Carry On Cowboy

Carry On Cowboy
Original UK quad poster
Directed by	Gerald Thomas
Written by	Talbot Rothwell
Produced by	Peter Rogers
Starring	Sid James Kenneth Williams Jim Dale Charles Hawtrey Joan Sims Angela Douglas Bernard Bresslaw Peter Butterworth
Cinematography	Alan Hume
Edited by	Rod Keys
Music by	Eric Rogers
Production companies	Anglo-Amalgamated Peter Rogers Productions
Distributed by	Warner-Pathé
Release date	November 1965
Running time	93 mins
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£195,000

Carry On Cowboy is the eleventh in the series of Carry On films to be made. It was released in 1965, and 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.

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). 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, Englishman Marshal P. Knutt (Jim Dale), a "sanitation engineer first class", arrives in America in the hope of revolutionising the American sewerage 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, and is promptly sent out to Stodge City.

The Rumpo Kid hears of the new Marshal, and tries all he can to kill the Marshal without being caught, including sending out a pack of Indians, led by their Chief Big Heap (Charles Hawtrey) and hanging 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 really is a sanitary engineer and not the Peace Marshal he once thought, he swears revenge, returning to Stodge City for a showdown at high noon. By hiding in the sewers beneath the main street, Knutt kills off Rumpo's gang, but fails to capture Rumpo, who escapes with the aid of Belle.

Music

Carry on Cowboy was the first film in the series to have a sung main titles theme. Douglas has a nightclub scene in which she sings "This is the Night for Love".

Cast

• Sid James as Johnny Finger/The Rumpo Kid
• Kenneth Williams as Judge Burke
• Jim Dale as Marshal P Knutt
• Charles Hawtrey as Big Heap
• Joan Sims as Belle Armitage
• Peter Butterworth as Doc
• Bernard Bresslaw as Little Heap
• Angela Douglas as Annie Oakley
• Jon Pertwee as Sheriff Albert Earp
• Percy Herbert as Charlie
• Sydney Bromley as Sam Houston
• Edina Ronay as Delores
• Lionel Murton as Clerk
• Peter Gilmore as Curly
• Davy Kaye as Josh
• Alan Gifford as Commissioner
• Brian Rawlinson as Stagecoach guard
• Michael Nightingale as Bank manager
• Simon Cain as Short
• Sally Douglas as Kitkata
• Cal McCord as Mex
• Garry Colleano as Slim
• Arthur Lovegrove as Old cowhand
• Margaret Nolan as Miss Jones
• Tom Clegg as Blacksmith
• Larry Cross as Perkins
• Brian Coburn as Trapper
• Ballet Montparnasse as Dancing girls
• Hal Galili as Cowhand (uncredited)
• Norman Stanley as Drunk (uncredited)
• Carmen Dene as Mexican girl (uncredited)
• Andrea Allan as Minnie (uncredited)
• Vicki Smith as Polly (uncredited)
• Audrey Wilson as Jane (uncredited)
• Donna White as Jenny (uncredited)
• Lisa Thomas as Sally (uncredited)
• Gloria Best as Bridget (uncredited)
• George Mossman as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
• Richard O'Brien as Rider (uncredited)
• Eric Rogers as Pianist (uncredited)

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

Filming and locations

• Filming dates – 12 July–3 September 1965

Interiors:

• Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Exteriors:

• Chobham Common, Surrey
• Black Park, Fulmer, Buckinghamshire

Bibliography

• Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1908630018.
• Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0857682796.
• Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0099490074.
• Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1906358150.
• 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 978-0713487718.
• Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0563551836.
• 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 978-0600558194.
• Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0715374030.

External links

• Carry On Cowboy at IMDb
• Carry On Cowboy at Rotten Tomatoes
• Carry On Cowboy at British Comedy Guide
• Carry on Cowboy at the British Film Institute's Screenonline