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Carry On England

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Carry On England
Original UK quad poster
Directed byGerald Thomas
Written byDavid Pursall
Jack Seddon
Produced byPeter Rogers
StarringKenneth Connor
Windsor Davies
Patrick Mower
Judy Geeson
Jack Douglas
Joan Sims
Peter Butterworth
Melvyn Hayes
Peter Jones
CinematographyErnest Steward
Edited byRichard Marden
Music byMax Harris
Release date
31 October 1976
Running time
89 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£250,000

Carry On England is a 1976 British comedy film, the 28th release in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). It was released in October 1976 and featured Carry On regulars Kenneth Connor, Jack Douglas, Joan Sims and Peter Butterworth. It was second and last Carry On film for Windsor Davies, Diane Langton and Peter Jones, as well as the fifth and last for Patricia Franklin and the eighth and last for Julian Holloway. Patrick Mower, Judy Geeson and Melvyn Hayes make their only appearances in a Carry On film. The film was followed by "That's Carry On!" in 1977.

Plot

Captain S Melly (Kenneth Connor) is put in charge of an experimental mixed-battery during the darkest days of the Second World War. It is a relief for Captain Bull (David Lodge) to greet his relief but Melly is not prepared for the ball-squeezing Sergeant Major "Tiger" Bloomer (Windsor Davies) and the randy antics of Bombardier Ready (Jack Douglas), Sergeant Tilly Willing (Judy Geeson) and Sergeant Len Able (Patrick Mower). Forever feigning illness or hiding in their underground "snoggery", the troops are happily getting to grips with each other rather than the enemy. Most prominent of the females is Private Alice Easy (Diane Langton) who tries to charm her new commanding officer but only succeeds in propelling her top button into his system! Private Jennifer Ffoukes-Sharpe (Joan Sims) pines for "Tiger" while everybody – including little Gunner Shorthouse (Melvyn Hayes) – gets a piece of the action. Even after a tip-off to the medical officer, Major Butcher (Julian Holloway) segregation and rigorous training, the unit is still a shower. However, an inspection by the cowardly Brigadier (Peter Jones) and Major Carstairs (Peter Butterworth) is interrupted by an airborne attack and Melly's troops finally prove they are real British bulldogs.

Production

This film featured few established members of the Carry On team. Carry On regular Kenneth Connor played a leading role, but the only other long-time regulars present, Joan Sims and Peter Butterworth, had only small supporting roles.

Windsor Davies, who had joined the series with a main role in the preceding film Carry On Behind, again plays a major role, reprising (in all but name) his Sergeant-Major character from the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, along with Melvyn Hayes as his effeminate foil. Other main roles are played by established and recognisable actors Judy Geeson and Patrick Mower, both newcomers to the Carry On films.

The film was originally certified AA by the then British Board of Film Censors which would have restricted audiences to those aged fourteen and over, but was cut down to the non-age limited A certificate by heavily toning down the scenes featuring topless nudity and removing one comedic use of the word fokker. However it still proved to be a major commercial failure and was withdrawn from some cinemas after just three days.[1]

Cast

Crew

  • Screenplay – David Pursall & Jack Seddon
  • Music – Max Harris
  • Production Manager – Roy Goddard
  • Art Director – Lionel Couch
  • Editor – Richard Marden
  • Director of Photography – Ernest Steward
  • Camera Operator – Geoffrey Godar
  • Wardrobe – Vi Murray & Don Mothersill
  • Casting Director – John Owen
  • Stills Cameraman – Ken Bray
  • Make-up – Geoffrey Rodway
  • Sound Recordists – Danny Daniel & Gordon McCallum
  • Continuity – Marjorie Lavelly
  • Hairdresser – Stella Rivers
  • Costume Design – Courtenay Elliott
  • Set Dresser – Donald Picton
  • Dubbing Editor – Pat Foster
  • Assistant Editor – Jack Gardner
  • Assistant Director – Jack Causey
  • Titles – GSE Ltd
  • Processor – Rank Film Laboratories
  • Gun – Imperial War Museum
  • Producer – Peter Rogers
  • Director – Gerald Thomas

Filming and locations

  • Filming dates – 3 May-4 June 1976 (Note that Sid James – star of 19 previous entries in the series – died just days before filming on 26 April 1976)

Interiors:

Exteriors:

References

  1. ^ Ross, Robert. The Carry On Companion, B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. ISBN 0-7134-7967-1 p 120

Bibliography

  • Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1-908630-01-8.
  • Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0-85768-279-6.
  • Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0-09-949007-4.
  • Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1-906358-15-0.
  • Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (2007) (Reynolds & Hearn Books)
  • Ross, Robert (2002). The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-8771-8.
  • Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-55183-6.
  • Rigelsford, Adrian (1996). Carry On Laughing – a celebration. London: Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-554-5.
  • Hibbin, Sally & Nina (1988). What a Carry On. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-55819-4.
  • Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-7403-0.
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