Tuesday 19 February 2019

Carry On Advertising - Carry On Cabby


This blog is part of a new little series on Carry On Blogging, looking back at the changing face of the Carry On films during their original twenty year run. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the way the films were advertised to the cinema-going public of Great Britain over the years. These days when I do go to the cinema, I try to avoid the trailers as they tend to go on for rather too long, but of course, with Carry On it's a different story!

Thankfully most of the original trailers are now available to peruse on the internet and they provide a unique time capsule of British film history. The changing tastes of mores of the film-going public can easily be traced through these adverts as can the changing face of the British film industry and the social attitudes of the time. It's also fascinating to see how first Anglo Amalgamated and then later on, the Rank Organisation, chose to market and sell these low budget, knockabout comedies. 

Today I'm focussing on the very first Carry On to be written by the legendary Talbot Rothwell, the man who would usher the films through their golden era. Cabby remains by all time favourite film in the series due to its grittier feel, touch of kitchen sink social realism and strong performances from Sid James and most of all, Hattie Jacques. While remaining very much a Carry On, Cabby also taps into changing times both at the cinema and in real life. Its topical feel marks it out from many other Carry Ons and for me it just can't be beat! 




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