''Carry On Girls'' is a 1973 British comedy film, the 25th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). The film features regulars

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 mi ...

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 (franchise), ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera, ''EastEnders''.

Joan Sims Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress). On television, she is known for playing Gran i ...

Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor, (6 June 1918 – 28 November 1993) was a British stage, film and broadcasting actor, who rose to national prominence with his appearances in the ''Carry On'' films. Early life Connor was born in Highbury, Islington, London ...

, Bernard Bresslaw and

Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth (4 February 1915''Prisoner of War Co ...

. This ''Carry On'' featured neither

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 '' ...

nor Charles Hawtrey; Williams was unavailable and Hawtrey had been dropped from the series.

Patsy Rowlands Patricia Amy Rowlands (19 January 1931 – 22 January 2005) was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' films series, as Betty Lewis in the ITV Thames sitcom '' Bless This House'', and as Alice Meredit ...

makes her seventh appearance in the series.

Robin Askwith Robin Mark Askwith (born 12 October 1950) is an English actor and singer who has appeared in a number of film, television and stage productions. Making his film debut as Keating in the film '' if....'' (1968), a role he would reprise in ''Brita ...

makes his only appearance in the series. Jack Douglas makes his third appearance, this time upgraded to a main role. This is the final of six ''Carry On'' films for

Valerie Leon Valerie may refer to: People *Saint Valerie (disambiguation), a number of saints went by the name Valerie *Valerie (given name), a feminine given name Songs *"Valerie", a 1981 song by Quarterflash, from ''Quarterflash'' *"Valerie", a 1982 son ...

and

Jimmy Logan James Allan Short, OBE, FRSAMD (4 April 1928 – 13 April 2001), known professionally as Jimmy Logan, was a Scottish performer, theatrical producer, impresario and director. Family Logan was born in Dennistoun, Glasgow, a member of a fami ...

makes the second of his two ''Carry On'' appearances.

Plot

The seaside town of Fircombe is facing a crisis – it's always raining and there's nothing for the tourists to do. Councillor Sidney Fiddler (

) hits on the notion of holding a beauty contest. The mayor, Frederick Bumble (

), is taken with the idea but feminist councillor Augusta Prodworthy (

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. ...

) is outraged and storms out of the meeting. The motion is carried in Augusta's absence, and Sidney contacts publicist Peter Potter ( Bernard Bresslaw) to help with the organisation. Sidney's girlfriend, Connie Philpotts (

), runs a local hotel and soon her residents—including the eccentric Mrs Dukes (

Joan Hickson Joan Bogle Hickson, OBE (5 August 1906 – 17 October 1998) was an English actress of theatre, film and television. She was known for her role as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series ''Miss Marple''. She also narrated a number ...

) and the randy old Admiral (

Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth (4 February 1915''Prisoner of War Co ...

)—are outnumbered by putative models, including diminutive biker Hope Springs (

) and tall, buxom Dawn Brakes (

Margaret Nolan Margaret Ann Nolan (29 October 1943 – 5 October 2020) was an English actress, visual artist and glamour model. She appeared in '' Goldfinger'', '' A Hard Day's Night'' and six '' Carry On'' films, and also regularly appeared on screen from t ...

). A catfight orchestrated by Hope after thinking Dawn has stolen her

bikini A bikini is a two-piece swimsuit primarily worn by women that features two triangles of fabric on top that cover the breasts, and two triangles of fabric on the bottom: the front covering the pelvis but exposing the navel, and the back coverin ...

provides better newspaper copy than bringing a donkey off the beach which, despite the bucket and spade of hotel porter, William ( Jack Douglas), ruins the plush carpets. Augusta's son, press photographer Larry (

), is hired to document the donkey stunt and snaps the catfight that has the Mayor losing his trousers, then gulps his way through a nude photo shoot with Dawn. The Mayor's wife, Mildred (

), joins Prodworthy's bra-burning movement and plots the downfall of the Miss Fircombe contest on the pier. Peter Potter reluctantly becomes a man in a frock for another publicity gimmick for the television show ''Women's Things'', presented by Cecil Gaybody (

) and produced by Debra ( Sally Geeson). Prodworthy and butch feminist Rosemary (

Patricia Franklin Patricia Franklin (born 11 September 1942) is an English actress best known for her roles in five ''Carry On'' films. Early life Born in East Finchley, London, Franklin and her family frequently went to see shows at the nearby amateur theatre a ...

) call in the police ( David Lodge and Billy Cornelius) to investigate the male pageant contestant but Peter's previously prim girlfriend, Paula (

), has a makeover and turns out to be very buxom and glamorous. and steps into the breach as the mysterious girl. Prodworthy's gang put "Operation Spoilsport" into action, sabotaging the final contest with water, mud and itching powder. With an angry mob after his blood, Sidney makes his escape on a go-kart, finds Connie has taken all the money and then speeds away with Hope on her motorcycle.

Certification

The film marked a slightly more risqué treatment of the topic with more nudity and openly sexual jokes than previous films. Discreet cuts by the

BBFC The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC, previously the British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of fi ...

(mainly to saucy dialogue and the hotel fight sequence between bikini-clad contestants played by Barbara Windsor and Margaret Nolan) enabled the film to gain the more commercially acceptable A certificate (open to families) than the more restrictive AA certificate, barring entry to the under-fourteens.

Cast

as Sidney Fiddler *

as Hope Springs (real name Muriel Bloggs) *

as Connie Philpotts *

as Mayor Frederick Bumble * Bernard Bresslaw as Peter Potter *

Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth (4 February 1915''Prisoner of War Co ...

as Admiral *

as Augusta Prodworthy * Jack Douglas as William *

as Mildred Bumble *

as Mrs Dukes * David Lodge as Police Inspector *

as Paula Perkins *

as Dawn Brakes * Angela Grant as Miss Bangor * Sally Geeson as Debra *

as Cecil Gaybody *

Wendy Richard Wendy Richard (born Wendy Emerton; 20 July 1943 – 26 February 2009) was an English actress, known for her television roles as Miss Shirley Brahms on the BBC sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' from 1972 to 1985, and Pauline Fowler on the soa ...

as Ida Downes *

Arnold Ridley William Arnold Ridley, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984) was an English playwright and actor, earlier in his career known for writing the play '' The Ghost Train'' and later in life in the British TV sitcom ''Dad's Army'' (1968–1977) as ...

as Alderman Pratt *

as Larry *

as Rosemary *

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 L ...

as "Half a quid" citizen *

Bill Pertwee William Desmond Anthony Pertwee, (21 July 1926 – 27 May 2013) was a British comedy actor. He played the role of Chief ARP Warden Hodges in the sitcom '' Dad's Army''. Early life Pertwee was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on 21 July 192 ...

as Fire chief *

Marianne Stone Marianne Stone (23 August 1922 – 21 December 2009) was an English character actress. She performed in films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s, typically playing working class parts such as barmaids, secretaries and landladies. Stone appe ...

as Miss Drew *

Brenda Cowling Brenda Rose Cowling (23 April 1925 – 2 October 2010) was an English actress from London. Cowling wanted to be a film actress from the time she was a child; however, upon leaving school, she trained instead as a shorthand typist. Biography Aft ...

as Matron *Zena Clifton as Susan Brooks *Laraine Humphrys as Eileen Denby *

Pauline Peart Pauline Peart (born 31 October 1951) is a Jamaican actress and model who rose to prominence from her roles in a large number of films and television series including parts the ''Carry On'' and Hammer Horror film series. Early life Born in Jamai ...

as Gloria Winch *Caroline Whitaker as Mary Parker *Barbara Wise as Julia Oates *Carol Wyler as Maureen Darcy *Mavis Fyson as Frances Cake *Billy Cornelius as Constable (uncredited) *Edward Palmer as Elderly resident (uncredited) *

Michael Nightingale Alfred George Cyril Michael Nightingale (6 October 1922 – 8 May 1999) was an English stage, film and television actor. He appeared in 13 (9 credited and 4 uncredited) of the ''Carry On'' film series - the tenth highest number of appearan ...

as City gent (uncredited) *

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 Conven ...

as "There's Fiddler" citizen (uncredited) *Elsie Winsor as Cloakroom attendant (uncredited) *Nick Hobbs as Stunt double (uncredited) * Ron Tarr as Bearded man in audience (uncredited)

Crew

*Screenplay –

Talbot Rothwell Talbot Nelson Conn “Tolly” Rothwell, 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 early life: town clerk, poli ...

*Music – Eric Rogers *Production Manager – Roy Goddard *Art Director – Robert Jones *Director of Photography – Alan Hume *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 ...

*Camera Operator – Jimmy Devis *Assistant Director – Jack Causey *Sound Recordists – Paul Lemare & Ken Barker *Continuity – Marjorie Lavelly *Make-up – Geoffrey Rodway *Hairdresser – Stella Rivers *Costume Design – Courtenay Elliott *Set Dresser – Kenneth MacCallum Tait *Dubbing Editor – Patrick Foster *Assistant Editor – Jack Gardner *Title Sketches –

Larry Larry is a masculine given name in English, derived from Lawrence or Laurence. It can be a shortened form of those names. Larry may refer to the following: People Arts and entertainment * Larry D. Alexander, American artist/writer *Larry Boone ...

*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 ...

*Director –

Gerald Thomas Gerald Thomas (10 December 1920 – 9 November 1993) was an English film director, best known for the long-running '' Carry On'' series of British film comedies. Biography Born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, Thomas was educated i ...

Filming and locations

*Filming dates – 16 April-25 May 1973 Interiors: * Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire Exteriors: * Brighton's West Pier. (The Palace Pier had been used a couple of years earlier in ''

Carry On at Your Convenience ''Carry On at Your Convenience'' is a 1971 British comedy film, the 22nd release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992), and was the first box office failure of the series. This failure has been attributed to the film's attempt a ...

'') * Slough Town Hall, Slough, Berkshire * Clarges Hotel, Brighton * Brighton Beach, Brighton * Marylebone Railway Station, London

Notes

An early version of the script featured

in the role of Mayor Bumble which would ultimately be played by

in the finished film). Williams was appearing in a West End play, ''

My Fat Friend ''My Fat Friend'' is a play by Charles Laurence. Plot The comedy is an ugly duckling tale about an overweight young woman who attracts the attention of a potential suitor. With the help of her friends/roommates, she undergoes a diet and exercis ...

''. The role of Cecil Gaybody was written for Charles Hawtrey, however he had been dropped due to his unreliability. It was then offered to Kenneth Williams, who turned it down because of stage commitments. Valerie Leon's voice for the film was dubbed by co-star June Whitfield. Clarges Hotel would later be owned by actress

Dora Bryan Dora May Broadbent, (7 February 1923 – 23 July 2014), known as Dora Bryan, was a British actress of stage, film and television.Carry On Sergeant ''Carry On Sergeant'' is a 1958 British comedy film about National Service starring William Hartnell, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Barker; it is the first in the series of ''Carry On'' films, with 31 entries released from 1958 to 1992. The film was ...

''. The hotel was previously used (exterior only) in the 1971 film ''

''.

References

Bibliography

* * * * *''Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema'' by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (2007) (Reynolds & Hearn Books) * * * * *

External links

* *
On Girls'' at The Whippit Inn
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carry On Girls 1973 films

Girls A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary.c ...

1970s English-language films Films directed by Gerald Thomas 1973 comedy films Films set in Brighton Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films about beauty pageants Films produced by Peter Rogers Films with screenplays by Talbot Rothwell 1970s British films