. He had a number of minor parts in films during the late 1940's before landing a co-starring part as one of 'The Lavender Hill Mob' in the 1951 film of the same name. Later he tackled weightier roles, although almost always in the same vein as that in which he had started. But it was his creation of the malingering soldier 'Bootsie' that made him a household name from the late 1950's onwards. Indeed he found it hard to shake off the character of Bootsie Bisley throughout the rest of his career and he was still playing the part on TV some 25 years latter.

 The Army Game 

      
      

From 1957 to 1960 he played Private 'Bootsie' Bisley  in the TV series, The Army Game. Loosely based on the 1956 movie Private's Progress, the series was set in Hut 29 of the Surplus Ordnance Depot at Nether Wallop.

His fellow National Service conscripts included Corporal Springer (Michael Medwin), Private 'Cupcake' Cook (Norman Rossington), Private 'Professor' Hatchett (Charles Hawtrey, who would become a 'Carry On' film regular) and Private 'Popeye' Popplewell (Bernard Bresslaw, another 'Carry On' regular). Popplewell's catch phrase "I only arsked" became a national catch-phrase and was chosen as the title for a 1958 feature film based on the series.

They were all kept in order by the Sergeant Major, first played by William Hartnell (before he became Doctor Who) as Sgt Major Bullimore and then Bill Fraser who played Sgt Major Snudge. The officers included Captain Pocket, played by Frank Williams of Dads Army fame. 

The series is also notable for launching the careers of many other British actor/comedians including Harry Fowler and Dick Emery. 

The Army Game

Series 1: 13 episodes between 19 Jun 57 and 20 Dec 57

Series 2: 26 episodes between 20 Dec 57 and 13 Jun 58

Series 3: 39 episodes between 19 Sep 58 and 12 Jun 59

Series 4: 37 episodes between 9 Oct 59 and 17 Jun 60

Series 5: 39 episodes between 27 Sep 60 and 20 Jun 61

(CLICK HERE FOR THE ARMY GAME)

 Bootsie & Snudge 

      
      

Alfie left the army along with Sergeant Major, Claude Snudge, (Bill Fraser) and went to work as a handyman at the Imperial Club, a gentleman's club in the West End of London, in Bootsie and Snudge. Snudge is the hall porter and is still telling Bootsie what to do. 

Other club staff included the Right Hon. Hesketh Pendleton (Robert Dorning) and old Henry Beerbohm Johnson (Clive Dunn).

Bootsie and Snudge teamed up again in 1964 for Foreign Affairs. This tiome Bootsie is a Security Officer at the British Embassy in Bosnik where Snudge (Bill Fraser) is still bossing him around.

The Bootsie & Snudge series made a come back in 1974 with Bootsie winning a million pounds on the football pools. Snudge turns up again and offers his services as Bootsie's "financial advisor".

Bootsie & Snudge

Series 1: 40 episodes between 23 Sep 60 and 23 Jun 61

Series 2: 29 episodes between 27 Oct 61 and 11 May 62

Series 3: 29 episodes between 8 Nov 62 and 23 May 63

Series 4: 6 episodes between 16 Oct 74 and 20 Nov 74

Foreign Affairs

Series 1: 8 episodes between 2 Jan 64 - 20 Feb 64

(CLICK HERE TO HEAR BOOTSIE)

 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins 

      
      

The character of Bootsie proved hard for Alfie to shake off. He had few major roles over the next decade. He did get a part in that classic comedy film The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins, made in 1971. This film featured many of the comedy actors of the day and most of the cast will be found on the pages of this site. Alfie played the part of Mr. Spencer in the sketch 'Pride', which also featured Ian Carmichael. 

(CLICK HERE TO HEAR A CLIP)

 Till Death Us Do Part 

      
      

Alfie returned to our TV screens in 1975 when he joined the cast of 'Till Death Us Do Part'. as Alf Garnett's neighbour. He would often be seen in the pub with Alf and they did make a great double act.

Till Death Us Do Part

Pilot: Till Death Us Do Part (22 Jul 65)

Series 1: to Series 5: 40 episodes between (6 Jun 66 - 31 Dec 74)

Series 6: 6 episodes between (8 Jan 75 - 12 Feb 75)

Series 7: 6 episodes between  (5 Nov 75 - 17 Dec 75)

(CLICK HERE FOR BERT & ALF)

 Are You Being Served? 

      
      

He joined another long running TV sitcom in 1979, playing the part of Mr Goldberg in series seven of 'Are You Being Served?'. He got the upper hand over Captain Peacock from the start, as it turned out they had been in the army together and it wasn't Captain, it was Corporal Peacock.

Are You Being Served?

Pilot: Are You Being Served? (8 Sep 72)

Series 1: to Series 6: 39 episodes between (21 Mar 73 - 26 Dec 78)

Series 7: 7 episodes between (19 Oct 79 - 30 Nov 79)

  1. The Junior (19 Oct 79)

  2. Strong Stuff This Insurance (26 Oct 79)

  3. The Apartment (2 Nov 79)

  4. Mrs. Slocombe, Senior Person (9 Nov 79)

  5. The Hero (16 Nov 79)

  6. Anything You Can Do (23 Nov 79)

  7. The Agent (30 Nov 79)

Special: The Punch And Judy Affair (26 Dec 79)

Series 8: to Series 10: 21 episodes between (9 Apr 81 - 1 Apr 85)

(CLICK HERE FOR Mr GOLDBERG)

 FILMOGRAPHY 

  1. Moonraker (1979) .... Venice Coffin Spotter

  2. Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) .... Fernet

  3. Come Play with Me (1977) .... Kelly

  4. The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971) Mr. Spencer "Pride"

  5. The Fixer (1968) (uncredited) .... Potseikin

  6. A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) .... The Pie Seller

  7. Up the Junction (1967) .... Charlie

  8. The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) .... Shagal
    ... aka Dance of the Vampires (1967) (UK)
    ... aka Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck, The (1967) (USA)

  9. The Sandwich Man (1966) .... Yachtsman

  10. Doctor in Clover (1966) .... Fleming
    ... aka Carnaby, M.D. (1966) (USA)

  11. Alfie (1966) .... Harry Clamacraft

  12. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1966) .... Gatekeeper

  13. Help! (1965) .... Doorman

  14. The Millionairess (1960) .... Fish Curer

  15. I Only Arsked! (1958) .... Excused Boots Bisley

  16. I Was Monty's Double (1958) .... The Small Man
    ... aka Hell, Heaven or Hoboken (1958)

  17. A Tale of Two Cities (1958) .... Jerry Cruncher

  18. Carry On Admiral (1957) .... Orderly
    ... aka Ship Was Loaded, The (1957) (USA)

  19. No Road Back (1957) .... Rudge

  20. Hell Drivers (1957) .... Tinker, Truck Driver
    ... aka Hard Drivers (1957)

  21. Behind the Headlines (1956) .... Sammy

  22. The Bespoke Overcoat (1956) .... Ghost

  23. Child in the House (1956) .... Ticket Collector

  24. A Touch of the Sun (1956) .... May

  25. Jumping for Joy (1955) .... Blagg

  26. Make Me an Offer (1955) .... Fred Frames

  27. Svengali (1955) .... Carrell

  28. A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) .... Alf

  29. The Night My Number Came Up (1955) .... Soldier

  30. The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp (1954) .... Lennox

  31. Passing Stranger (1954) .... Harry

  32. Time Is My Enemy (1954) .... Ernie Gordon

  33. To Dorothy a Son (1954) .... Cab Driver
    ... aka Cash on Delivery (1954) (USA)

  34. Murder by Proxy (1954) .... Ernie
    ... aka Blackout (1954) (USA)

  35. Top of the Form (1953) .... Artie Jones

  36. The Square Ring (1953) .... Frank Forbes

  37. Brandy for the Parson (1952) .... Dallyn

  38. Derby Day (1952) .... Spider Wilkes
    ... aka Four Against Fate (1952) (USA: reissue title)

  39. Made in Heaven (1952) .... Mr. Jenkins

  40. Treasure Hunt (1952)

  41. The Planter's Wife (1952) .... Soldier
    ... aka Outpost in Malaya (1952) (USA)
    ... aka White Blood (1952)

  42. The Galloping Major (1951) .... Newsboy

  43. High Treason (1951)

  44. Talk of a Million (1951) .... Lorcan
    ... aka You Can't Beat the Irish (1951)

  45. The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) .... Shorty

  46. Pool of London (1951) .... Alf, a henchman

  47. Boys in Brown (1949) .... Basher

  48. The Hasty Heart (1949) (as Alfred Bass) .... Orderly

  49. Holiday Camp (1948) .... Redcoat

  50. Man on the Run (1948) .... Barge Mate

  51. The Monkey's Paw (1948) .... Speedway Track Manager

  52. Vice Versa (1948) .... 1st Urchin

  53. It Always Rains on Sunday (1948) .... Dicey

  54. Brief Encounter (1946) (uncredited)

  55. Johnny Frenchman (1945) .... Corporal

  56. The Bells Go Down (1943) (uncredited)

 TV Appearances 

  1. Are You Being Served? (1972) .... Mr. Harold Goldberg (1979)

  2. Minder (1979) playing "Morrie Levin" in episode: "The Son Also Rises" (episode # 3.8) (3 March 1982)

  3. Dick Turpin (1979) .... "Isaac Rag" in  "Blood Money" 1980

  4. Dick Turpin (1979) .... "Isaac Rag" in  "The Blacksmith" 1979

  5. Dick Turpin (1979) .... "Isaac Rag" in "The Hostages" 1979

  6. Dick Turpin (1979) .... "Isaac Rag" in  "The Impostor" 1979

  7. Dick Turpin (1979) .... "Isaac Rag" in "The Jail-Birds" 1979

  8. Danger UXB (1979)

  9. A Roof Over My Head (1977) .... Flamewell

  10. Our Mutual Friend (1976) (mini) .... Silas Wegg

  11. Lord Tramp (1975)

  12. Till Death Us Do Part (1966) .... Bert (1975)

  13. Star Maidens (1976) .... "Gatekeeper" in  "The Nightmare Cannon" 

  14. The Goodies and the Beanstalk (1973) (TV) .... The giant

  15. Soap Opera in Stockwell (1973) (TV)
    ... aka Black and Blue: Soap Opera in Stockwell (UK: series title)

  16. The Goodies (1970) .... "Town Planner" in  "Camelot" (episode # 4.1) (1 December 1973)

  17. Arthur of the Britons (1972) .... "Trader" in  "The Swordsman" (episode # 2.1) (12 September 1973)

  18. Budgie (1970) .... "Dickie Silver" in "24,000 Ball Point Pens" (1972)

  19. Vacant Lot (1967) .... Alf Grimble

  20. Gideon's Way (1965) .... "Max Fischer" in "State Visit" (1965)

  21. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1964) (TV) .... Flute

  22. Foreign Affairs (1964) .... Montagu 'Bootsie' Bisley

  23. Espionage (1963) playing "Holocaust survivor" 1964

  24. Bootsie and Snudge (1960) .... Private 'Bootsie' Bisley (1960)

  25. The Army Game (1957) .... Private. 'Bootsie' Bisley (1957-60)

  26. Buccaneers, The (1956) .... "Sawney" in episode: "Blackbeard"

  27. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) .... "Edgar" in "The Ordeal" (episode # 1.12)

  28. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) playing "Edgar" in episode: "The Coming of Robin Hood" (episode # 1.1)

  29. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1954) .... "Citizen" in "Lady in Distress"
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