WRAP > Gallery > 1970s Images

No Blade of Grass movie
(131k)

NBOG is the only movie role Wendy has had where she does not appear as a brownish-blonde.

The first image is a montage of video clips. The other three are from lobby cards (large photos on cardboard distributed by the MGM studio to theaters showing the movie).

The first B&W card is probably the very best photo I've seen of any kind of Wendy playing the role of Clara Pirrie. The 2nd B&W shot is cropped from a lobby card and emphasizes Wendy, of course. The 3rd card, in color, is intriguing, for Wendy's character is shown here with glasses, though during no scene in the actual movie can she be seen wearing the specs. Were those Wendy's glasses, inadvertently left on during the publicity shot?

No Blade of Grass movie
(44k)

No Blade of Grass movie
(54k)

No Blade of Grass movie
(73k)

Dad's Army: "Two and a Half Feathers"
(110k)

Dad's Army: "Mum's Army"
(100k)

Up, Pompeii!
(78k)

In Up, Pompeii, one can see that yellow suits Wendy's complexion quite handsomely.

The second, black-and-white photo is a posed publicity still from this time.  Fairly rare previously, many 8x10 hardcopies have recently become available via auction to benefit a charitable cause.

Ms. Richard talks about this episode (and her skimpy costume) in her book and also in some interviews: Steve Wright (quoted here), and TV's Greatest Hits.

Up Pompeii!
(54k)

Carry On Again Christmas.
(93k)

This hour-long show was broadcast in black and white. The color shot here is almost certainly a publicity still from the set. The other actor is Sid James.

Wendy notes that she wore a dark wig for the part.

Carry On Again Christmas.
(48k)

Gumshoe
(78k)

In 1971 Ms. Richard made Gumshoe with Albert Finney. This seemed to be the movie that won her the most recognition, though her presence on-screen was far shorter than in No Blade of Grass.

The top photo is a publicity still from the movie's set. Interestingly, note the third person (standing behind Finney) present, who is not an actor in this scene. This pegs the shot as a specialty take, done either during a dedicated photo op or a dress rehearsal.

Gumshoe
(91k)

Please, Sir: "Pruning of the Hedges"
(20k)

Thanks to Charles for confirming which series and episode these images came from.

On The Buses movie
(26k)

As far as I can tell, this is the only role Ms. Richard had in the 1970s which was shot completely outdoors.

The black and white image is a lobby card for the movie.

On The Buses movie
(45k)

On The Buses movie
(27k)

On The Buses movie
(21k)

On The Buses: "The Busman's Ball"
(17k)

I'm not sure whether in 1971 Ms. Richard did the television series work first or the On The Buses movie first . . .

Bless This House
(27k)

Bless This House
(27k)

Bless This House
(45k)

Carry On Matron
(38k)

Carry On Matron
(41k)

Carry On Matron
(48k)

AYBS? (pilot)
b/w (39k)

The series Are You Being Served? kicked-off in 1972. The un-titled pilot episode was indeed shot in color in May of that year, but apparently has been lost; only a black-and-white version has ever been broadcast. The second image here is the only color shot I've ever seen of Ms. Richard from that series pilot. It appears as an illustration in The 'Are You Being Served?' Stories book.

AYBS? (pilot)
color (17k)

AYBS? (pilot)
b/w (46k)

Dad's Army: "The King Was In His Counting House"
(99k)

Dad's Army: "The King Was In His Counting House"
(38k)

AYBS?: "His And Hers"
(93k)

Early in 1973, Wendy learned that AYBS? had been picked up by the BBC as a series. These episodes were a few of those first that helped propel her to national recognition as Miss Shirley Brahms.

AYBS?: "Camping In"
(48k)

AYBS?: "Diamonds are A Man's Best Friend"
(49k)

AYBS?: "Dear Sexy Knickers"
(56k)

Carry On Girls
(70k)

The second (bottom) lobby card is interesting because this exact shot does not appear in the final version of the movie. It's taken from a different angle than the motion picture camera, but also Wendy (in the red one-piece swimsuit) is a few steps further down the ramp then in the 'official' scene. This is the infamous "muck" scene, of which she speaks with some regret in her memoirs.

Carry On Girls
(55k)

Carry On Girls
(22k)

Carry On Girls
(38k)

Carry On Girls
(64k)

Carry On Girls
(51k)

Dad's Army: "My British Buddy"
(95k)

AYBS?: publicity still
(43k)

The first image is not from any particular episode. I'm guessing it is from early 1974, though, based on Wendy's appearance.

AYBS?: "Big Brother"
(22k)

AYBS?: "Cold Comfort"
(55k)

AYBS?: "The Clock"
(18k)

AYBS?: "Christmas Crackers"
(51k)

1975 saw Ms. Richard in good form in many of the AYBS? episodes. A notable exception, however, was in "Christmas Crackers", this year's Xmas production. During the show, her demeanor and bearing seemed markedly out of character.

In contrast, the shot from "German Week" is one of the finest of Ms. Richard, and shows her fine complexion and winning smile.

AYBS?: "German Week"
(57k)

AYBS?: "New Look"
(39k)

AYBS?: "The Hand of Fate"
(71k)

Not On Your Nellie: "Requiem for a Heavyweight"
(58k)

The first photo shows Wendy, as barmaid Doris, with actor John Barrett, who played Jed Pickersgill in the series.

In the montage, the very short lady with Wendy is Hylda Baker.

Not On Your Nellie: various episodes
(98k)

Hogg's Back
(41k)

Hogg's Back
(47k)

AYBS?: "Fifty Years On" (59k)

Shortly after the episodes of the '76 television season were in the can, Ms. Richard embarked on the theatrical version of AYBS?

AYBS?: "The Father Christmas Affair" (49k)

AYBS?: "Top Hat and Tails"
(60k)

AYBS?: The Movie
(46k)

Ms. Richard completed her AYBS? cinema film this year as well as making yet another series of episodes for television.

The fifth (black & white) image is also a publicity shot, distributed as an 8 x 10 glossy.

AYBS?: The Movie
(42k)

AYBS?: The Movie
(36k)

AYBS?: The Movie
(36k)

AYBS?: The Movie
(27k)

AYBS?: The Movie
(40k)

In the first two black & white pictures (which also appear in the Rigelsford AYBS? book), Ms. Richard is attired as Shirley Brahms, yet these do not seem to be from any scene in the movie. Judging from her pose and her cigarette holder, I suspect these attractive shots were intended as publicity stills.

The last two shots are an interesting -- though hardly surprising -- comparison of a publicity shot of the cast and the respective caricature of it done for use as a lobby poster. Note Wendy's dramatic transformation.

AYBS?: The Movie
(22k)

AYBS?: The Movie
(31k)

AYBS?: The Movie lobby poster
(56k)

AYBS?: "Mrs. Slocombe Expects"
(62k)

AYBS?: "Take-Over"
(26k)

AYBS?: "The Old Order Changes"
(48k)

AYBS? publicity photo
(58k)

Probably shot in early 1977, this is an excerpt from a photo of Wendy with her colleagues from Grace Brothers during a publicity tour of the Netherlands.  Though still relatively unknown in the US, by this time AYBS? had apparently already created a splash with the Dutch television audience.

AYBS?: "The Club"
(66k)

AYBS: "Do You Take This Man?"
(75k)

AYBS: "Many Happy Returns"
(56k)

AYBS?: "Whatever You Can Do"
(37k)

The first (top) image here isn't a screen grab, but rather a publicity photo of Wendy, probably around November of 1979, kitted out as Shirley. Notice what Wendy is holding in her left hand? Cute touch . . .

AYBS?: "The Apartment"
(59k)

AYBS?: "The Agent"
(24k)

AYBS?: "Strong Stuff This Insurance"
(56k)

AYBS?-themed advertisement
(84k)

Besides her television work, Wendy also took the opportunity  (probably in late 1978) to do this advertisement that appeared in the Jan 79 issue of Margriet, a Dutch women's weekly magazine.   John Inman's presence is clearly meant to recall their roles on Are You Being Served?, and this reinforces the series' popularity in the Netherlands at this time.  Considering the product, it is not surprising that both Wendy and John are wearing knitted sweaters . . .