Carry on

[Greenman]

And speaking of past cast members, Jim Dale it might surprise you to learn is still very much alive and has been in BARNUM on Broadway and whereas in this country we have Stephen Fry narrating the audio books of Harry Potter, in America it is Jim's dulcet tones that read the books. Not bad for an actor that really didn't do that many films in this country-in fact here is his full biography http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0197715/bio

[GallifreyMan]

I agree with you on that Greenman...Peter Butterworth (God Bless Him) stole that film! "Strawberry Mousse...Strawberry Mousse." :-)

Like many "Carry On" fans, I agree that the later ones were not as good.

I think "Carry On Behind" is still a cracking addition to the series though, mostly because of the way dear Kenneth Williams & the delectable Elke Sommer interacted with each other. Their chemistry was superb, & Miss Sommer's deadpan, innocent delivery was superb.

From then, sadly, the series deteriorated. "Carry On England," "Emanuelle," "Columbus," dire, but you have to reflect on the times. There was the "Confessions Of..." & "Adventures Of..." series, which were much more risque in content, than the "Carry On's."

Unfortunately, in regards to the "Carry On's" the increased level of nudity, to compete with the aforementioned series of films, didn't work.
Don't forget, "The Adventures Of A Taxi Driver" (1975/6) made, on a miniscule budget (like the "Carry On's), grossed millions!

People at that time (due no doubt to the ridiculously harsh censorship laws in this country, the U.K., at the time) where after "titillation." "Bums & boobs" put bums on seats. This was the 1970's after all, which led to a radical change in viewers' tastes, not only in cinema, but also on TV.

There was, for example, "Love Thy Neighbour." A series that has not seen the light of day in many years, bar the showing of one episode, for a revue/poll on BBC2 a few years ago, into which was "what was the best decade in television?"

The episode itself was "slated" due to the racial innuendo's.

Another British sitcom called "Curry and Chips", has also not been repeated. A sitcom starring such respected stalwarts of British comedy Eric Sykes & Spike Milligan no less. (Spike plays a Pakistani in this.)

One interesting fact here, to prove my point, is that in 1971, in the U.K. the highest grossing box office film of that year, was the film version of "On The Buses." (?!!!!)

It even beat the return of Sean Connery as James Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever."

Times, and peoples' tastes were changing back then.
Unfortunately the "Carry On's" could not keep up the standard...it was never in their nature anyway, in my opinion.

BTW, my fave scene, from any "Carry On" is this one, ironically from the '70's (1972 infact...)
and, as I started with the late, great Peter Butterworth....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBDwrZe8wnU

[pharoahegypt]

maybe its worth mentioning the 'confessions of' series of films, that also featured similar gags, and plenty of nudity of now well known actress's too.......?? im of course thinking of linda bellingham (driving instructor), diane keen (sex thief), jill gascoigne (not sure?) & others....!

[Greenman]

One of them-can't remember which as it was probably pretty dire anyway-was Elaine Paige believe it or not.

[pharoahegypt]

elaine paige..?? thought she'd only ever gone nude in a play.......???




(tried to insert pix but this damn image thing aint working right now..!! text is there, but not showing pix)

[Greenman]

Nope, one of the other so-called sex comedies you can see her quickly zip into bed topless. I just find Carry On films embarrassing now, they just seem so out of place-that sort of lasciviousness that even Stan and Butler got up to in 'On the Buses' is just sad now-sad in the sense that you can't believe it could happen now, let alone back then.

[AceXX]

Here are scans of a couple. Does anyone want more?




Enjoy


AceXX

[stardust2003]

• Carry On Screaming! (1966)

A film spoof with the Gothic atmosphere of a Hammer production. In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted this the 40th greatest comedy film of all time. Harry H. Corbett guest-starred in the Sid James role

• Don't Lose Your Head (1966)

A Scarlet Pimpernel spoof.

• Follow That Camel (1967)

A Foreign Legion parody, and an unsuccessful attempt to break into the American market by casting Phil Silvers as the lead. Sid James, who does not appear, suffered his first heart-attack around the time the film began production.

• Carry On Doctor (1967)

Sid James, recovering from a heart attack, had a reduced and less strenuous role in this hospital based film: as a patient in bed throughout most of the film.

• Carry On... Up the Khyber (1968)

The location sequences set in India were fimed in Snowdonia, Wales. This was the furthest location from the Pinewood studio lot of any Carry On film.

• Carry On Camping (1969)

The highest grossing film that year in the UK.

• Carry On Again Doctor (1969)

Jim Dale's last Carry On role until his lead in the revival Carry On Columbus Don't Lose Your Head and Follow That Camel were originally released without the "Carry On" prefix due to the change of distributor from Anglo-Amalgamated (who claimed rights to the "Carry On..." titling) to Rank. When ownership of the titling was later resolved the films were re-issued with a Carry On... prefix.
Early 1970s

The series continued to be popular in the 1970s. British society was becoming more accustomed to seeing sexual content on screen, and the innuendos typical of the series no longer had the impact they once had had. The films evolved in line with this, including more direct references to sex, and increased nudity. Rothwell continued as writer.

• Carry On Up the Jungle (1970)

A Tarzan spoof.

• Carry On Loving (1970)

This film introduced younger stars into the mix, incorporating such newcomers as Jacki Piper, Imogen Hassall and Richard O'Callaghan in key roles.

• Carry On Henry (1971)

This historical spoof starred Sid James as Henry VIII.

• Carry On At Your Convenience (1971)

This parody about union trouble at a toilet factory featured Richard O'Callaghan, Jacki Piper and Kenneth Cope in key roles alongside the Carry On regulars.

• Carry On Matron (1972)

After the problems caused by the topical and political nature of the previous film's story, this was a lightweight farce that returned to the familiar Carry On setting of a large hospital. Matron featured all the main regular cast of the period with the exception of Peter Butterworth, and was the final Carry On for recurring players Terry Scott and Jacki Piper. The first appearance for Jack Douglas.

• Carry On Abroad (1972)

This film, about a disastrous package holiday where everything went wrong, was Charles Hawtrey's last Carry On film.

• Carry On Girls (1973)

A struggling seaside resort attempts to organise a beauty contest, which is opposed by militant feminists. This was the first film where key regulars Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey were both absent. The sexual humour in this film is notably less subtle than its predecessors. Robin Askwith played a sexually naïve youth; he would play a similar character in the later Confessions films.

• Carry On Dick (1974)

Carry on loving did nt really have the feel of a Carry on movie, just a light, comedy, very watchable,
Carry on abroad was great, if only for the presence of Carol Hawkins and Sally Geeson....
Carry on Girls had a nice plot.. the beauty contest in Fircombe (was that a thinly disguised Brighton ? ) again, very watchable.

All in all they had a pretty good run with writer Talbot Rothwell turning up the sexual content during the 60s
I dont find them embarrassing atall they are nostalgic now.

Maybe around the time of Carry on Dick they becgan to lose the plot and Columbus was a great big turkey.

The series could be revived with a good producer and director, there are plenty of actors around... to take over from Sid and Kenny........... Julian Clary, Russell Brand , Jack Dee, Lee Evans, Lee Hurst, Alan Carr, Denise Van Outen, Patsy Palmer, Lily Cole, Katie Price....... they re all just waiting for a script to fall through the letterbox !

[Greenman]

They tried reviving it with 'Carry On Columbus' with such notaries such as Rik Mayall and Richard Wilson but it bombed and it wouldn't work now as it would be too PC to be funny or edgy. I also doubt that today's comedians/comediennes would consider doing it too and those you mention above would only go to justify not bringing them back. As I said earlier two were mooted once, Carry On Dallas, but then one that could have actually taken off 'Carry On London' was also suggested and was nearly made-but the writers and producers fell out. I think its best to leave well alone and enjoy the originals. Barbara Windsor is the only one of the original cast left and she wouldn't do it.

[USBPepsi]

Originally Posted by Greenman

Nope, one of the other so-called sex comedies you can see her quickly zip into bed topless. I just find Carry On films embarrassing now, they just seem so out of place-that sort of lasciviousness that even Stan and Butler got up to in 'On the Buses' is just sad now-sad in the sense that you can't believe it could happen now, let alone back then.

Keeping in mind of course that I wasn't old enough to see them in their original release (and I'm from the United States, where they weren't out anyway)... I still enjoy them as period pieces.

I'm usually not offended or embarrassed about "winking" comedy. I most often find it uncomfortable when I see sexism in non-comedies from earlier days, or when comedies present it in such a matter-of-fact way that it just feels mean-spirited.

For example, I love Are You Being Served? but was still shocked by one episode: A female employee (not one of the stars), referring to a paycheck or something, says words to the effect of "I want to make sure I get mine", to which Mr. Lucas responds by saying that isn't a problem, after which he pinches her ass... That just made me feel dirty, because it was a joke that implied that women around the store were completely powerless to avoid such slimy advances.

I think part of the secret is to make sure that the sexist guys always seem as dumb as, or dumber than, the women they're drooling over. That tends to even out the comedy.