Carry On England is a 1976 British comedy film, the 28th release in the series of the original 30 Carry On films (1958–1978). 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.
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2018) |
Carry On England | |
---|---|
![]() Original UK quad poster | |
Directed by | Gerald Thomas |
Written by | David Pursall Jack Seddon |
Produced by | Peter Rogers |
Starring | Kenneth Connor Windsor Davies Patrick Mower Judy Geeson Jack Douglas Joan Sims Peter Butterworth Melvyn Hayes Peter Jones |
Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
Edited by | Richard Marden |
Music by | Max Harris |
Distributed by | The Rank Organisation |
Release date | 31 October 1976 |
Running time | 89 min. |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £250,000 |
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.
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 role of the Brigadier was written for series regular Kenneth Williams, and the role of Private Easy was written for series regular episodes Barbara Windsor, but Williams was unavailable due to appearing in the stage play, Signed and Sealed, and Windsor was unavailable due to appearing in The Mike Reid Show.
Series regular Sid James was unavailable for the film due to appearing in the stage play, The Mating Season. On the opening night of the play at Sunderland Empire Theatre on 26 April, James died of a heart attack on stage at the age of 62.
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]
Interiors:
Exteriors:
| |
---|---|
Films | |
Television |
|
Cast | |
Albums | |
Other |
|
Related |
|