Displaying items by tag: Peter Butterworth

CARRY ON SCREAMING

UK, 1966, 97 minutes, Colour.

Harry H. Corbett, Fenella Fielding, Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Angela Douglas, Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Butterworth, Jon Pertwee, Tom Clegg, Billy Cornelius, Frank Thornton.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

With the growing propensity for the Carry on films to parody classic stories, it was inevitable that there would be a horror film. But, no Sid James, no Kenneth Connor.

By this stage, writer, Talbot Rothwell, was in his element. Basically, this story is a Frankenstein variation, Kenneth Williams enjoying himself with his repartee and shtick as a scientist, dead, but like his monsters, electrified into life. And, he has two monsters and a drink which can temporarily change heroes into monsters. And he is aided and abetted by the strong presence of Fenella Fielding as his sister, very much in the Morticia Addams look vein.

The rather unsympathetic hero is played by Harry H. Corbett, of Steptoe and Son. He could have been played by Kenneth Connor. And, there is Joan Sims as his harridqn wife, a parallel to her turn in Carry on Matron. And, just before the end, she has the final wink.

Jim Dale is the put-upon hero. Charles  Hawtrey has a small role. But, regular, Peter Butterworth, has a more substantial turn in this film as Corbett’s assistant and having to dress as a woman as bait for the monsters. And Bernard Bresdlaw is the undead butler. Frank Thornton, anticipating Are You Being Served, his shop manager.

All the usual shenanigans – and the film has a high reputation amongst the Carry on series.

CARRY ON CAMPING

UK, 1969, 88 minutes, Colour.

Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Barbara Windsor, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Julian Holloway, Dilys Laye, Peter Butterworth, Betty Marsden, Trisha Noble.

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

By this time, the Carry On series had been going for over a decade, with small black and white, it is to cover comedies and strong popularity, not only in the UK but overseas – but, not so much in the United States.

A great number of bloggers on the IMDb considered as one of the best of the Carry on series.

For this reviewer, it seemed one of the weakest. It is 1969, the film opens with an extensive coverage of a nudist film, something of a breakthrough for mainstream films in the late 1960s (not a feature of popular comedies from the US). It is take for granted that there will be sex jokes and references, innuendo, objects recycled, obvious is… And that is certainly the case here. However, this to be more of a leering turn their in many of the other films, Sid James being particularly ogling and leering here.

One of the advantages of the film is that so many of the regular cast are present. A very sympathetic presences, especially Joan Sims and Bernard Breslau (always putting his foot in it as since good friend). And, there is the young Barbara Windsor – exactly and inhibited presence on screen. Hattie Jacques is serious, even in a comedy and Kenneth Williams is always himself. Many might find Charles Hawtrey very irritating this time round and there are troubles between Terry Scott Betty Marston as his non-listening falling wife.

It would be interesting to see a feminist review of Carry on Camping and its presentation of the objectification of women, especially young women, this comedy presentation of the male gaze with Sid James’s line: what are the young women always there where I’m staring!

And, with the ending the people gathering for music Festival, remembering that 1969 was the year of Woodstock – although the oldies and regulars from the Carry on films are against the festival and oust everyone.