Terence Alan ‘Spike’ Milligan began his entertainment career with radio-shows, first as a writer, then as a writer-performer on the comedy radio-show ‘The Goon Show’ (1951), wherein he essayed various characters, earning international recognition.
Along with ‘The Goon Show’ stars, Milligan made his feature film debut in the comedy film ‘Penny Points to Paradise’ (1951), and played multiple roles in the comedy short ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ (1951), then starred with ‘The Goons’ in the comedy ‘Down Among the Z Men’ (1952). He next featured on the comedy TV series ‘Don’t Spare the Horses’ (1952).
Milligan was a narrator/voice-actor in the short film ‘Calling All Cars’ (1954), and played various roles in the short comedy ‘The Case of Mukkinese Battle Horn’ (1956). He reprised his ‘Goon’ part on ‘The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d’ (1956), based on ‘The Goon Show.’ He wrote/starred in the TV series ‘A Show Called Fred’ (1956), followed by the series ‘Son of Fred’ (1957), and appeared on the TV program ‘Six-Five Special’ (1957).
Milligan appeared in such TV movies as ‘Pantomania or Dick Whittington’ (1956), ‘Alice through the Looking Box’ (1960), and many more. After appearing in the comedy film ‘Watch Your Stem’ (1960) and the thriller film ‘Suspect’ (1960), he had lead roles in the parody drama WWII-film ‘Invasion Quartet’ (1961) and the comedy film ‘Postman’s Knock’ (1962).
In 1963, Milligan played various roles on the TV series ‘The Telegoons’ (1963-1964) which used puppets of Goon characters. He wrote and starred on the TV sketch comedy show ‘The World of Beachcomber’ (1968). In 1969, he starred in the film version of the play ‘The Bed Sitting Room,’ the TV sitcom ‘Curry & Chips,’ and worked as writer-performer in the series ‘Oh in Color’ (1970).
He appeared in the satirical-comedy film ‘The Magic Christian’ (1969).
Milligan played his father, Leo Milligan, in the 1973 film-adaption of the first volume of his war-memoires ‘Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall.’ He next appeared in the fantasy-adventure-comedy film ‘Digby: the Biggest Dog in the World’ (1973), ‘The Three Musketeers’ (1973), the comedy film ‘Ghost in the Noonday Sun’ (1974), and the drama film ‘The Cherry Picker’ (1974). He played the title role in the humorous biopic of poet McGonagall, ‘The Great McGonagall’ (1975).
Milligan voiced the animation/live-action Australian film ‘Dot & the Kangaroo’ (1977), the TV series written by his daughter, ‘The Ratties,’ (1988) and also the TV series ‘Wolves, Witches & Giants’ (1995-1998). He last appeared in the TV miniseries ‘Gormenghast’ (2000) and the TV film ‘Badjelly, the Witch’ (2000).
Brian of Nazareth, who was born in a stable next-door to Jesus on the same night, is mistaken as the prophesied messiah by the three wise men. Out of love for the young rebel Judith and hatred for the occupying Romans, he joins the People's Front of Judea, and unwittingly gathers his own group of followers.
The Three Musketeers is an action adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas. The film tells the story of a young man from the countryside, who comes to Paris, after learning swordsmanship from his father. He soon faces several adventures along with his Musketeer friends.
The robbery of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn, a 9th century artifact, from the Metropolitan museum is being looked into by a pair of detectives from Scotland Yard in this amusing farcical short film. The film is an adaptation of a precious memento of BBC radio's The Goon Show.
Starting from the events of the Old Testament to the Spanish Inquisition to the French Revolution, and lastly the future, this film explains the story of mankind in a comical way.
Joe is a young boy living in working-class London with his mother Joanna. They reside above a tailor shop owned by Mr Kandinsky, who likes to tell Joe stories. He tells Joe the story of a unicorn that can grant wishes. Hoping to help his poor and hard-working neighbors, Joe uses his pocket money to buy a goat with a tiny horn, believing that it is a real unicorn.
British scientists manage to find a cure for an ongoing plague, but their government refuses to publish the research, and decides to keep it a secret. However, foreign powers trick a scientist into handing over the information to them.
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film is a 1950 comedy short-film which earned an Oscar nomination. The film doesn’t have a plot, and involves a lot of gags.
Let’s Go Crazy is a comedy short musical film which is set in a nightclub. It combines various kinds of variety acts with comedy sketches.
Yellowbeard is an adventure action comedy film which tells the story of infamous pirate Yellowbeard, who breaks out of prison. The only thing on his mind now is recovering the treasure that he buried a long time ago. However, the problem is that his map has been tattooed on the head of his son. Things seem even worse because a number of rivals are also planning to beat him to the treasure.
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie is an Australian comedy film which revolves around the adventures of a young man named Barry McKenzie, who along with his aunt, travels to England in order to advance his cultural education.
Terence Milligan is an aspiring jazz musician who joins the British Royal Artillery regiment at Bexhill, during the Second World War. The film revolves around his experiences as a soldier.
A provincial postman is sent to train at a reputed mail center in London. However, things get complicated and he is accused of masterminding a mail robbery.
Two friends manage to win a contest, after which they go to their regular seaside boarding house. Things get complicated because all the other guests, including two women who want to marry for money, try to come up with a plan to take the fortune off them.
The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins is a British comedy film which tells us seven different stories which are based on the seven deadly sins.
In order to make some cash, a young aspiring writer decides to write a book about the Loch Ness Monster. However, publishers are hesitant to take the book, because they don’t believe in such a thing. Therefore, along with some of his friends, the writer tries to create a fake monster, so that they are able to convince the people about its existence.
Ghost in the Noonday Sun is a comedy film which takes us to the 17th century. It tells the story of a pirate captain, who is murdered by his cook. The latter then tries to find a hidden treasure, but unfortunately, it seems impossible because the map was drawn in disappearing ink. Now, he must rely on the captain’s ghost to find it.
The Great McGonnagall is a comedy film which tells the story of an unemployed man, William McGonnagall, who wants to become England’s Poet Lauret. However, the problem is that people don’t like his poetry.
During their holiday in France, two friends find themselves attracted to two different girls, and decide to pursue them.
Down Among the Z Men is a comedy film which tells the story of Harry Jones, who works as a clerk in a general mercantile store. Meanwhile, he is also an amateur actor working in community theater, where he is currently playing the role of an inspector working for the Scotland Yard. His life gets complicated after an absent minded Professor leaves a secret military formula in his store. Soon, two enemy spies question Harry regarding the Professor, not realizing that the formula is now in Harry’s possession.
This is a satirical take off on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel of the same name. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are invited to examine the weird happenings at Baskerville Hall and the curse of a fabled hound. As they start investigating, everyone appears suspicious. So how do they overcome the obstacles to solve the mystery of the Hound?
Armitage runs a chemical company that is working on producing a gas that can cause temporary disability down the waist. It is wanted by the military, and it is also sought by a group of Japanese. He hires people from a detective agency to guard his gas, but people who want it, hires people from the same detective agency to steal it.
Dot and the Kangaroo is an animated short musical film which tells the story of a young girl who befriends a kangaroo, after getting lost in the Australian outback.
This film is a collection of fourteen award winning short films from various parts of the world. It includes the 1974 Oscar winning film ‘Closed Mondays’, as well as other films such as ‘Moonshadow’, ‘The Last Cartoon Man’, and ‘Cosmic Cartoon’.
Spike Milligan Awards
| Winner | Best Writer | 1957 |
