British comedy Throughout film, television, and radio, British comedy has become known for its consistently peculiar characters, plots, and settings, and has produced some of the most renowned comedians and characters in the world.
History
British comedy histor ...
Sid James
Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, stage and screen. He was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On film series.
Born to a mid ...
,
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor of Welsh heritage. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 '' ...
Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw (25 February 193411 June 1993) was a British actor. He is best known as a member of the ''Carry On'' film franchise. Bresslaw also worked on television and stage, did recordings and wrote a series of poetry.
Biography
Bernard B ...
,
Barbara Windsor
Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 193710 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera, ''EastEnders''.Kenneth Connor,
June Whitfield
Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018) was an English radio, television, and film actress.
Her big break was a lead in the radio comedy ''Take It from Here'', which aired on the BBC Light Programme in 1953. ...
returned after appearing in ''
Carry On Nurse
''Carry On Nurse'' is a 1959 British comedy film, the second in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). Of the regular team, it featured Joan Sims (in her ''Carry On'' film debut), Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtr ...
Carol Hawkins
Carol Hawkins (born 31 January 1949 in Barnet, Hertfordshire) is an English actress, best known for her various comic roles in numerous TV sitcoms and films in the 1970s and 1980s.
She played the roles of Sharon Eversleigh in the film of the t ...
made their first of two appearances in the series.
Along with the previous film in the series (''
Carry On Matron
''Carry On Matron'' is a 1972 British comedy film, the 23rd release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released in May 1972. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hatt ...
''), it features the highest number of the regular ''Carry On'' team, and actually surpasses it if you count Terry Scott, who had filmed a scene as an irate Wundatours customer, but his scene was cut from the final film. The only other member missing is
Jim Dale
Jim Dale (born James Smith; 15 August 1935) is an English actor, composer, director, narrator, singer and songwriter. In the United Kingdom he is known as a pop singer of the 1950s who became a leading actor at the National Theatre. In Britis ...
, who had left the series by this point, but would return belatedly for ''
Carry On Columbus
''Carry On Columbus'' is a 1992 British comedy film, the 31st and final release in the ''Carry On'' film series (1958–1992). The film was a belated entry to the series, following 1978's '' Carry On Emmannuelle''. It was produced to coincide ...
'' in 1992. Dale and Scott were never in a ''Carry On'' film together.
Plot
The film opens with pub landlord and frequent holidaymaker Vic Flange (
Sid James
Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, stage and screen. He was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On film series.
Born to a mid ...
) openly flirting with the sassy saucepot widow Sadie Tompkins (
Barbara Windsor
Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 193710 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera, ''EastEnders''.Joan Sims), looks on with disdain. Their twitching friend Harry ( Jack Douglas), who is prone to elaborate and violent twitches, arrives and reveals that the
package holiday
A package tour, package vacation, or package holiday comprises transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided such as a rental car, activities or outings during the ho ...
Vic has booked to the Mediterranean island Elsbels (a pun on the slang expression "Hell's Bells") which is on the Costa Bomm, also includes Sadie, much to Cora's outrage. Cora, who avoids holidays because she hates flying, suddenly decides to accompany her boorish husband on the trip, to ensure he keeps away from Sadie.
The next day, Stuart Farquhar (
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor of Welsh heritage. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 '' ...
), the representative of Wundatours Travel Agency, and his sexy, seductive assistant, Moira Plunkett (
Gail Grainger
Gail Grainger is an English actress best remembered for her role as Moira Plunkett, a travel courier, in the 1972 comedy film ''Carry On Abroad''.
Background
Gail Grainger took up dancing at the age of six and studied at a theatrical school. Sh ...
), welcome the motley passengers. Among them are the henpecked and sex-starved Stanley Blunt ( Kenneth Connor) and his overbearing, conservative,
frigid
Frigid may refer to
* Cold
* Polar region
The polar regions, also called the frigid zones or polar zones, of Earth are the regions of the planet that surround its geographical poles (the North and South Poles), lying within the polar circles. ...
wife, Evelyn (
June Whitfield
Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018) was an English radio, television, and film actress.
Her big break was a lead in the radio comedy ''Take It from Here'', which aired on the BBC Light Programme in 1953. ...
); a drunken, bowler-hatted mummy's boy, Eustace Tuttle ( Charles Hawtrey); brash Scotsman Bert Conway ( Jimmy Logan); young and beautiful friends Lily and Marge (
Sally Geeson
Sally Louise Geeson (born 23 June 1950) is an English actress with a career mostly on television in the 1970s. She is best known for playing Sid James's daughter, Sally, in '' Bless This House'' and for her roles in ''Carry On Abroad'' (1972) ...
and
Carol Hawkins
Carol Hawkins (born 31 January 1949 in Barnet, Hertfordshire) is an English actress, best known for her various comic roles in numerous TV sitcoms and films in the 1970s and 1980s.
She played the roles of Sharon Eversleigh in the film of the t ...
respectively), who are each hoping to find a man to fall in love with; and a party of monks, including Brother Bernard (
Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw (25 February 193411 June 1993) was a British actor. He is best known as a member of the ''Carry On'' film franchise. Bresslaw also worked on television and stage, did recordings and wrote a series of poetry.
Biography
Bernard B ...
), a timid young monk who has difficulty fitting into his new path of life.
Unfortunately, upon their arrival they discover their hotel is only half-finished; the builders have just quit suddenly for unspecified reasons, leaving the remaining five floors unfinished. Distraught manager Pepe (
) desperately tries to run the place in myriad different guises – the manager, the doorman and the porter – and the chef is his irate, ill-tempered wife, Floella ( Hattie Jacques), who battles repeatedly with the temperamental stove while their handsome, womanising son Georgio ( Ray Brooks) idles behind the bar. The hotel also hides an assortment of faults, and Pepe is soon overrun with complaints: Evelyn finds Mr Tuttle in her bath, Vic discovers Sadie naked in his shower; Lily and Marge's wardrobe has no back to it, allowing them to be accidentally seen by Brother Bernard in the opposite room; sand pours out of Moira's taps; the lavatory drenches Bert. The phone system itself is faulty, and the guests end up complaining to each other for much of the time. Nevertheless, Stuart is determined to ensure everyone has a good time.
Dinner on the first night is foul, and made even more unpleasant by the smoke from the burning food in the kitchen, which forces the motley group of holiday-makers to open the windows, prompting the arrival of mosquitos. Although agreeing to play leapfrog with Tuttle, Lily and Marge have their eyes on other things. Marge takes a shine to Brother Bernard, and they develop an innocent romance, while Lily lures the dashing Nicholas ( David Kernan) away from his jealous (and, it is implied, gay) friend, Robin (
John Clive
John Clive (6 January 1933 – 14 October 2012) was an English actor and author, known internationally for his historical and social fiction, such as ''KG200'' and ''Barossa''.
Clive was also an established British television and film actor. ...
). Meanwhile, Stanley attempts to seduce Cora whilst his nagging wife is not present, but Cora is more interested in keeping Vic away from Sadie, who grows fond of Bert. Vic tries to put Bert off Sadie by telling him that she is a black widow who murdered her two previous husbands, when in fact both were
firemen
A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...
who died on the job.
The next day, the holidaymakers are awakened very early in the morning by the builders, who have returned to work. While most of the party go off on an excursion to the nearby village, Stanley ensures his wife is left behind so that he can spend the day attempting to woo Cora. Vic samples a local drink, "Santa Cecelia's Elixir", which blesses the drinker with X-ray vision and he is able to see through women's clothing. However, the tourists are arrested for causing a riot at Madame Fifi's (
Olga Lowe
Olga Lowe (14 September 1919 – 2 September 2013) was a British film, stage and television actress. She made her film debut in an uncredited role in the 1949 film '' Trottie True''. Described by ''The Stage'' as "an actress of extraordinary versa ...
) local brothel after Vic, Bert and Eustace annoy the girls there; left-behind Evelyn is seduced by Georgio, which leads to her abandoning her frigid manners.
In the local prison, Miss Plunkett seduces the Chief of Police, and the tourists are released. Back at the hotel, Mrs Blunt resumes her sex life with a surprised Stanley after having a brief affair with Georgio. The last night in the hotel starts as a success, with all the guests at ease with each other thanks to the punch being spiked with Santa Cecelia's Elixir. Midway through the night it begins to rain, and the hotel is shown to have been constructed on a dry river bed. As the hotel begins to collapse Pepe finally loses his patience and sanity with the guests, intoxicated by the spiked punch, party on oblivious to the fact the hotel is disintegrating around them.
The film then shifts forward an unspecified period of time, and shows an Elsbels reunion at Vic and Cora's pub. Farquhar has also lost his job at Wundatours and started working at the pub. All the guests are happy, and reminisce about the holiday they barely survived.
Cast
*
Sid James
Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, stage and screen. He was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On film series.
Born to a mid ...
as Vic Flange
*
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor of Welsh heritage. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 '' ...
Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw (25 February 193411 June 1993) was a British actor. He is best known as a member of the ''Carry On'' film franchise. Bresslaw also worked on television and stage, did recordings and wrote a series of poetry.
Biography
Bernard B ...
as Brother Bernard
*
Barbara Windsor
Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 193710 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera, ''EastEnders''.Jimmy Logan as Bert Conway
*
June Whitfield
Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018) was an English radio, television, and film actress.
Her big break was a lead in the radio comedy ''Take It from Here'', which aired on the BBC Light Programme in 1953. ...
as Evelyn Blunt
*
Sally Geeson
Sally Louise Geeson (born 23 June 1950) is an English actress with a career mostly on television in the 1970s. She is best known for playing Sid James's daughter, Sally, in '' Bless This House'' and for her roles in ''Carry On Abroad'' (1972) ...
as Lily Maggs
*
Carol Hawkins
Carol Hawkins (born 31 January 1949 in Barnet, Hertfordshire) is an English actress, best known for her various comic roles in numerous TV sitcoms and films in the 1970s and 1980s.
She played the roles of Sharon Eversleigh in the film of the t ...
as Marge DawesKenneth Williams's character refers to her as "Miss Dawes"
*
Gail Grainger
Gail Grainger is an English actress best remembered for her role as Moira Plunkett, a travel courier, in the 1972 comedy film ''Carry On Abroad''.
Background
Gail Grainger took up dancing at the age of six and studied at a theatrical school. Sh ...
John Clive
John Clive (6 January 1933 – 14 October 2012) was an English actor and author, known internationally for his historical and social fiction, such as ''KG200'' and ''Barossa''.
Clive was also an established British television and film actor. ...
Derek Francis
Derek Francis (7 November 1923 – 27 March 1984) was an English comedy and character actor.
Biography
Francis was a regular in the Carry On film players, appearing in six of the films in the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in '' The Tomb of Lige ...
Amelia Bayntun
Amelia Bayntun (31 March 1919 – 19 January 1988) was an English stage and television actress.
Career
Bayntun started her stage career in 1937, when she joined the Bristol Unity Players. During World War II, she was in '' Stars in Battledre ...
Hugh Futcher
Hugh Futcher (born 29 October 1937 in Portsmouth, Hampshire) is an English actor in theatre, television and film. He was a member of the stock company of the Carry On films, with notable parts in ''Carry On Spying'', '' Carry On at Your Conveni ...
as Jailer
*
Gertan Klauber
George Gertan Klauber (5 March 1932 – 1 August 2008) was a British bit part character actor.
Klauber was born in Czechoslovakia, and after training at the Birmingham Theatre School, his stage appearances included with the RSC and the Nat ...
as Postcard seller
*
Brian Osborne
Brian Osborne (26 March 1940 – 8 July 2021) was an English actor. He was best known for his roles in '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' and '' The Sandbaggers''. Osborne also had minor roles in six ''Carry On'' films as well the TV series ''Carry On ...
as Stall-holder
*
Olga Lowe
Olga Lowe (14 September 1919 – 2 September 2013) was a British film, stage and television actress. She made her film debut in an uncredited role in the 1949 film '' Trottie True''. Described by ''The Stage'' as "an actress of extraordinary versa ...
as Madame Fifi
Crew
*Screenplay –
Talbot Rothwell
Talbot Nelson Conn “Tolly” Rothwell, Order of the British Empire, OBE (12 November 1916 – 28 February 1981) was an English screenwriter.
Life and career
Rothwell was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He had a variety of jobs during his ...
*Music – Eric Rogers
*Production Manager – Jack Swinburne
*Art Director –
Lionel Couch
Lionel Couch (1913–1989) was a British art director. He was nominated for two Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.
Selected filmography
Couch was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction:
* ''Sons and Lovers'' (1 ...
*Editor –
Alfred Roome
Alfred Wallace Roome (22 December 1908 – 19 November 1997) was an English film editor and occasional director.
Biography
Born in London, in 1908, he first worked in the film industry as a film editor on the 1932 British comedy film '' Thark' ...
*Director of Photography –
Alan Hume
Alan Hume, (16 October 1924 – 13 July 2010) was an English cinematographer.
Life and career
Hume arrived at Denham Film Studios in 1942, and worked for Cineguild Productions during the late 1940s. His early credits, prior to being called up t ...
*Camera Operator – Jimmy Davis
*Continuity – Joy Mercer
*Assistant Director – David Bracknell
*Sound Recordists – Taffy Haines & Ken Barker
*Make-up – Geoffrey Rodway
*Assistant Art Director – Bill Bennison
*Set Dresser – Don Picton
*Hairdresser – Stella Rivers
*Costume Designer – Courtenay Elliott
*Dubbing Editor – Peter Best
*Assistant Editor – Jack Gardner
*Titles – GSE Ltd
*Processor – Rank Film Laboratories
*Producer –
Peter Rogers
Peter Rogers (20 February 1914 – 14 April 2009) was an English film producer. He is best known for his involvement in the making of the ''Carry On'' series of films.
Life and career
Rogers began his career as a journalist for his loc ...
The film's opening credits also include 'Sun Tan Lo Tion' (sun tan lotion) as 'Technical Director'.
The brothel keeper is played by Olga Lowe, one of the first actresses to work with
Sid James
Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, stage and screen. He was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On film series.
Born to a mid ...
when he arrived in the UK in 1946. Lowe was also the actress on stage with James on the night he died in Sunderland.
Filming and locations
*Filming dates – 17 April–26 May 1972 (The previous entry – ''
Carry On Matron
''Carry On Matron'' is a 1972 British comedy film, the 23rd release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released in May 1972. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hatt ...
'' – was released during filming)
Interior/exterior film locations:
Bagshot, Surrey: The road to the airport.
High Street, Slough: The Wundatours travel agency shop (the site has since been redeveloped and is now Cornwall House).
Pinewood Studios: Elsbels airport terminal building (the studios' security block); the Whippit Inn pub; Elsbels hotel interior and exterior scenes. (The hotel was constructed in the studio backlot with a matte added to represent the upper floors and sections of scaffold.)
Abroad
''Abroad'' ( ar, الغربة) is a short film directed by Lebanese filmmaker Zayn Alexander. The film made its world premiere at the 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 2, 2018. The Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanes ...