CARRY ON CRUISING

UK, 1962, 89 minutes, Colour.

Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Liz Fraser, Dilys Laye, Esma Cannon, Lance Percival, Jimmy Thompson, Ronnie Stevens, Vincent Ball, Ed Devereaux, Anton Rodgers.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Beginning in the later 1950s and continuing into the 1980s, the Carry on franchise was very popular, some films quite hilarious, some rather pedestrian, and the rest somewhere in the middle. This one is rather mild, pleasantly in the middle, so to speak.

A number of the regulars are present but many absent including Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale.

But, Sid James is present as the captain, in a wayalways the same, but always reliable and his performance fitting his character whether the captain of this cruise or Marc Anthony in Carry on, Cleo. And the two Kenneths are also present, Kenneth Connor as the ship’s captain, wanting romance, and showing his skill at doing impersonations. And Kenneth Williams does his usual with a wink and a nod and his familiar screwing up of his face.

There is some comedy with Esma Cannon, Australian actress long time in England and in several of the Carry on films. Two other Australians who worked in their early careers in the UK but then returned home to long Australian careers are Vincent Ball as the athletics instructor and Ed Devereaux as one of the officers.

This time the leading ladies are Liz Fraser and Dilys Laye – more straightforward in their romance and humour rather than innuendo.

A lot of slapstick as usual, a lot of puns and play on words, some of them very obvious but enjoyable nonetheless.

A carry on slightly entertainment.