''Carry On Camping'' is a 1969

British comedy In film, television, and radio, British comedy has produced some of the most renowned characters in the world. In it, satire is one of the features of British comedy. Radio comedy in Britain has been almost exclusively hosted on the BBC. History ...

film, the 17th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It features series regulars Sid James,

Kenneth Williams Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was a British actor and comedian. 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 ''Carry ...

, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Hattie Jacques,

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''.

, Bernard Bresslaw, Dilys Laye and

Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth (4 February 1915Carry On Again Doctor'' in December 1969.

Plot

Sid Boggle and his friend Bernie Lugg are partners in a plumbing business. They take their girlfriends, prudish Joan Fussey and meek Anthea Meeks, to the cinema to see a film about a

nudist camp A naturist resort or nudist resort is an establishment that provides accommodation (or at least camping space) and other amenities for guests in a context where they are invited to practice naturism – that is, a lifestyle of non-sexual socia ...

called Paradise. Sid has the idea of the four of them holidaying there, reasoning that in that environment their chaste girlfriends will relax their strict moral standards. Despite having reservations, Bernie agrees to co-operate with Sid in the scheme, which they attempt to keep secret from the girls. They travel to a campsite named Paradise. After paying the membership fees to the owner, money-grabbing farmer Josh Fiddler, Sid realises it is not the camp seen in the film, but merely a standard family campsite. To add to their disappointment, it is no paradise but instead a damp field; the only facilities being a very basic toilet and a washing block. They reluctantly agree to stay there after the girls approve of the place and Fiddler refuses a refund. There is further disappointment when the girls will not share a tent with the boys. Meanwhile, a group of young ladies on holiday from the Chayste Place finishing school stay overnight at Ballsworth Youth Hostel. The ringleader of the girls is blonde and bouncy Babs. In charge of the girls is Dr. Soaper, who is fervently pursued by his lovelorn colleague, the school's matron, Miss Haggard. Babs and her friend Fanny change the room numbers on Dr. Soaper's and Miss Haggard's doors and convince Dr. Soaper that the female washroom, where Miss Haggard is, is the male washroom. The room number changes also causes Dr. Soaper to mistake Miss Haggard’s room for his and to Miss Haggard’s horror get into bed beside her. The party arrives at the campsite the next day, where Sid and Bernie are only too happy to assist the girls in setting up their tents. The following morning, Dr Soaper leads an outdoor aerobics session, during which Babs' bikini top flies off; he catches it. Other campers are Peter Potter, who loathes camping but must endure his jolly yet domineering wife Harriet, with her irritating laugh, whose overnight camping en-route to Paradise campsite is interrupted by naïve first-time camper Charlie Muggins. They manage to sneak away from him the following morning and arrive at the campsite, only to discover him already there. Chaos ensues when a group of hippies shows up and take over the neighbouring field for a noisy all-night rave led by the band "The Flowerbuds". The campers club together and successfully drive the partygoers away, but all the girls leave with them. However, there is a happy ending for Bernie and Sid when their girlfriends finally agree to move into their tent. Their joy is short-lived when Joan's mother turns up, but Anthea lets loose a goat that chases Mrs Fussey away. Meanwhile, Peter vows to Harriet that this camping holiday will most definitely be their last.

Cast

* Sid James as Sid Boggle *

as Doctor Kenneth Soaper * Joan Sims as Joan Fussey * Charles Hawtrey as Charlie Muggins * Terry Scott as Peter Potter *

as Babs * Bernard Bresslaw as Bernie Lugg * Hattie Jacques as Miss Haggard/Matron *

Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth (4 February 1915Julian Holloway as Jim Tanner * Dilys Laye as Anthea Meeks * Betty Marsden as Harriet Potter * Sandra Caron as Fanny * Trisha Noble as Sally * Amelia Bayntun as Mrs Fussey *

Brian Oulton Brian Oulton (11 February 1908 – 13 April 1992) was an English character actor. Biography Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Oulton made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor. During the Second World War he served in the British Army, and retu ...

as Mr Short, the camping store manager * Patricia Franklin as Farmer's daughter *

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 Lig ...

as Farmer * Michael Nightingale as Man in cinema * George Moon as Man at campsite * Walter Henry as Man in cinema * Valerie Shute as Pat * Elizabeth Knight as Jane * Georgina Moon as Joy * Vivien Lloyd as Verna * Jennifer Pyle as Hilda * Lesley Duff as Norma * Jackie Pool as Betty * Anna Karen as Hefty girl * Sally Kemp as Girl with cow * Valerie Leon as Miss Dobbin, the camping store assistant * Angela Grant as Schoolgirl (uncredited) * Peter Cockburn as Film Commentator (uncredited) * Gilly Grant as Sally G-string (uncredited) * Michael Low as Lusty youth (uncredited) * Mike Lucas as Lusty youth (uncredited) * Alf Mangan as Camper (uncredited) * David Seaforth as Camper (uncredited)

Crew

* Screenplay – Talbot Rothwell * Music – Eric Rogers * Production Manager – Jack Swinburne * Art Director – Lionel Couch * Editor –

Alfred Roome Alfred Wallace Roome (22 December 1908 – 19 November 1997) was an English film editor and occasional film director, director. Biography Born in London, in 1908, he first worked in the film industry as a film editor on the 1932 British comed ...

* Director of Photography – Ernest Steward * Assistant Editor – Jack Gardner * Camera Operator – James Bawden * Assistant Director – Jack Causey * Continuity – Doreen Dernley * Sound Recordists – Bill Daniels & Ken Barker * Make-up – Geoffrey Rodway * Hairdresser – Stella Rivers * Costume Designer – Yvonne Caffin * Dubbing Editor – Colin Miller * Title Sketches – Larry * Producer –

Peter Rogers Peter Rogers (20 February 1914 – 14 April 2009) was an English film producer. He is best known for creating the ''Carry On'' series of films. Life and career Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper, before graduat ...

* Director –

Gerald Thomas Gerald Thomas (10 December 1920 – 9 November 1993) was an English film director best known for the long-running ''Carry On (franchise), ''Carry On'' series'' of British film comedies. Early life Born in Kingston upon Hull, Hull, East Riding ...

Filming and locations

* Filming dates – 7 October–22 November 1968 Interiors: *

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to t ...

, Buckinghamshire Exteriors: *

, Buckinghamshire. The studios' orchard doubled for Paradise Camp. Chayste Place school is the management block at Pinewood Studios, better known as Heatherden Hall and featured in '' Carry On Nurse'', '' Carry On Up the Khyber'', '' Carry On Again Doctor'', '' Carry On at Your Convenience'', '' Carry On Behind'' and '' Carry On England''. * Pinewood Green, Iver Heath housing estate, Buckinghamshire * Everyman Cinema,

Gerrards Cross Gerrards Cross is a town and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies immediately south of Chalfont St Peter and a short distance west of the London Borough of Hillingdon, from which it is separated by the parish of Denham, Buckinghams ...

, Buckinghamshire * Maidenhead High Street * Black Park, Buckinghamshire

Reception

The film was the most popular movie at the UK box office in 1969. It was voted the nation's favourite Carry On film in a survey conducted by the ''

Daily Mirror The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily Tabloid journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...

'' in 2008. In a 2018 retrospective on the series, the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

named ''Carry On Camping'' as one of the series' five best films, alongside '' Carry On Cleo'' (1964), '' Carry On Screaming!'' (1966), '' Carry On Up the Khyber'' (1968), and '' Carry on Matron'' (1972).

Bibliography

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

References

External links

* *
''Carry on Camping'' at BFI Screenonline
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carry On Camping 1969 films British comedy films Carry On films 1969 comedy films 1960s English-language films Films directed by Gerald Thomas Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films produced by Peter Rogers Films with screenplays by Talbot Rothwell Films about vacationing 1960s British films Films scored by Eric Rogers (composer) British sex comedy films