This Easter weekend sees ITV3 once again roll out several classic Carry On films for your viewing pleasure. In what has become a bit of a tradition on the ITV station, any bank holiday weekend seems the right time to trot out some tried and trusted Pinewood favourites and why not?
Over the course of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, ITV3 will be showing a range of wonderful Carry On films, so stay tuned to the blog for the low down on which films will be showing and when.
07.05 - Carry On Cowboy (1965)
Carry On Cowboy is the eleventh in the series to be made. It was released in 1965, and was the first film to feature series regulars Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw. Series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale and Joan Sims all feature, and Angela Douglas makes the first of her four appearances in the series.
Further reading: Carry On Blogging: My Favourite Scene - Carry On Cowboy
Carry On Blogging Interview: Angela Douglas
08.55 - Carry On Behind (1975)
I have such a soft spot for this one, pretty much Carry On Camping: The Revenge! Swapping a bunch of holidaymakers in tents for a bunch of holidaymakers in caravans, this is probably the most 70s of all the Carry Ons made in that very dodgy decade! With the likes of Hattie Jacques, Barbara Windsor and Sid James absent from in front of the camera and Talbot Rothwell handing over his writing duties to Dave Freeman, times were a-changing. Glamorous, exotic international guest star Elke Sommer adds some fresh talent to proceedings while then current stars of the small screen such as Ian Lavender, Adrienne Posta, Sherrie Hewson and Windsor Davies bolster the slimmer than usual ranks of top class Carry On talent. Don't worry, the broad comedy is still ably delivered by Kenneths Williams and Connor, Joan Sims, Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw while Patsy Rowlands grabs her last major supporting role and Liz Fraser pops in her for her first appearance in the series since Cabby twelve years before.
Further reading: Carry On Blogging: Carry On Behind, A Guilty Pleasure
Carry On Blogging: My Top Ten Carry Ons - Carry On Behind
10.45 - Carry On Dick (1974)
Not one of my favourites by any means, but Dick is a memorable milestone in the history of the Carry Ons, although perhaps not for all the right reasons. This period feature, providing a comic retelling of the legend of Dick Turpin, stars Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Hattie Jacques, all in their last roles in the film series. Sid grabs the impressive dual role of Big Dick and the Rev Flasher and in many ways it's a bit of a retread of Don't Lose Your Head. It's still a great acting performance though. Kenneth Williams works well with Jack Douglas the law enforcers trying to capture Big Dick however stalwarts Joan Sims, Patsy Rowlands and Peter Butterworth are all given little to do. This was also the last film written by Talbot Rothwell as ill health prevented any further involvement in the series.
Further reading: Carry On Blogging: Carry On Dick - A Fitting Farewell?
Carry On Blogging: Barbara Carries On as Harriet
Carry On Blogging: Joan Carries On as Madame Desiree
12.30 - Carry On At Your Convenience (1971)
The first Carry On to fail at the box office, this one is now hailed as a classic of its kind. Tackling the thorny issue of trade unions put off the films' core audience when the film was released but Convenience is arguably the purest Carry On of them all. A wonderful prime cast of favourites headed by Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Bernard Bresslaw, Hattie Jacques and Charles Hawtrey and a bigger than usual supporting turn from fan favourite Patsy Rowlands make this toilet factory farce hard to resist! Throw in a memorable trip to Brighton and you're all set for a joyous lesson in labour relations!
Further reading: Carry On Blogging: My Top Ten Carry Ons: Convenience
Carry On Blogging: Why Was Convenience Such a Flop?
Carry On Blogging: My Favourite Scene in Convenience
14.15 - Carry On Henry (1971)
Carry On Henry is the 21st in the series of Carry On films to be made and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Connor. This was the first time that Williams and Connor appeared together since Carry On Cleo seven years previously. The original alternative title was to be Anne of a Thousand Lays, a pun on the Richard Burton film Anne of a Thousand Days, and Sid wears exactly the same cloak that Burton wore in that film.
Further reading: Carry On Blogging: Barbara Carries On as Bettina
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