Carry On Loving

''Carry On Loving'' is a 1970 British comedy film, the 20th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was directed by Gerald Thomas and features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott and Bernard Bresslaw alongside newcomers Richard O'Callaghan (in his first ''Carry On'') and Imogen Hassall (in her only ''Carry On'' role). The dialogue veers toward open bawdiness rather than the evasive innuendo characteristic of the earlier films in the series. The film was followed by '' Carry On Henry'' in 1971.

Plot

Various events involve a dating agency run by Sid Bliss and his longtime girlfriend Sophie Plummett. Their "Wedded Bliss" agency purports to bring together lonely hearts using computer-matching technology, but couples are actually paired up by Sophie. Bliss consistently avoids marrying Sophie, enthusiastically pursuing Esme Crowfoot, a seamstress and client who consistently rejects his advances.

Percival Snooper becomes a client to find a wife for business reasons: as a confirmed bachelor, he is inept at his job as a marriage counsellor due to lack of personal experience. James Bedsop is a private detective whom Sophie hires to spy on Sid's after-hours activities when he supposedly " vets" the female clients, including Esme.

Timid Bertram Muffet winds up with model Sally Martin after the agency muddles his directions to a blind date. Client Terry Philpott suffers several failures in his dealings with the agency including a disastrous meeting with prim, sheltered Jenny Grubb. Jenny moves in with Sally, undergoes a makeover, and becomes a model. Terry later finds romance with the "new" Jenny.

Percival's association with Sophie provokes his jealous housekeeper, dowdy Miss Dempsey, to reveal her seductive side. Esme's estranged lover, volatile wrestler Gripper Burke, returns to cause havoc over an instance of mistaken identity.

Peter Butterworth appears in a one-minute cameo as a Bluebeard-esque character jokingly referred to as Dr. Crippen. He approaches Sid Bliss to find his third wife. His first wife died eating poisoned mushrooms, the second suffered a fractured skull because she "wouldn't eat the mushrooms".

Cast

* Sid James as Sidney Bliss
*Kenneth Williams as Percival Snooper
* Charles Hawtrey as James Bedsop
* Hattie Jacques as Sophie Plummett
* Joan Sims as Esme Crowfoot
* Bernard Bresslaw as Gripper Burke
* Terry Scott as Terry Philpott
* Jacki Piper as Sally Martin
* Richard O'Callaghan as Bertrum Muffet
* Imogen Hassall as Jenny Grubb
* Patsy Rowlands as Miss Dempsey
*Bill Pertwee as barman
* Julian Holloway as Adrian
* Janet Mahoney as Gay
*Joan Hickson as Mrs Grubb
* Mike Grady and Valerie Shute as the lovers
* Patricia Franklin as Mrs Dreery
*Bill Maynard as Mr Dreery
* Peter Butterworth as sinister client
* Amelia Bayntun as corset lady
* Ann Way as Victoria Grubb
* Anthony Sagar as hospital patient
* Kenny Lynch as bus conductor
* Dorothea Phillips as Aunt Beatrice Grubb

Filming and locations

*Filming dates – 6 April-15 May 1970

Interiors:
* Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Exteriors:
* The streets of Windsor, Berkshire. The building at the corner of Park Street and Sheet Street doubled for the Wedded Bliss Agency. This had been used a decade earlier for the Helping Hands Agency in ''Carry On Regardless''.

Reception

Box office

It was the fourth-most-popular film at the British box office in 1971.

Critical

The ''Sunday Sun'' said it was "no worse or better than its many predecessors". "All you have to do is sit back and have a good old snigger", said the ''Daily Mail''. The ''Evening Standard'' said "by now it's all a mite bit mechanical."

David Parkinson contributed a retrospective review for ''Radio Times''. Awarding the film 2 out of 5 stars, Parkinson said it was a patchy entry in the series which spent too much time with the other clients of the bureau at the expense of the proprietors and the characters played by Joan Sims and Kenneth Williams.

References

Bibliography

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*''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

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Carry On Loving
1970 films
1970 romantic comedy films
British romantic comedy films
Loving
1970s English-language films
Films directed by Gerald Thomas
Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Films produced by Peter Rogers
1970s British films
Films scored by Eric Rogers (composer)
English-language romantic comedy films