Displaying items by tag: Judith Furse

CARRY ON SPYING

UK, 1964, 87 minutes, Black-and-white.

Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins, Charles Hawtrey, Eric Barker, Dilys Laye, Jim Dale, Richard Wattis, Eric Pohlmann, Victor Maddern, Judith Furse, John Bluthal.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

With James Bond film, Dr No, 1962, followed by From Russia With Love, it was probably inevitable that the Carry on series would move into the world of espionage and British agents. And so it was.

This episode was released at the same time as Carry on Cleo. The series had moved colour but this episode returns to black-and-white. And key members of the team are absent, Sid James, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connnor. But, Bernard Cribbins had been the Kenneth Connor type character in Carry on Jack and does the same here. But, this was the first Carry on film for Barbara Windsor and she certainly makes a big impression, sense of comedy and fun, but also showing that the female characters, while definitely for the male gaze,  have character and could contribute to the more serious aspects of the plot.

Not that there are very many more serious aspects. This is very basic Carry on material, really just an espionage farce, with some of the usual jokes and more than innuendo. The screenplay was written by Talbot Rothwell, who was becoming the regular writer, but he collaborates with Sid Colin, writer of many comedies with the Chastity Belt and Up The Front comedies to come.

OF course, it is all a parody of British espionage, four dimwitted agents, Eric Barker as the version of M, Richard Wattis as a kind of Q. And there are various villains, especially led by Eric Pohlman, the in the number of British films at the time.

The impact depends on the presence of Kenneth Williams, not quite his usual role, in fact, giving up his posh accent for a rather flat one. But, a lot of the same shtick in the world of agents. Bernard Cribbins is genial but rather dumb. Charles Hawtrey is as always. And, Jim Dale is very enjoyable in a whole range of disguises as their contact. Dilys Laye sings songs and is ambiguous in her loyalties. Judith Furse is a variation on Blofeld. And, instead of SPECTRE, there is STENCH, Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans.

In and Algiers, an impossible number of extensive changes of costume and disguises. Some laughs, some nods to Bond and, explicitly with the zither music, The Third Man’s scene of Orson Welles emerging from the sewers. But, very basic British comedy.

CARRY ON CABBY

UK, 1963, 91 minutes, Black-and-white.

Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Esma Cannon, Liz Fraser, Bill Owen, Milo O'Shea, Judith Furse, René Houston, Jim Dale, Amanda Barrie, Norman Chappell.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

Not originally intended as a Carry on comedy. It was Called Me a Cab, written by Sid Green and Dick Hills, writers for the comedy team of Morecombe and Wise. But, with the popularity of the Carry on series, regular writer, Talbot Rothwell adapted it.

This means there are two different features for this Carry on comedy. There is far more plot and character development and interaction. And, the film relies far less on sexual references and jokes and innuendo. In fact, Sid James, apart from being a workaholic taxi driver and neglecting his wife, is quite respectable.

The film also acknowledges support from the taxi companies in London. And, with many variations on the theme, it shows how significant taxis can be.

Sid James loves driving taxis, worked with his partner, played in his usual way by Kenneth Connor (who does have to dress up as a female taxi driver at one stage). And Sid James is married to Hattie Jacques. The comment is that she thinks this is the best of her Carry on films – and, she is at her best, creating a character, a greater range of emotions than a stern matron! Charles Hawtrey does his usual simple-minded shtick. But, there is the advantage of Milo O’Shea as a taxidriver in an early role, veteran Esma Cannon, Liz Fraser, and introducing to the series, Jim Dale as a frantic father and Amanda Barrie.

When Sid James is caught up in taxi problems and neglects his wife’s anniversary celebrations, she decides to set up a rival company, not letting him know. She buys many taxis, gets glamorous drivers, is able to steal his clientele, with digs at ogling males. So, plenty of shenanigans. But, when the Glam firm is so successful, Sid James has to use his wits to bring down the company.

So, a lot of comedy, some slapstick, some tense situations, and the good idea of having some robbers hijack Hattie Jacques’s car and everybody then in on the act to track the robbers with the whole taxi fleet.

Enjoyable, British filmmaking in the 1960s, and the most PG rated of all the Carry on films!