Rate the Carry-On Team

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My top six in terms of essentialness is not very controversial.

1. Hattie Jaques
2. Sid James
3. Joan Sims
4. Terry Scott
5. Kenneth Williams
6. Babara Windsor

Extra special kudos for Talbot Rothwell who wrote 19 of the films from Carry On Cabby (1963) to Carry On Dick (1974). In other words, the golden years.

The others that I can think of in no order:
Lance Percival
Bernard Bresslaw
Charles Hawtrey
Kenneth Connor
June Whitfield
Jack Douglas
Peter Butterworth
Jim Dale
Frankie Howerd
Patsy Rowlands
Leslie Phillips
Bernard Cribbens
Harry H Corbett

― everything, Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

Jim Dale = should be in the "essential" list.

Bob Monkhouse was decent in the one he was in.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

Bill Maynard

― You Missed One of the Greatest Comics eVer, Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

People who were in 1 or 2 don't count as part of the team, for me.
1. Kenneth Williams
2. Sid James
3. Hattie Jacques
4. Charles Hawtrey
5. Bernard Bresslaw
6. Joan Sims

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, you've got to be in at least three.

― everything, Thursday, 1 September 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

1. Kenneth W
2. Hattie J
3. Kenneth C
4. Sid J
5. Jim D
6. Babs W

subs:
Bernard B
Joan S

best 'one-off' type
Frankie H

Perhaps a controversial rostrum placing for Connor, based mainly on the way his voice would quiver in the middle of words, whether with pride f/ex after having drunk the love potion as Hengist Pod in 'Cleo', or nervously in several other egs.

― darren (darren), Thursday, 1 September 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

Bugger, forgot about Hawtrey, C.

Oh well, that's me disowned from the Smiths fanbase then.

― darren (darren), Thursday, 1 September 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

1. Sid James
2. Kenneth Williams
3. Charles Hawtrey
4. Kenneth Connor
5. Bernard Bresslaw
6. Joan Sims
7. Hattie Jacques
8. Patsy Rowlands
9. Peter Butterworth
10. Barbara Windsor

...

1000. Jack Fucking Douglas

― I Ain't No Addict, Whoever Heard of a Junkie as Old as Me? (noodle vague), Thursday, 1 September 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

Who was that one in the later movies who did that thing with the wobbly arm? That is pretty much all he did I think.

― Paul Kelly (kelly), Friday, 2 September 2005 01:40 (twenty years ago)

'Barbera' Windsor Davies.

I always thought he was quite good on TV, until I saw the carry-on film he was in and realised he was rub.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 2 September 2005 06:58 (twenty years ago)

Wasn't Patrick Mower in the same one?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 September 2005 07:08 (twenty years ago)

Connor is the best for me - his timing and handling of both dialogue and props are I think unmatched by anyone else in the team.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 September 2005 07:09 (twenty years ago)

1. Kenneth Williams
2. Kenneth Connor (tremendously underrated)
3. Charles Hawtrey
4. Hattie Jacques
5. Sid James
6. Jim Dale
7. Joan Sims
8. Liz Fraser (you forgot her!)
9. Bernard Bresslaw
10. Terry Scott
11. Barbara Windsor
12. Peter Butterworth
.
.
.
.
.
.
1000. Jack Douglas

Frankie Howerd, Bernard Cribbens and Harry H. Corbett not really in the team but were all brilliant when they showed up.

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:10 (twenty years ago)

Patrick Mower was in "Carry on England" which is possibly the worst british movie of all time, and Yes Windsor was in it.

Also, he was in one of the "camping" ones.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:12 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I hate Peter Butterworth too, he simply couldn't act

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:13 (twenty years ago)

Mind you, "Yes Windsor" was rubbish. People going around town, just agreeing with all the tourist spots and places. Who wants that?

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:13 (twenty years ago)

Jack Douglas actually was really good, but in the films it was more "do that funny thing you do!" at all times. Bit like casting Crazy Frog as the ambulance driver.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:14 (twenty years ago)

Windsor Davies was brilliant in "It Ain't Half Hot Mom" tho. I'm impressed with anyone who can shout that convincingly (see also Warren Clarke in the first parter of the "Dalziel and Pascoe" two-parter the other night).

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:15 (twenty years ago)

Alf Ippititimus? Rubbish! (xpost)

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:16 (twenty years ago)

Would the dinner party scene in Carry On Up The Khyber have been better without Butterworth's they're-all-raving-mad-you-know running commentary?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:43 (twenty years ago)

Probably, if they'd found an actor to do it.

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:46 (twenty years ago)

his best moment ever.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 2 September 2005 08:47 (twenty years ago)

Disagree, DC Slobotham (in Screaming) and Pepe (in Abroad) are both superior, and Citizen Bidet (in Don't Lose Your Head) comes close.

Pepe is probably his best turn, even if it is only to provide a straight man to Hattie Jacques' Floella (her best ever too?).

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 2 September 2005 09:13 (twenty years ago)

1. Kenneth W
2. Hattie J
3. Kenneth C
4. Sid J
5. Jim D
6. Babs W

Woohoo!

― JimD (JimD), Friday, 2 September 2005 09:33 (twenty years ago)

Peter Butterworth grebt - largely because he was the first person to have a tardis other than william hartnell

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Friday, 2 September 2005 09:36 (twenty years ago)

Peter Gilmore deserves an honourable mention for his King Francis in Carry On Henry. Also in a few others incl Cleo, Khyber, Again Doctor. Also Margaret Nolan – "buxom wench" in Henry and was in Convenience and Matron and Girls and Dick.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 2 September 2005 09:40 (twenty years ago)

Also Eric Barker – he was in Spying, Sergeant, Constable and maybe some more – tended to play put-upon authority figures.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 2 September 2005 09:44 (twenty years ago)

Derek Nimmo

― Cin, Friday, 2 September 2005 09:52 (twenty years ago)

Roy Kinnear

― Cin, Friday, 2 September 2005 09:55 (twenty years ago)

Arthur Mullard

― Cin, Friday, 2 September 2005 09:56 (twenty years ago)

Jackie Piper and Angela Douglas seem absent from a lot of lists. Only three or four appearances each, but some outstanding lines.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 2 September 2005 10:05 (twenty years ago)

Classic one-off: Stanley Unwin

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 10:21 (twenty years ago)

Gail Granger

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 2 September 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe it - none of you have even mentioned my favourite all time Carry On star, Esma Cannon!

Other great women performers:

Irene Handl
Pat Coombs

― Tone 4, Friday, 2 September 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe it - none of you have even mentioned my favourite all time Carry On star, Esma Cannon!

Is that the wee old lady? I couldn't remember her name!

― Raymond Douglas Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 September 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

The twittering and beautiful Esma Cannon.
http://www.carryonline.com/carry/pictures/Stills/esmacannon.jpg

― Tone 4, Friday, 2 September 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Irene Handl
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/Irene_Handl_1966.jpg

― Tone 4, Friday, 2 September 2005 11:47 (twenty years ago)

Kenneth Connor. His "phwooooaaaarrrr" is better than anyone's.

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 2 September 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

1. Kenneth Williams - his Carry On highlights are too numerous to list.
2. Charles Hawtrey - "Oh, hello!"
3. Sid James - yak, yak, yak.
4. Joan Sims - easily the most versatile of all the Carry On females.
5. Kenneth Connor - the male equivalent to Joan Sims, played the broadest range of roles in the series.
6. Hattie Jacques - always likeable.
7. Jim Dale - excellent at physical comedy.
8. Bernard Bresslaw - good, solid, supporting actor.
9. Patsy Rowlands - another likeable actress who made the most out of her mostly unflattering roles.

Best guests (those were only in a couple of the films)

1. Esma Cannon.
2. Amanda Barrie.
3. Fenella Fielding.
4. Roy Castle.
5. Angela Douglas.
6. Kenneth Cope.
7. Jacki Piper.
8. June Whitfield.
9. Elke Sommer.
10. Dilys Laye.

Worst:

Patrick Mower in England.

Barbara Windsor - good in Spying and Camping. Pretty awful thereafter. Controversial??

― Ben Mott (Ben Mott), Friday, 2 September 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

I've never rated Babs that highly either.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

I somehow misread that last list as including Julian Cope.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 2 September 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

Oh, you people!

― Aimless (Aimless), Friday, 2 September 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

seventeen years pass...

I thought there was a poll on Carry On actors? Anyway, I love Joan Sims.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R0T_NsfVCo

― Renaissance of the Celtic Trumpet (Tom D.), Saturday, 17 June 2023 09:40 (two years ago)

Top six Carry on regulars:

1. Sid James
2. Hattie Jacques
3. Kenneth Williams
4. Joan Sims
5. Kenneth Connor
6= Bernard Bresslaw
6= Jim Dale

Should have appeared in more Carry On films: Angela Douglas
Should have appeared in fewer Carry On films: Jack Douglas (obviously), Charles Hawtrey (same role every time, diminishing returns)

― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Sunday, 18 June 2023 10:55 (two years ago)

I think this might be my favourite scene from a Carry On film, from Carry On Regardless (1961)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYDbE8KStkM

it's funny how much more crass the gay jokes became as we moved into the age of the permissive society, e.g. Carry On Girls (1973) where Jimmy Logan's first appearance in the film is a cut to him dressed like this and saying 'Hello, I'm Cecil Gaybody'

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5mo9ywWUAAlFO4.jpg:large

― he thinks it's chinese money (soref), Sunday, 18 June 2023 11:34 (two years ago)

ffs Jimmy Logan, they were scraping the bottom of the barrel by '73.

― Renaissance of the Celtic Trumpet (Tom D.), Sunday, 18 June 2023 11:44 (two years ago)

lot of Jack Douglas in that one too

― two grills one tap (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 18 June 2023 11:54 (two years ago)

The role of Cecil Gaybody was written for Charles Hawtrey, however he had been dropped due to his unreliability. It was then offered to Kenneth Williams, who turned it down because of stage commitments.

tbf there's not much in the Carry On series that has made me laugh as much as seeing that scene for the first time, another character picks up the phone and it cuts to Logan dressed like that, I was already cracking up at how stupid the outfit is, and then he says 'Hello, I'm Cecil Gaybody' in the worst 'comedy gay' voice ever captured on film, it's amazing

― he thinks it's chinese money (soref), Sunday, 18 June 2023 11:59 (two years ago)

my dad was a gentle man who enjoyed laughing even at the feeblest sitcoms and rarely expressed dislikes: but he memorably did, more than once, for both jim dale and the even more harmless lance percival

i have no idea what was behind this; as with many of my dad's opinions (he also greatly disliked bilko) i now wish i'd dug into it more

― mark s, Sunday, 18 June 2023 12:04 (two years ago)

I like Jack Douglas, I think it's fine to only have one bit if it's a good bit

― he thinks it's chinese money (soref), Sunday, 18 June 2023 12:06 (two years ago)

One bit in a 60+ year career on stage and screen. Good work, Jack!

― Renaissance of the Celtic Trumpet (Tom D.), Sunday, 18 June 2023 12:18 (two years ago)

it's a v v v low bar i know but jack's wikipedia entry is mildly funny* (for wikipedia)

*on-purpose funny rather than weird-and-inadvertent funny

― mark s, Sunday, 18 June 2023 12:36 (two years ago)

seven months pass...

Some interesting background on Peter Butterworth... and Talbot Rothwell!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68209738

― The British Boy of Film Classification (Tom D.), Tuesday, 6 February 2024 14:04 (one year ago)

Carry On trivia: this guy

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEomWrM3p1WZhBIGBagzREvZaQrleOluxW0ThiuM_kYqvb2BQqpqnHlxQ4Cw2Wl5TLjCRnGAINNMLjFql3PFhtD514DL6hUrO7oKBtxA2Xrz7iph105Z0AaErHskGfTEyepk2jfqaLk0rP/s400/8130-3012.jpg

had an affair with Roald Dahl's daughter and sired cookbook author / Jamie Cullum's future missus Sophie Dahl.

― I hate them worse than leopards (Matt #2), Tuesday, 6 February 2024 14:34 (one year ago)

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