Carry On polling!

They're all quite good up till "Follow That Camel"

Hmm...fifties and early sixties rather skiffly primitive, '64-9 the golden years, seventies onwards a bit of a mess...

It's like the Beatles, innit?

I like the early ones, but they're not very Carry On

Much more Will Hay (Hawtrey being the missing link) but Sergeant in particular is played surprisingly straight most of the way through.

Plus Stanley Unwin is in one of them

And Bob Monkhouse.

There was also an "unofficial" Carry On film from the early sixties which was set in a music school (I remember seeing it one Wednesday evening on BBC1 as a kid) but I can't remember what it was called. Kenneth Williams played a sniffy would-be conductor.

Nurse, Constable or Cabby, I think. Although Camping gets an honorable mention, mainly for the carryon interpretation of a hippy music festival (soundly defeated by the carry on stars, of course).

I guess the earlier ones are a lot more gentile, a lot more innocent. I rather like that.

There was also an "unofficial" Carry On film from the early sixties which was set in a music school (I remember seeing it one Wednesday evening on BBC1 as a kid) but I can't remember what it was called. Kenneth Williams played a sniffy would-be conductor.

I thought that was more of a 'Doctor' film set in a music school.

the 'Doctor' films, more or less, being the middle class carry-on.

I guess the earlier ones are a lot more gentile

Oy!

It might have been but I'm sure most of the Carry On team were in it.

Yes, the "hippy music festival" whose featured band sounded like the Shadows circa 1961.

There was also an "unofficial" Carry On film from the early sixties which was set in a music school (I remember seeing it one Wednesday evening on BBC1 as a kid) but I can't remember what it was called. Kenneth Williams played a sniffy would-be conductor.

Yes, I saw that last year some time, it's good! Kenny on top form!

Went with "Screaming"

Raising The Wind?

My wife and I enjoyed a bit of Up the Khyber on the sofa the other night.

That's the one (xp)! Yes, the cast list is a lot more Doctor-orientated...written by Phil Larkin's old pal Bruce Montgomery, I see.

Yes, Raising the Wind. as Tom says KW is great. I think he might have even enjoyed making it.

oops xp.

What's the one where Sid James says "Meet the wife, don't laugh."

I use that line all the time, the wife loves it.

Wonder what an Orton Carry On script would have been like if (a) he'd lived and/or (b) KW had persuaded him.

Looking at the imdb I see that I've never seen this one...
Twice Round the Daffodils and am intrigued by the comment of the reviewer...
it can occasionally be very uncomfortable to watch..

'Laugh Laughter and Tears!' it says on the box...

they "do it so well it hurts"???

Co-written by Patrick Cargill! (I'm surprised they never used him in the Carry Ons)

Not available from SofaCinema sadly...

I really like Camel, despite it not really being considered a "proper" Carry On because of the presence of Phil Silvers. There are a lot of wisecracks and one-liners that practically straight out of Bilko, but it would be a much weaker movie without him.
Camping has a lot of individual threads that tie neatly together until the rather clumsy ending. Khyber is probably my favourite as it has an actual plot, a proper finale (dinner party under fire), and the great line at the end from Williams "There is nothing to be afraid of! ...oh, I dunno though"

The "dinner party under fire" sequence is worthy of Bunuel. Peter Butterworth's finest hour.

Yeah, it's one of the few scenes I actually remember from any of these.

I really can't stand Peter Butterworth unfortunately

"You know, they're all completely mad"

The comment on the whole british empire and it's environs, hidden in plain view!

(Khyber, obv)

xpost - yes, everywhere but here.

Butterworth is best in small doses really, like he is in Camping as Mr. Fiddler ("that'll be a pound")

Could be worse, he could be Jack Douglas

Or Jimmy Logan

Apparently Woody Allen was considered for the Phil Silvers role in ..Follow That Camel. Now that would have been something to see.

KW v. waspish about Phil Silvers in the diaries

KW v. waspish about *phonebook.jpg* in the diaries

Esp. tho, I think he even comments on his bad breath at one point

He certainly comments on his punchline-free anecdotes, inability to remember lines and self-pity over his wife and kids leaving him ("out of boredom" in KW's opinion).

I'm having trouble imagining what Carry On Emmanuelle must be like. More Sid James than Kenneth Williams I'm guessing...

Sid's not in it but Ken is?

I like how they misspell the name.

Synopsis

Emmanuelle Prevert (Suzanne Danielle) is the fascinating, delectable young wife of Emile (Kenneth Williams) the French ambassador for Great Britain. With his sexual prowess damaged in a freak parachuting accident, Emmanuelle has to seek her thrills elsewhere.

(damn, xposted while I was compsing this!) Sid James isn't in it. It's a flipping dreadful movie. KW's sexual awkwardness schtick plus some awkward jokes. There's a scene where KW collides with a church spire while parachuting naked, and that's the level the film stays at for it's entirety.

Emmanuelle Prevert (Suzanne Danielle) is the fascinating, delectable young wife of Emile (Kenneth Williams) the French ambassador for Great Britain.

Any relation to Jacques?

Possibly not.

Suzanne D came in as a last minute replacement for Babs Windsor who walked out on the film complaining of the "filthy script." Sid wouldn't have been in it, having died two years earlier.

A Carry On movie that was too filthy even for Barbara Windsor?

http://shinymedia.headshift.com/images/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/19/barbarawindsorcarryon.jpg

She was fine with titillation, apparently, but not with what she considered "porn."

I haven't seen Em, the only one I haven't, I believe.

"Carry On England" is possibly the worst film ever made.

"Seargant, why are those men wearing skirts?" (K.Connor)
"That is cause they is not women, sah!" (W.Davies)
"Oh? What are they then?"
"Women, sah"

.. is the only funny line in it.

Carry on Dick is the last one that's any good.

What was Carry on Behind? I forget.

I haven't really properly watched a Carry On since I was a kid. I liked the historical ones best then.

(xpost) similar to Camping - it's at a campsite, but KW is an archaeologist.

Cleo's got the best Sid James, the best Kenneth Williams and severe Cleopatra hottness.
http://archives.festivaldufilm-dinard.com/13/images_films/CARRY_ON_CLEO.jpg

Okay not the best pic.

^^^ Barbara Windsor was going to be Cleo but fell out with the producers - would have been a different film, and probably not as good.

They're all quite good up till "Follow That Camel"

but this comes before Khyber!

"Behind" has Elke Sommer, doesn't it?

Got there.

^^^ Barbara Windsor was going to be Cleo but fell out with the producers - would have been a different film, and probably not as good.

-- snoball, Monday, 21 July 2008 14:26 (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

and then my sister would have been called Barbara, possibly.

"Spying" is very good, it has that whole "early Bond" piss take nailed down. Pity it's not shown on TV very often.

I voted for Khyber for the great scene with the unflappable brits eating dinner while their mansion gets blown up around them.

but this comes before Khyber!

I didn't say there weren't good films after, but certainly they were less consistently good.

It was between Screaming, Spying, Dick and Khyber.

"Spying" is very good, it has that whole "early Bond" piss take nailed down. Pity it's not shown on TV very often.

"Spying" has been on a lot! It's a bit silly. So's "Jack". Maybe something to do with Bernard Cribbens?

Cabby, Cleo, Cowboy, Screaming, Khyber are prob'ly my faves.

Of the early ones, I like Constable and Regardless.

Cabby was filmed at the bottom of our road when we lived in Windsor.

Not while we lived there, unfortunately. Arthur Road, road fans.

It's a bit silly.

As opposed to what??

"I prefer the earlier, more serious Carry On films"

Mark G, the other good line from Carry On England is when Windsor Davies asks Patrick Mower (something along the lines of) whether he knows anything about German planes. "No, but I know a Fokker when I see one"

"I prefer the earlier, more serious Carry On films"

But they are more serious!

You would have thought that someone starting a Carry On film poll would have at least a nodding familiarity with all the films listed.

Why do you think I started the poll in the first place??

Convenience for the win!

ah whatever

Cleo! Cleo!

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

"Mark G, the other good line from Carry On England is when Windsor Davies asks Patrick Mower (something along the lines of) whether he knows anything about German planes. "No, but I know a Fokker when I see one""

That's one of its good lines? I could build a fleet of Fokkers and fly one round the world in the time between that line being telegraphed and it being delivered.

Not may of them stand a second viewing but Don't Lose Your Head and Up The Jungle were both good for a giggle in parts.

I'm voting for Jack on the grounds that Charles Hawtrey delirious at sea was the funniest thing in the world when I was 10. I don't think I've ever seen it since.

Give me Convenience or give me death. Everything about that movie is perfect. You can stick predictable winner Khyber right up yr khyber.

Kyhber? I thought Cleo was the canonical choice.

Cleo is a sight better than Khyber but neither contain

a) a budgie that can pick horses
b) lazy Trade Union zings a-go-go
c) CHARLES HAWTREY STRIP POKER
d) bogs
e) staff piss-up
f) genuinely touching unrequited Sid James/Joan Sims/Selwyn Froggitt love triangle

Screaming is fucking shit an' all.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

A poor turnout.

Honestly fuck all y'all

i missed this thread but i was going to vote for khyber anyway

Only 17 voted, very poor.

That's one of its good lines? I could build a fleet of Fokkers and fly one round the world in the time between that line being telegraphed and it being delivered.

Find me a Carry On joke that isn't telegraphed. The gags are so contrived, and that is part of the entertainment.

I find I enjoy some of the jokes in the way I enjoy an old trusted recipe. "But, but, it is I, Camembert... the Big Cheese!" is not subtle or unexpected but it is beautifully delivered and gets to me every time.

Carry On Up The Khyber starting on Film4 in 10 minutes, UKers.

Would've picked Cleo had I seen this poll.
I have fond memories of watching Carry On Girls in my younger years. Would like to see that again. They always show the same ones on TV, don't they? Dick, Khyber, Camping. They should wheel the more obscure ones out.

Cruising was on earlier this afternoon on ITV, and that doesn't seem to get shown often. I think I've only seen Sergeant on TV once.

http://www.culttv.net/images/Jack_Douglas.jpg

Pour one out

"Don't Lose Your Head" was just on. Seemed to have a much higher budget than usual, it looked pretty good, especially the parts with the guillotine and the mob. Definitely funny, though a couple of the sequences are far too long. No Kenneth Connor, no Babs Windsor and Jim Dale is wasted as Sid James' sidekick but Joan Sims is fantastic and Kenneth Williams is on good form. By the way, Kenneth Williams would have made a great Robespierre in something if someone had thought of casting him in the role (Robespierre actually is in the film but played by Peter Gilmore, who is far too rugged and imposing).

was everyone voting sarcastically in this or something?

People refusing to take Carry On films seriously >:(

I have the box set and will review them all once that seems like a good idea (perhaps never)

I was right 12 years ago and am still right