Ian Phillips

The eleventh Carry On and one of the series’ best. On saying that, it’s far more deadly and violent than any other Carry On. Set in the Wild West but filmed at Pinewood Studios, the usual gang of regular players genuinely seem like they’re having a ball. The comedy’s effective here as the cast all play down the comedy and act like they’re in a real Western. Dodgy American accents aside, the sets and costumes are authentic in detail and the outside locations make for a convincing “Wild West”. Sid James is the notorious Rumpo Kid, a “man’s man”, who arrives in Stodge City and takes over. Obviously it’s a role seemingly tailor-made for him. Jim Dale is in a more familiar character as the hapless (and hopeless) Marshall P. Knutt and as always he makes a perfect contribution. The same can be said for Joan Sims as the buxom Belle (“My intimate friends call me Ding Dong!”) and it’s a welcome change seeing her in a more glamorous role (which she perfectly suits). Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw are all present and correct, shining in their roles, plus there’s Angela Douglas making a lovely Annie Oakley. I’d also class Cowboy as having one of the best endings in a Carry On with the shoot-out scene with Sid James and Jim Dale. Darker than most in the series but at the same time this never stops being anything other than fun.

I’d say this is the most “Pantomime” of the Carry Ons, probably tying in with its Christmas 1966 release at the Box Office. It was also the first film in the series under their new distributor Rank Organisation after Anglo Amalgamated expressed no interest in continuing with the Carry Ons, despite being at the height of their popularity. Once again, the lavish sets, costumes and locations are impressively authentic, looking like it boasted a far bigger budget than it actually was. Lots of bawdy humour in this Scarlet Pimpernel parody but this is classic Carry On. Sid James plays the elusive “Black Fingernail” with Jim Dale as his loyal sidekick. Kenneth Williams and Peter Butterworth make for a priceless comedic duo and Joan Sims is in full “cockney tart” mode and delivers one of her best performances in the series. Charles Hawtrey is also in full comedy flow as the Duc de Pommfrit, literally hilarious in all it’s scenes. The only scene I didn’t like was where Sid James first meets Dany Robin and both “break the fourth wall” and speak directly to the camera. Seemed pointless and clunky to me but just my personal opinion. The climatic sword fight goes on a little too long but it’s all splendidly done thanks to some expert editing. All in all this has always been my one of my favourite Carry Ons.

An hysterical parody of the famous Hammer horrors, reaching new comedic heights in the series. No Sid James or Hattie Jacques but Harry H. Corbett puts in a memorable turn as Detective Sergeant Bung (a role originally earmarked for Sid James). It was his sole appearance in the Carry Ons and he was already popular with the British public with the classic BBC sitcom Steptoe and Son. In one of the most iconic roles in the Carry Ons is Fenella Fielding as the seductive Virula Watt which she plays to perfection. Of the regular players there’s Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Joan Sims, Peter Butterworth, Bernard Bresslaw and Angela Douglas. Shame Charles Hawtrey was only featured in a cameo as Dan Dann the Lavatory Man but relations between Charles and producer Peter Rodgers weren’t good at the time after Charles was demanding a higher salary, top billing and a star on his dressing room door. Think the film could have been even better had he been present more. Best scenes are when Sergeant Sidney Bung, after being turned into a monster, returns home to his dragon-like wife (Joan Sims) only she’s too busy nagging him to even notice the change. Then of course there’s the climatic scene in which Kenneth Williams cries out the immortal line “Frying Tonight!” Although the previous entry, Cowboy, had been both commercially and critically successful, reviews for Screaming at the time were surprisingly lacklustre. For instance, a reviewer for The Times described it as ‘one of the dullest and least spirited of them all’, feeling the cast ‘just stand round, say the lines, and listlessly waits for the next laugh.’ Well, I beg to differ but thankfully the films now widely regarded as one of the best Carry Ons.

No.28 in the Carry On series and the writing’s on the wall. The spirit was gone and the whole film feels awkward. The batch of new players don’t quite seem to fit in. Meanwhile the few regulars that are present in this weak rehash of Carry On Sergeant are not given enough screen time. The younger performers, all very talented in their own right, seem a little static as they try hard to mould into the Carry On tradition. Despite valiant efforts by regulars Kenneth Connor, Peter Butterworth and Joan Sims to ignite the utterly lame “jokes”. Performances from the likes of Patrick Mower and Judy Geeson and the influx of other talent on show seem uncomfortably forced. A terrible waste.

The Silver Carry On and another of the later entries to be met with a mixed response by both critics and fans. Well, I’m definitely a “fan” of this Carry On and not nearly as awful as some seem to think. If, like me, you like Sid James and Barbara Windsor, then any scene they share raises a smile and chuckle. Stalwarts of the Carry Ons Joan Sims and Peter Butterworth are given too little screen time June Whitfield, Kenneth Connor, Bernard Bresslaw and Patsy Rolands also star, all in fun roles. The madcap ending at the beauty contest leads to a fun go-kart chase across Brighton Pier. Not the best in the series by any means but definitely a “Carry On classic” for me.

The final “original” Carry On…although it doesn’t much feel like a Carry On film. The regulars present in this final instalment are Kenneth Williams (delivering a pretty dire French accent), Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Peter Butterworth and Jack Douglas and all look less than enthused. Suzanne Danielle is engaging enough in the title role but interest waned after the first ten minutes (and that’s being generous). However special mention to Beryl Reid who’s genuinely funny in a role as the dominant mum to Larry Dan plus the scenes where Kenneth Connor and Joan Sims share their most bizarre sexual encounters; Joan Sims’ scene in the launderette is classic Carry On. Other than that it’s a sad swansong for the Carry Ons.

Distinctive for being the first Carry On in colour (which it definitely benefits from in this case), and the last written by Norman Hudis thus marking the end of an era in the series and dawn of a whole new one with subsequent writer Talbot Rothwell. I’d actually go so far to say this is, perhaps, the most charming Carry On film. Set aboard the “luxury” S.S Wanderer, it was inevitably all filmed in Pinewood Studios where a replica of the cruise liner was made. Still, it’s all good fun and a jolly comedy throughout. There’s no Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques or Joan Sims but the regulars present - including Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor - liven it up no end. Lance Percival, in his only Carry On, replaces an absent Charles Hawtrey, Dilys Laye takes the role originally intended for Joan Sims, and the ever-delightful Esma Cannon has all the very best scenes. Gentle and cozy in comparison to the high maintenance of the Talbot Rothwell films but the performances are lovely all round. A Carry On classic for sure.

Oh dear! There was a lot of hype surrounding this film at the time with it being the first in fourteen years. Sadly, the good old days were long gone, judging by the sheer state of this weak comedy. The production from the outset seemed doomed with Frankie Howerd passing away not long before filming commenced and both series stalwarts Joan Sims and Barbara Windsor (wisely) declined to appear. The “new” talent on show (and the film definitely boasts a stellar line-up) simply fail to recapture the old (and dated) spirit. The jokes are often recycled gags from the original series and it ends up becoming sad and embarrassing. While Jim Dale, June Whitfield, Leslie Phillips and Jack Douglas give it an air of familiarity (a slight one at that) but even they scorned at the film after its release. To me, it validates the notion I have (as many others do) that the Carry On’s (as much as I love them) should remain in the past. Nobody could replicate the original Carry On gang. I’d say avoid at all costs unless curiosity gets the better of you.