Runtime:
84 minutes
Directed
by: Gerald Thomas
Starring:
William Hartnell, Shirley Eaton, Eric Barker, Dora Bryan, Charles
Hawtrey
From:
Peter Rogers Productions
About darn time I saw another one of these motion pictures:
Last year I saw Carry On Cabby via a showing on TCM; I figured it was time for me to see another entry in this venerable British series, and this was the OG movie that started it all, something that unexpectedly became a hit and they had an idea to... carry on with a series of motion pictures. As I said in the review for Cabby, those in Europe and other locations across the world may be surprised that the Carry On series never made much of an impression in the United States, as it is pretty certain on my part none of them ever received any theatrical release over here.
The plot is simple enough: during this time in the UK, it was still a time of military conscription. Sergeant Grimshaw receives a new group of recruits, and this will be his last before he retires. He wishes for this bunch to receive the honors of being the best platoon at the Depot, as that would be his first time with such an honor. Of course this motley crew is a bunch of goofs, including a hypochondriac, a chubby rock and roller, a haughty man, and someone incredibly nebbish... of course, Charles Hawtrey, always a delight. There are the expected laughs as these screw-ups can't get military training right, and some of them have to deal with romance too... with various women.
The hijinks are what you'd expect and it is pretty silly, especially with how things are resolved. But there was enough amusing physical humor and funny wordplay to where I'll say this was good overall. Indeed, I should track down and watch these movies more often as I have heard from quite a few as there are some real gems in this franchise.
Last year I saw Carry On Cabby via a showing on TCM; I figured it was time for me to see another entry in this venerable British series, and this was the OG movie that started it all, something that unexpectedly became a hit and they had an idea to... carry on with a series of motion pictures. As I said in the review for Cabby, those in Europe and other locations across the world may be surprised that the Carry On series never made much of an impression in the United States, as it is pretty certain on my part none of them ever received any theatrical release over here.
The plot is simple enough: during this time in the UK, it was still a time of military conscription. Sergeant Grimshaw receives a new group of recruits, and this will be his last before he retires. He wishes for this bunch to receive the honors of being the best platoon at the Depot, as that would be his first time with such an honor. Of course this motley crew is a bunch of goofs, including a hypochondriac, a chubby rock and roller, a haughty man, and someone incredibly nebbish... of course, Charles Hawtrey, always a delight. There are the expected laughs as these screw-ups can't get military training right, and some of them have to deal with romance too... with various women.
The hijinks are what you'd expect and it is pretty silly, especially with how things are resolved. But there was enough amusing physical humor and funny wordplay to where I'll say this was good overall. Indeed, I should track down and watch these movies more often as I have heard from quite a few as there are some real gems in this franchise.
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