''Carry On Cowboy'' is a 1965
British comedy Western film, the eleventh in the
series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992).
It was the first film to feature series regulars
Peter Butterworth and
Bernard Bresslaw. Series regulars
Sid James,
Kenneth Williams,
Jim Dale,
Charles Hawtrey and
Joan Sims all feature, and
Angela Douglas makes the first of her four appearances in the series.
Kenneth Williams, usually highly critical of all the ''Carry on'' films he appeared in, called the film "a success on every level" in his diary, taking pride in its humour and pathos. The film was followed by ''
Carry On Screaming!'' (1966).
Plot
Outlaw Johnny Finger, better known as The Rumpo Kid (
Sid James), rides into the frontier town of
Stodge City, and immediately guns down three complete strangers, orders alcohol at the saloon—horrifying Judge Burke (
Kenneth Williams), the
teetotal Mayor of Stodge City—and kills the town's sheriff,
Albert Earp (
Jon Pertwee
John Devon Roland Pertwee (; 7 July 1919 – 20 May 1996), known professionally as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. Born into a theatrical family, he became known as a comedy actor, playing Chief Petty Officer Pertwee (and three other roles) in ...
). Rumpo then takes over the saloon, courting its former owner, the sharp-shooting Belle (
Joan Sims), and turns the town into a base for thieves and cattle-rustlers.
In Washington DC, English "sanitation engineer first class" Marshal P. Knutt (
Jim Dale) arrives in America in the hope of revolutionizing the American
sewerage
Sewerage (or sewage system) is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff ( stormwater, meltwater, rainwater) using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, and scr ...
system. He accidentally walks into the office of the Commissioner, thinking it to be the Public Works Department, and is mistaken for a US Peace
Marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...
, and is promptly sent out to Stodge City.
The Rumpo Kid hears of the new Marshal, and tries all he can to kill him without being caught, including sending out a pack of Indians, led by their Chief Big Heap (
Charles Hawtrey), and attempting to hang the Marshal after framing him for cattle rustling. Knutt is saved by the prowess of
Annie Oakley (
Angela Douglas), who has arrived in Stodge to avenge Earp's death and has taken a liking to Knutt.
Eventually, Knutt runs Rumpo out of town, but once Rumpo discovers that Knutt is really a sanitary engineer and not the Peace Marshal he believed, he swears revenge, returning to Stodge City for
a showdown at high noon. Knutt conceals himself from Rumpo's gang in drainage tunnels beneath the main street, emerging momentarily from manholes to pick them off one by one. He does not kill or capture Rumpo, who escapes town with the aid of Belle.
Cast
Crew
*Screenplay –
Talbot Rothwell
*Music –
Eric Rogers
*Songs –
Eric Rogers & Alan Rogers
*Associate Producer –
Frank Bevis
*Art Director –
Bert Davey
*Editor – Rod Keys
*Director of Photography –
Alan Hume
*Camera Operator – Godfrey Godar
*Assistant Director – Peter Bolton
*Unit Manager – Ron Jackson
*Make-up – Geoffrey Rodway
*Sound Editor – Jim Groom
*Sound Recordists – Robert T MacPhee & Ken Barker
*Hairdressing – Stella Rivers
*Costume Designer –
Cynthia Tingey
*Assistant Editor – Jack Gardner
*Horse Master – Jeremy Taylor
*Continuity – Gladys Goldsmith
*Producer –
Peter Rogers
*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 ...
Production

The film was made between 12 July and 3 September 1965. Interiors were done at
Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
[ while exteriors were shot on Chobham Common, Surrey
and at Black Park, Fulmer, Buckinghamshire.
]
Soundtrack
''Carry On Cowboy'' was the first film in the series to have a sung main titles theme. Douglas has a saloon bar scene in which she sings "This is the Night for Love".
Critical reception
Writing in 1966, '' The Monthly Film Bulletin'' opined "there are some quite clever and amusing ideas, but an even heavier than usual reliance on outrageous puns and not particularly subtle double entendres. This, in fact, is the nearest-the-knuckle of the series, and some of the gags make the "A" certificate eminently reasonable". More recently, Allmovie
AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, television series, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne.
History
AllMovie was ...
called the film "one of the best of the long-running Carry on series."[
]
Notes
;Citations
;Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*''Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema'' by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (2007) (Reynolds & Hearn Books)
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External links
*
*
*
''Carry on Cowboy''
at 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, ...
's Screenonline
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carry On Cowboy
1960s British films
1960s English-language films
1960s historical comedy films
1960s Western (genre) comedy films
1965 comedy films
1965 films
Anglo-Amalgamated Productions films
British historical comedy films
British Western (genre) comedy films
Carry On films
English-language historical comedy films
English-language Western (genre) comedy films
Films directed by Gerald Thomas
Films produced by Peter Rogers
Films scored by Eric Rogers (composer)
Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Films with screenplays by Talbot Rothwell
Foreign films set in the United States