Carry On Regardless

Tags

1960's, Bill Owen, Carry On Movies, Carry On Regardless, Charles Hawtrey, Comedy, Esma Cannon, Gerald Thomas, Hattie Jacques, Joan Hickson, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Liz Fraser, Sid James, Stanley Unwin, Terence Longdon

Film Title

Carry On Regardless

Director

Gerald Thomas

Starring

• Sid James as Bert Handy
• Kenneth Connor as Sam Twist
• Charles Hawtrey as Gabriel Dimple
• Joan Sims as Lily Duveen
• Kenneth Williams as Francis Courtenay
• Bill Owen as Mike Weston
• Liz Fraser as Delia King
• Terence Longdon as Montgomery Infield-Hopping
• Esma Cannon as Miss Cooling
• Stanley Unwin as Landlord
• Joan Hickson as Matron
• Hattie Jacques as Nurse

The fifth entry in the franchise, Carry On Regardless for me hits a stumbling block. While it’s still funny, the focus on too many individual incidents gets laborious and it feels like there is too much going on and not all of it good. Suffice to say, Carry On Regardless is my least favourite entry so far in the long running series.

A group of disgruntled individuals meet in the Labour Exchange, moaning about the severe lack of jobs. They are perpetually unlucky Sam Twist, clumsy and harmless Gabriel Dimple, amiable Lily Duveen, snotty language expert Francis Courtenay, gruff chap Mike Weston, gorgeous blonde Delia King and well-groomed Montgomery Infield-Hopping. On the very same day, a discovery in the paper for an agency known as ‘Helping Hands’ is found. Given the lack of jobs, the motley crew races to the office to get work there. The agency is run by the crafty Bert Handy, who along with his secretary Miss Cooling, hopes the business of ‘Helping Hands’ can be successful. Hiring the group, he awaits greatness. At first, business is pretty slow for all involved. Yet eventually, given that the agency has advertised that they will take whatever job there is, offers flood in for the staff. Which of course means that unusual and kooky antics are bound to follow, especially with this group of misfits taking part. And when the new order system that assigns jobs for everyone is mixed up, much mayhem ensues.

While Gerald Thomas knows what he’s doing to get laughs, his direction is as uneven as the stories at play. Nothing bad by any stretch, just a feeling of being too thrown together and forced. While other Carry On Movies have been episodic, they at least had more of a clear thread running through them. Regardless just feels like an overload of ideas that could have been rendered with more efficiency. Part of the fun in a Carry On is the camaraderie and group effort of the thing; Regardless keeps them apart for much too long. Now there’s still humour to be gleaned, with more innuendo peppered in there in budding fashion. Owing to the scattershot narrative, some vignettes stand out more than others. Joan Sims getting sozzled at a high society is hilarious, as is Kenneth Williams walking and entertaining a Chimpanzee for the day. Kenneth Connor’s story of a misunderstood message that leads to what he thinks is a spy operation is probably the funniest of the lot, especially as it really plays up the fact that he’s such a hapless chap. While these areas of Carry On Regardless are fun and get laughs, the rest of it somehow grinds to a halt. I feel that the talents of some members of the cast where not given great stuff to work with, which is a shame considering their talents. While the score is eventful, it isn’t the finest example of music in Carry On.

Sid James, with his trademark grin and dirty laugh, is clearly having fun as the boss of the agency, who everything seems to link back to. There’s something about James that really keeps you watching, even when the stories get to be a bit of a bore. Kenneth Connor, so far a firm favourite in the Carry On team, once more plays the underdog to the hilt. Connor just knows how to gain laughs from you with his brand of hapless enthusiasm and performance. I’ve grown to love Charles Hawtrey and his comedic talents, and though he gets one particularly funny scene, I was a bit disheartened that he wasn’t given a whole lot to do. The delightful Joan Sims shines in her main scenes with her comic timing and personality, making up for some of the less assured vignettes. And of course a Carry On wouldn’t be one without the inimitable Kenneth Williams. That vocal style, mannerisms and facial expressions are just too hilarious, Williams is a masterful comedian. Bill Owen is sadly given scant to do in this venture, while the gorgeous Liz Fraser provides ample sex appeal in her debut Carry On. Terence Longdon makes his last appearance, which sadly is one that is few and far between as he feels a little shoe-horned into the mix. Providing splendid support is the sweet and pixie-like Esma Cannon, whose pretty fun and endearing as a daffy secretary. Stanley Unwin appears, along with his trademark gobbledygook style of speaking to play a Landlord, that no one can understand. In a funny reversal of fortune from Carry On Nurse, Joan Hickson plays a hospital matron while Hattie Jacques is the put-upon nurse.

Not a bad movie, it has its moments that raise a laugh, but Carry On Regardless feels hit and miss in regards to the rest of the films.

Carry On Constable

Tags

1960's, Carry On Constable, Carry On Movies, Charles Hawtrey, Comedy, Eric Barker, Gerald Thomas, Hattie Jacques, Joan Hickson, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Leslie Phillips, Shirley Eaton, Sid James, Terence Longdon

Film Title

Carry On Constable

Director

Gerald Thomas

Starring

• Sid James as Sergeant Frank Wilkins
• Kenneth Connor as Constable Charlie Constable
• Leslie Phillips as PC Tom Potter
• Kenneth Williams as PC Stanley Benson
• Charles Hawtrey as Special Constable Timothy Gorse
• Joan Sims as PC Gloria Passworthy
• Hattie Jacques as Sergeant Laura Moon
• Eric Barker as Inspector Mills
• Shirley Eaton as Sally
• Terence Longdon as Herbert Hall
• Joan Hickson as Mrs May

A wacky fourth entry into the comedy series, Carry On Constable spoofs the police force with humour and eventfulness. Sid James joins the cast here and while it’s not classic Carry On, Constable has a lot of things to recommend.

A busy police station is struck by flu, leaving many of the staff unable to work. As the station is already understaffed, it’s difficult to find temporary replacements. They eventually come in the form of fresh out the academy; snobbish and sardonic Stanley Benson, society Lothario Tom Potter and highly superstitious Charlie Constable . Also joining them is the harmless and clumsy Special Constable Timothy Gorse and overly efficient Policewoman Gloria Passworthy. Yet even before the day has really begun, the main trio inadvertently aid robbers in getting away, setting in motion the rest of the day. Assigned to watch them is experienced Sergeant Frank Wilkins, who is under pressure from his superior due to the conditions of the place and repeatedly threatened with a transfer. His hope for something good to happen quickly goes south when the stand ins reveal that they are hopelessly inept and prone to mistakes. Nevertheless, Wilkins perseveres with them as he feels something for them and wants anything to rub the Inspector’s nose in it, yet avoid a transfer. But dealing with this quartet is no easy task as he soon discovers. Let’s just say there’s a whole abundance of mishaps along the way for the stand in coppers, with chaos seeming to happen everywhere they go. But can they all pull together and show some backbone in order for Wilkins to stay at the station?

Gerald Thomas makes the lively events and humour shine through with his customary gift for moving the story along at a riotous pace. Carry On Constable is quite similar to Sergeant, in that the batch of recruits are bumbling and prone to folly. Their antics are comedic and eventful. A few interludes don’t do much and lag, but the overall escapades are in high abundance and ready to gain the laughs from you. Some of the highlights include Charlie bursting into an apartment, only to discover that what he believes to be a murder is actually a radio program, Gorse attempting to rescue a cat from a bell tower and funniest of all, Gorse and snobby Benson dressed in drag to stop criminals, yet cause a lot more trouble when their harebrained idea goes to pot. The double entendres and sauciness is upped, with some fine play on words and the first instance of nudity( shown when the quartet experience a freezing shower and end up stumbling into the cells, much to the dismay of a drunken lady). A rollicking score plays well in time with the comedic occurrences that are around every corner of Carry On Constable.

We get the first appearance of the beloved Sid James. Playing a largely serious man who has to witness the chaos ensuing, James gets in some great laughs as he chafes at his superior and it exasperated by the ineptitude of his new recruits( though warms to them). He’s an authority figure, but a funny one that James plays well in his first outing in the Carry On series. The hilarious Kenneth Connor is on hand to be spooked and a bundle of nervous energy waiting to erupt, when playing the most timid and omen obsessed member of the team. We also have Leslie Phillips, him of the posh voice and wicked smile, as the charming dandy with only ladies on the mind throughout. Kenneth Williams is a right delight; outrageously and amusingly playing the pretentious member of the group, who believes he can spot a criminal from just a look. Such delusions of grandeur and sarcasm are embodied wonderfully by the great gifts of Williams. And of course there is the playful, almost childlike giddiness or Charles Hawtrey to recommend to everyone. Relating to Connor, Phillips, Williams and Hawtrey, you can really feel how comfortable they are in these roles and it shows a lot on screen. I think however that the female cast members are pretty underused in Constable; Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques are both gifted comic actresses, but neither of their roles allows for much of that to come through. It was nice seeing Eric Barker do a gruff and smarmy act as the chief Inspector, who no one has much time for because he doesn’t seem to have a clue about running the station. Shirley Eaton pops up briefly for the glamour and sex appeal, though her and Terence Longdon are not given nearly enough to do to make a dent on the film. Look out for Joan Hickson as a boozy society lady who seems to enjoy getting arrested on a daily basis.

Not vintage Carry On but still a riot of laughter, Carry On Constable has enough comedy and outrageous things to have a ball with.

Carry On Nurse

Tags

1950's, Bill Owen, Carry On Movies, Carry On Nurse, Charles Hawtrey, Comedy, Gerald Thomas, Hattie Jacques, Joan Hickson, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Leslie Phillips, Rosalind Knight, Shirley Eaton, Terence Longdon, Wilfrid Hyde-White

Film Title

Carry On Nurse

Director

Gerald Thomas

Starring

• Kenneth Connor as Bernie Bishop
• Kenneth Williams as Oliver Reckitt
• Hattie Jacques as Matron
• Charles Hawtrey as Humphrey Hinton
• Terence Longdon as Ted York
• Shirley Eaton as Nurse Denton
• Bill Owen as Percy Hickson
• Joan Sims as Nurse Dawson
• Leslie Phillips as Jack Bell
• Joan Hickson as Sister
• Wilfrid Hyde-White as The Colonel
• Rosalind Knight as Student Nurse Nightingale

After the success of Carry On Sergeant, producer Peter Rogers and director Gerald Thomas decided to do a second film( which in turn would lead to countless more movies in the series). They knew they were on to something and delivered comedy gems. Carry On Nurse is a riotously funny spoof of the health service, with more innuendo that would later become prominent and game cast having a blast.

The setting is Haven Hospital, specifically a men’s word that is anything but a haven for those working or recuperating. The ward is watched over by the overbearing and fearsome Matron, who has the workers scared witless of her and always attempting to not mess up. The trouble is the ward is seemingly a hotbed for every sort of accident or calamity there is, both of the amorous and amusing variety. The motley crew of workers and patients have enough antics to last a lifetime. In the ward there is Bernie Bishop, a boxer who is in after breaking his hand in a bout. The intellectual and always reading Oliver Reckitt complains constantly about the conditions of the place, using his silver tongue to annoy Matron. Bespectacled Humphrey Hinton spends his time laughing hysterically or re-enacting musical orchestra from his perms angle fixed radio. Chain-smoking cynic Percy Hickson is laid up with a broken leg. Recently arrived newspaper man Ted York, who is being treated for appendicitis and who becomes attracted to the gorgeous Nurse Denton. In a private room and constantly a nuisance is the Colonel, an elderly chap who bets on just about anything and causes grief to the nurses whenever he can. Scatter brained Nurse Dawson is repeatedly getting herself into bother, which always seems to occur when Matron is on one of her dreaded rounds. Add to this the cad that is Jack Bell, who wants his operation sorted so he can pursue a romantic rendezvous, and you’re in for a whole heap of trouble.

Gerald Thomas contributes his usual unobtrusive direction that is nothing overtly or stylistically challenging, but has the right tone and tongue in cheek wink to the audience that is delightful. Innuendo and double entendres enter the fray here and became a staple( one of the best and most memorable being Leslie Phillips uttering the words Ding Dong); here it’s a bit more innocent yet still very suggestive and great entertainment. There’s some amazing sight gags, slapstick elements and just plain old fun to be had as the patients run amok. Carry On Nurse is a finely done medical caper of people wreaking havoc in a place that is usually depicted as somewhat tranquil, with this send up showing hospital can indeed be unlikely fun. You can really see the elements that would later define the Carry On series coming together in Nurse, with amorous and saucy hints thrown into the mix. If you want a lark, just watching some of the sketches here, that will tickle the funny bone. Look no further than the laughing gas scene of the drunk patients, haphazardly and giggling as they attempt to remove bunion.  that is hysterically executed and a hoot thanks to the outrageous concept and levity of it all. The film has an episodic feel but that’s exactly what its supposed to be. You don’t go into a Carry On for a cohesive plot or to be tested, you go in for the jolly and cheeky ride it provides you with. The jaunty score matches the naughty and laugh-inducing antics of the characters in a madcap way.

Many of the cast from Sergeant make a return, along with some new additions. Kenneth Connor has a scrappy and gleeful kind of attitude that able suits his boxer character. Kenneth Williams is a hoot, particularly in the facial expression and witty line reading department. You simply won’t be able to contain laughing whenever he questions Matron or reacts to yet another jocular incident. Hattie Jacques is suitably formidable and dryly humorous as the Matron, who takes a dim view of how the hospital is being run and isn’t afraid to say it. The role of Matron or authority figure would become a familiar one for Jacques and one she plays wonderfully. Charles Hawtrey is a riot once more, that s time as a patient whose life revolved around listening to the radio and enacting what he hears. Plus, add his outrageous laugh into the mix and he’s once again a scene stealer. The main romantic sub-plot of Nurse comes from Terence Longdon and Shirley Eaton as patient and nurse. It’s not the finest part of the movie, but is engaging enough in the long run of things thanks to the attractive couple. Curmudgeonly growling can be found with Bill Owen, whose eye-rolling expressions are a joy to view. We get the first appearance of soon to be regular Joan Sims, whose funny, cheeky and clumsy antics as an accident prone nurse are comically endearing and hilariously acted. Also having a ball is Leslie Phillips; his playboy attitude and comic timing a great addition to the already fit to burst events on screen. Plus, we have him to thank for giving us the memorable Ding Dong catchphrase that would become synonymous with these films. Joan Hickson is straight-laced and by the book as the Sister of the ward, while Wilfrid Hyde-White has an eye-catching role as the troublesome Colonel, keeping the nurses on their toes each and every minute. In a small but plum role, Rosalind Knight is hilarious as an over-eager young nurse who comes onto the night shift and takes the job ridiculously serious.

With Carry On Nurse introducing more naughty humour and slapstick antics, the formula for the franchise comes into focus. And it’s a rollicking good time to be had by all.

Carry On Sergeant

Tags

1950's, Bill Owen, Bob Monkhouse, Carry On Movies, Carry On Sergeant, Charles Hawtrey, Comedy, Dora Bryan, Eric Barker, Gerald Thomas, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Shirley Eaton, Terence Longdon, William Hartnell

Film Title

Carry On Sergeant

Director

Gerald Thomas

Starring

• William Hartnell as Sergeant Grimshaw
• Bob Monkhouse as Charlie Sage
• Kenneth Connor as Horace Strong
• Kenneth Williams as James Bailey
• Charles Hawtrey as Peter Golightly
• Bill Owen as Corporal Copping
• Eric Barker as Captain Potts
• Terence Longdon as Miles Heywood
• Hattie Jacques as Captain Clark
• Shirley Eaton as Mary Sage
• Dora Bryan as Nora

The first in what would become a long-running franchise and British institution, Carry on Sergeant gives us a good starting point that introduces many of the key players in the series to us and has laughs a plenty. It’s not quite the bawdy movie that many if the later films were, but Sergeant provides you with an amusing story that delights in its own funny way. Let the Carry On Bonanza begin!

Sergeant Grimshaw is retiring from the army, but wants to win in the platoon championship before he hangs his boots up. He bets another officer £50 that he can win platoon of the year and sign off his career with a good swan song. His hopes quickly dip when he sees who is in his squad for National Service, many of whom take inept go a new level. There is handsome Charlie Sage, who is much aggrieved to be called up to service on his wedding day; weedy hypochondriac Horace Strong; smarmy and educated James Bailey; clumsy and effeminate Peter Golightly and upper class dandy Miles Heywood. With his second in command helping him, Grimshaw has his work cut out for him. Many pratfalls and mistakes befall them as Grimshaw tries to sign off with dignity and win that bet. He fears that this group will be a disaster and almost resigns himself to the fact that they won’t win. It’s here that the seemingly hopeless recruits decide to buck up and give it their best shot, out of a growing respect for the Sergeant. Meanwhile, Charlie’s wife Mary sneaks into the barracks with hopes of having a proper wedding night, and Horace is pursued by a volunteer named Nora.

Gerald Thomas, who would direct every one of the Carry On movies, has the right, light touch for the humour and performances to take off. He never calls attention to technical areas or showy camerawork, his focus is on the comedy which is delivered splendidly. Sergeant lacks the naughty edge and staples of latter films of the franchise, but it still gives you plenty of laughs with some hilarious set pieces. Among them are the accidental spraying of officers with fire extinguishers, repeated attempts to improve the group that often go pear-shaped and especially various imagined maladies and paranoia of Horace. The send up of the army and National Service is well done, managing to lampoon a respected organisation without demeaning it or completely tearing it to shreds. All in all, it’s a perfectly pleasant and harmless way to spend an hour and a bit. Good humour, great antics of the slapstick and farcical variety and the guarantee to leave you smiling is what you get. What may surprise many however is the fact that the humour is largely innocent here. Sure there is the odd instance of innuendo, but it’s mainly the antics of the inept squad that get the most laughs. And the ending of Sergeant does feature a bit of pathos, which is often a rarity in these films but fits here excellently. The lack of bawdiness is noticeable, but the humour is pretty fun throughout and will raise quite a lot of smiles and laughs from you( unless you have a heart of stone that is.) Some of it is obviously going to be dated given that it’s an old movie, but it’s hard to fault humour and laughs from an amiable cast. A lively score is another welcome addition to the speedy pace of the film and fits the calamities that transpire.

Of course to get laughs and humour to register, you need a good cast. Carry On Sergeant has just that, with various members later becoming staples in the long series. Heading proceedings is a dignified William Hartnell, whose interpretation of the retiring eponymous sergeant is the right blend of firmness and hidden caring. He’s a strict leader, yet not a horrible person despite his misgivings of the team. Bob Monkhouse is pretty good as the head in the clouds recruit, whose primary objective is to have a special night as man and wife with his new bride. Kenneth Connor stands out the most with a hilarious performance as the paranoid hypochondriac and ironically named Horace Strong. Constantly fretting about literally everything he encounters, he elicits pity, sympathy and laughs. Just watching him get worried at the sight of physical practice is enough to have you rolling on the floor. Two other longstanding stalwarts of the franchise are successful as the bumbling and overly gentle Golightly and the scholarly, know it all Bailey. The two men are Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Williams, who steal many scenes they are in. Bill Owen and Eric Barker shine as officers of different ranks, but both who are concerned and more than a little amused by the spectacle before them. Terence Longdon doesn’t have the biggest or most interesting part, but still has fun playing the ladies man. Hattie Jacques is suitably no-nonsense as the army doctor, who grows impatient with Horace’s many visits to her. Shirley Eaton is the glamour and beauty of the picture, while we have Dora Bryan playing a daffy, wide-eyed woman who falls for the unlikely Horace.

The debut Carry on movie, Sergeant doesn’t have the some of same formula as the rest, mainly in terms of naughty shenanigans. But that shouldn’t detract as the cast( of whom many would return in future entries) and the easy humour of the piece make Carry on Sergeant. And if anything, we have the success of this film to thank for the creation of a much beloved film series.