Now this isn't strictly Carry On related, even if it does feature a pre-Carry On England Patrick Mower, but I just had to share this new range of pop art from the brilliant Art & Hue. I have a massive soft spot for the very best of British television from the golden age - the 1970s. Two of my favourite shows are The Professionals, starring Martin Shaw, Gordon Jackson and Lewis Collins and The Sweeney, which featured John Thaw and Dennis Waterman. I don't think they make telly like that any more which is a great shame, however you can own your own piece of classic TV nostalgia with this great new range of art work.
Art
& Hue presents 1970s Cops, stylish pop art illustrations of
iconic Seventies police detectives, available in three sizes and 25
colour options.
Fast
talking, thinking, and driving, 1970s cops leapt into action at a
moment’s notice, catching bad guys unawares and foiling plots with
skidding cars and a cocky swagger.
“The
Sweeney”, “The Professionals”, “Special Branch”, and
“Target” hooked British viewers with a captivating mix of
rule-breaking and action.
Exclusively
by Art & Hue, all pop art prints are printed on museum-quality
archival card of 310gsm, made from 100% cotton, using fine art
pigment inks for longevity.
2018 marks 40 years since the final episodes of The Sweeney & Target and 35 years since the final episode of The Professionals.
Visit artandhue.com/cops to see the full collection. You can read my blog on the Carry On connections with The Sweeney here And you can read my blog on the Carry On connections with The Professionals here
Today we wish the suave, evergreen actor Patrick Mower a very happy 80th birthday! Patrick, a real Seventies heartthrob if ever there was one, is now best known for his long running role as Rodney Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Patrick has played the part since the year 2000.
Patrick has been a fixture on television and cinema screens since the 1960s with his most memorable roles coming from a variety of gritty, small screen detective shows in the 1970s. As well as roles in The Sweeney, The Avengers and Jason King, he took lead roles in both Callan and Special Branch. To Carry On fans, Patrick is best remembered for his role as Len Able in the less than successful 1976 film Carry On England, in which he played love interest to Judy Geeson.
Patrick took part in the 2015 ITV tribute show, Carry On Forever, and remains proud of his involvement with the Carry Ons. A further Carry On link comes in the shapely shape of Emmannuelle actress Suzanne Danielle, who was Patrick's real life partner for seven years.
Whatever Patrick is up to today, I hope he has an excellent birthday!
Today
we wish the suave, evergreen actor Patrick Mower a very happy 79th
birthday! Patrick, a real Seventies heartthrob if ever there was one, is
now best known for his long running role as Rodney Blackstock in the
ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Patrick has played the part since the year
2000.
Patrick
has been a fixture on television and cinema screens since the 1960s
with his most memorable roles coming from a variety of gritty, small
screen detective shows in the 1970s. As well as roles in The Sweeney,
The Avengers and Jason King, he took lead roles in both Callan and
Special Branch. To Carry On fans, Patrick is best remembered for his
role as Len Able in the less than successful 1976 film Carry On England,
in which he played love interest to Judy Geeson.
Patrick
took part in the 2015 ITV tribute show, Carry On Forever, and
remains proud of his involvement with the Carry Ons. A further Carry On
link comes in the shapely shape of Emmannuelle actress Suzanne Danielle,
who was Patrick's real life partner for seven years.
Whatever Patrick is up to today, I hope he has an excellent birthday!
I have long been a fan of
the classic, gritty 1970s police drama The Sweeney. Starring John Thaw as Regan
and Dennis Waterman as Carter, it was a rough and ready antidote to the likes
of Dixon of Dock Green and portrayed modern policing on the seedy streets of
London in a way that just had not been seen on television before. The
performances from the leads are cracking throughout all four series and the
plots, drama and action rarely pull any punches.
I love British television
from this period as there really were so many fantastic character actors
bobbing about from job to job. You would see the same faces across all manner
of shows, particularly as the film industry slowed down and TV took its place.
I also love seeing dirty old London at its very best. The Sweeney captured the
capital in the mid 1970s – signs of the Second World War and post-war slum
clearance are still evident while areas like Notting Hill had yet to become
gentrified. It’s basically a fascinating time capsule and I absolutely adore
it. And don’t even get me started on the fashions and the cars!
I thought I’d blog a quick
run through of some of my favourite Carry On actors who popped up in The
Sweeney over its four year run. I enjoy seeing actors we know for comedy roles
appearing in something completely different. Most comic actors play it straight
incredibly well and this series was no exception. Of course one of the most
famous Carry On links to The Sweeney is John Thaw’s wife, the lovely Sheila Hancock. Senna Pod in Carry On
Cleo was but a distant memory by this stage and although Sheila never appeared
in The Sweeney, she was very much a part of Thaw’s life by this stage.
Let’s start off with fan
favourite Julian Holloway. The son
of the late Stanley Holloway, Julian co-starred in eight Carry Ons between 1967
and 1976. He also popped up in the 1973 television Christmas special. Julian
guest starred as John Smith, one of a gang of ruthless criminal brothers in the
classic Sweeney episode “Big Spender” in 1975. Also in that episode was
one-time Carry On actor Warren Mitchell,
here playing William Wardle. Warren played Spencius in Carry On Cleo in 1964
but is best remembered as Johnny Speight’s creation Alf Garnett.
The mysterious Carry On
figure of Gail Grainger (Just what
happened to her?) appeared in the 1976 episode “Sweet Smell of Succession” as
Jill. She is well remembered for her one off appearance as Miss Plunkett in the
wonderful Carry On Abroad. That same episode co-starred Willoughby Goddard as Daniel Kitter – Goddard had a small role as
Large Man in the 1962 film Carry On Cruising.
1975 saw two familiar faces
team up for guest spots in The Sweeney. These two actors proved so popular in
their roles as Australian armed robbers Colin McGruder and Ray Stackpole that
they were brought back for a further adventure later the same year. Patrick Mower, who starred in Carry On
England and George Layton, who had a
cameo in Behind, played the pair in “Golden Fleece” and “Trojan Bus”.
Margaret Nolan, the star of six Carry On films, played Betty in an episode called
“Thin Ice”, broadcast in 1975. That same episode co-starred Brian Wlide as Stanley Hedges. As well
as his long stint in the comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, Brian had a
cameo in Carry On Doctor and filmed a scene for Carry On Henry in 1970 which
was subsequently cut from the final print.
The wonderful Bill Maynard, the star of five Carry
Ons between 1970 and 1974 and many other delights of British comedy, played
Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Quirk in the 1975 episode “Supersnout” – his
character was Regan’s bombastic boss while Haskins was away. The 1976 episode
“Down To You Brother” featured another familiar Carry On face in Derek Francis, known to Carry On fans
for his cameos in the likes of Carry On Doctor, Camping and his standout
appearance as the security guard in Carry On Matron. Derek played well to do
criminal Raymond Meadows. That same episode also features the multi-talented Kenny Lynch playing Roland Holder.
Lynch had a cameo as a bus conductor in Carry On Loving before returning to the
series as the writer of the Carry On Emmannuelle theme tune “Love Crazy” in
1978.
The delightful Wanda Ventham, who’s list of credits
includes small parts in Carry On Cleo, The Big Job and Carry On Up The Khyber,
played Brenda in the 1975 series 1 episode “Abduction”.
In 1976 Patricia Franklin appeared in a support role as Mrs Perraut in the
episode “Bad Apple”. Patricia made five Carry On appearances including classics
such as Camping, Loving and Behind. Playing Mavis in the four series episode
“Drag Act” was Vivienne Johnson,
best known to Carry On fans for her role as Freda in Carry On England in 1976
and three parts in the 1975 ATV series Carry On Laughing.
Linda Hooks,
who appeared in three Carry Ons – Dick, Behind and England – and two episodes
of Carry On Laughing, played Ivy in the four series episode “Jack or Knave”.
Co-star in all three of those Carry Ons, as well as many episodes of Carry On
Laughing, familiar face David Lodge
also appeared in The Sweeney. In 1975 he played Boxing Club owner Pop Garret in
“Chalk and Cheese”. David also starred in Carry On Regardless and Carry On
Girls.
The well-known actress,
comedienne and writer Maureen Lipman
has had two roles in The Sweeney. Long before she signed up to appear in the
1992 revival Carry On Columbus, Maureen played Annie in the original pilot for
The Sweeney, “Regan” broadcast as part of Armchair Cinema in 1974. Two years
later she was back for a different part, as Mrs Smedley in “Selected Target”.
Everyone remembers the late
actor John Clive, who cropped up in
two Carry Ons – as the camp Robin in Carry On Abroad and two years later in
1974, in the cameo role of Isaac the Tailor in Carry On Dick. The following
year he played journalist John Frewin in The Sweeney episode “Big Brother”.
Well known Australian actor Ed Devereaux guest starred in many
classic British television series in the 1960s and 70s before returning home to
work in Australia for much of the rest of his career. In 1975 he appeared in
the second episode of the very first series of The Sweeney – “Jackpot” as Harry
Biggleswade. Ed worked for Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas on Carry On Nurse,
Regardless, Cruising and Jack as well as the big screen version of Bless This
House.
Finally before I go, quick
mentions for two of my favourites on Twitter – both appeared in The Sweeney.
First up is Judy Matheson who played
Kibber’s Girlfriend in the 1976 episode “Selected Target” and also the lovely Judy Buxton who, long before playing
opposite Dennis Waterman in the comedy series On The Up, played a Sales Girl in
the 1978 Sweeney episode “Bait”.
So look out for some
familiar Carry On comedy faces playing it straight the next time The Sweeney is
shown on television. It’s surprising who you might spot!
This is the first blog in a new series for Carry On Blogging looking at some of the best and most memorable characters in the Carry On films. I have already written a series looking at some of the best remembered supporting actors and this will be a similar A-Z format but based on my favourite character names.
Let's start at the beginning today with A and first of all, A is for Allcock! Where better to begin than with one of Joan Sims' most memorable performances, as the gloriously pert and prim gym mistress Miss Sarah Allcock.
Miss Allcock was Joan's second role in the Carry Ons. Following her winning performance as trainee nurse Stella Dawson in Carry On Nurse, Sims was invited back for more fun with the gang in early 1959. With Shirley Eaton absent from Teacher, it was down to Joan to fill the glamorous female lead role and she did it with ease. Miss Allcock is best remembered for those splitting shorts during the rather prim Joyce Grenfell-inspired gym class with the girls. As is Leslie Phillips' woolfish reaction!
Joan and Leslie made for a great romantic pairing in Carry On Teacher although infamously, Leslie's pronunciation of Joan's character name caused havoc with the censors. They asked for him to deliver it as flat as possible, however as Leslie himself admitted, the flatter it became, the filthier it got!
Without a doubt Joan's role as Sarah Allcock cemented her position as the first lady of Carry On. After this role Joan was definitely a firm favourite with both fans and those in charge of the series. It was a pivotal role for my favourite Carry On actor.
A is also for...
...Anthea, the gorgeous Glam Cab driver brought beautifully to life by future Coronation Street star Amanda Barrie in Carry On Cabby.
...Gregory Adams, the bumbling love-struck science teacher played by Kenneth Connor who fell for Rosalind Knight's stern school inspector in Carry On Teacher.
...Allbright, the irritating union rep at Speedee Cabs, played by reliable character actor Norman Chappell in Carry On Cabby.
...Nurse Georgie Axwell, the cheeky young nurse and co-conspirator with Joan Sims' Nurse Dawson in the first medical film in the series, Carry on Nurse. Played by Susan Stephen.
...Aristrocratic Lady, the nose in the air Rolls Royce passenger who is aghast at Charlie Hawkins' cockney cheek at the start of Carry On Cabby. Played of course, by the very posh and wonderfully named Ambrosine Phillpotts.
...Len Able, Sergeant in Carry On England - the male romantic lead in that dire film, played by well-known television actor Patrick Mower. ...and finally, the majestic Belle Armitage, without a doubt one of Joan Sims' finest Carry On roles - the glamorous, no-nonsense saloon bar owner in the wild west comedy Carry On Cowboy.
Stay tuned for the next in this series when we tackle more memorable Carry On characters. And if you can think of any more, get in touch!
Today we wish the suave, evergreen actor Patrick Mower a very happy 78th birthday! Patrick, a real Seventies heartthrob if ever there was one, is now best known for his long running role as Rodney Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Patrick has played the part since the year 2000.
Patrick has been a fixture on television and cinema screens since the 1960s with his most memorable roles coming from a variety of gritty, small screen detective shows in the 1970s. As well as roles in The Sweeney, The Avengers and Jason King, he took lead roles in both Callan and Special Branch. To Carry On fans, Patrick is best remembered for his role as Len Able in the less than successful 1976 film Carry On England, in which he played love interest to Judy Geeson.
Patrick took part in last year's ITV tribute show, Carry On Forever, and remains proud of his involvement with the Carry Ons. A further Carry On link comes in the shapely shape of Emmannuelle actress Suzanne Danielle, who was Patrick's real life partner for seven years.
Whatever Patrick is up to today, I hope he has an excellent birthday!
In an occasional new series for Carry On Blogging, here are five interesting facts about the Carry Ons and their stars which may be new to you...
Did you know... Sally Geeson was not the original first choice for the role of Lily in Carry On Abroad? After impressing Gerald Thomas and Peter Rogers with her small cameo as a new mother in Carry On Matron, the glamorous Madeline Smith was offered this bigger supporting role in the Elsbells caper. Sadly Madeline was already contracted to another production so Sid's Bless This House co-star gladly joined him on the big screen.
Patrick Mower, the leading man in the 1976 film Carry On England, dated Carry On Emmannuelle newcomer Suzanne Danielle for several years in the late 1970s. Mower, who played Len Able in England, was a big television star at the time while Danielle was just starting out in her career. Danielle would later go on to marry Scottish golfer Sam Torrance, to whom she is still happily wed today.
Bernard Bresslaw was a mainstay of the Carry On team, officially joining them for Carry On Cowboy in 1965 and playing a further thirteen roles in the series over the next ten years. Did you know, however, that Bernard had appeared as a non-speaking extra in the second film of the series, Carry On Nurse in late 1958? Bresslaw was filming Too Many Crooks at the same time as Nurse and inadvertently became a stunt double for Nurse leading man Terence Longdon. Yes, the quick cut to Terence's feet in the bath are actually those of Bernard Bresslaw!
The iconic role of Hengist Pod in Carry On Cleo was not originally meant for Carry On legend Kenneth Connor. Although Connor went on to make the role very much his own, the part had been written with Bernard Cribbins in mind. Cribbins was popular with Rogers and Thomas at the time, having appeared in both Carry On Jack and Spying prior to Cleo going into production. Bernard made the decision to move away from the series to try his luck with other projects and the rest, as they say, is history.
The wonderful Fenella Fielding has become an iconic comedy horror figure thanks to her role as Valeria Watt in Carry On Screaming. Three years before she took on this landmark role, Fenella actually turned down a part in another Carry On. Having made a cameo in Carry On Regardless in 1960 and being part of the Doctor films' rep company, Fielding was offered the part of a buxom Glam Cab driver in the 1963 film Carry On Cabby. Apparently she turned down the role because it was obsessed with her bust (!) and the role subsequently went to Amanda Barrie.
I hope you enjoyed this fun Carry On facts! Plenty more where they came from so stay tuned!
As Dame Barbara Windsor has recently taken her leave from Albert Square for the very last time, here's another chance to read my blog on the cross over stars who took a little bit of Carry On magic to some of our best loved television programmes.
The
festive season is peak time viewing for many British soap operas. Love
them or loathe them, they are still some of the most popular programmes
on television these days. I have a passion for Coronation Street but one
must recognise that other soaps do exist! There
are plenty of Carry On connections with the main soaps. Less so these
days sadly, as Carry On actors become increasingly thin on the ground,
but here are some of the most famous links. Let's start off with Corrie.
Although there aren't any connections left these days, there was a
period in the 1990s when the Manchester drama boasted three Carry On
actors in the regular cast. Amanda Barrie spent well over a decade as
cafe owner Alma Sedgwick, while Johnny Briggs played her on screen
husband Mike Baldwin for thirty years. Sherrie Hewson also appeared, as
Maureen Naylor for four years before moving on to other soap roles in
both Crossroads and Emmerdale.
Other
Carry On actors to pop up in Weatherfield have included: Bernard
Cribbins, Kenneth Cope, Dilys Laye, Bill Maynard, Noel Dyson, Angela
Douglas, June Whitfield, Brian Oulton, Brian Capron, Rosalind Knight and
Bill Kenwright.
Let's head down south now to the BBC drama EastEnders.
Again during the 1990s, the Albert Square soap opera featured three
Carry On actors in its cast. Of course Carry On blonde bombshell Barbara
Windsor played Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell for sixteen years
during the 1990s and 2000s. Wendy Richard, who appeared in two Carry On
films and a Christmas television special was an original EastEnders cast
member, appearing as Pauline Fowler from 1985 until 2006. Dilys Laye,
already mentioned as having a role in Corrie, played a recurring role as
Maxine Palmer in Walford between 1994 and 1995.
What about Emmerdale?
The late actress Shirley Stelfox appeared briefly in Carry On At Your
Convenience. She would spend the last fifteen years of her career as
Edna Birch. Carry On England star Patrick Mower is still a regular cast
member in Emmerdale today, having played Rodney Blackstock since 2000. Over in Hollyoaks,
despite it being a youth-oriented soap opera, it has still got a Carry
On actress in its cast. Diane Langton, who played Private Alice Easy in
Carry On England has been playing Nana McQueen on and off for several
years now. Back in 1996, semi-regular Carry On actress Carol Hawkins
appeared in a one off role.
So do you know of any other Carry On connections with the best of British soap operas? If you do, get in touch!
This
is part of a new series of blogs on Carry On Blogging. I plan
to blog each year of Carry On, featuring photos of the most prolific
actors for each year. Hopefully it will provide an interesting overview
of the changing face of Carry On during the series' original mammoth
twenty year run.
It
will turn the spotlight on the familiar faces who endured over the
decades as well as those artists who came and went along the way. We are
continuing today with 1976. Only one film was produced this year, Carry On England. This continued a trend that would see only one film produced a year until the end of the original series in 1978.
Pictured above we have the most prolific actors to appear in 1976. They are as follows: Kenneth Connor as Captain S Melly; Windsor Daviesas Sergeant Major Tiger Bloomer;Patrick Mower pictured above as Sergeant Len Able;Judy Geesonas Sergeant Tilly Willing;Jack Douglasas Bombardier Ready; Joan Simspictured as Private Jennifer Ffoukes-Sharpe; Melvyn Hayesas Gunner Shorthouse;Peter Jones asthe Brigadier and finally, Peter Butterworth as Major Carstairs. Of
those featured above,only Kenneth Connor was an original cast member from the very first film, Carry On Sergeant
in 1958. Carry On England was a controversial film which ushered in a whole new cast and a whole new style to the series. It bombed at the box office. Only Connor, Sims, Butterworth and Douglas were familiar faces from previous Carry Ons, with Sims and Butterworth restricted to little more than cameos.
Windsor Davies returned to Carry On for a starring role following the success of his perfomance in the previous film, Carry On Behind. Amongst the new faces joining the team were familiar television performers Patrick Mower and Melyvn Hayes. Judy Geeson, the film star sister of Sally Geeson, also starred. None of these new names were particularly adept at Carry On humour and the filmkeenly missed absent stars such as Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw and Sidney James. Sadly Sid had passed away just as pre-production on England had commenced.
Stay tuned for the Carry On Faces of 1978coming up soon!
As it's Judy Geeson's birthday today I thought I'd write a blog about her career and find out what happened to her after her one and only Carry On appearance. Judy starred in the notorious Carry On England which was released in 1976 to less than favourable reviews. Sadly this was her only appearance in the series but thankfully this dud did not seem to affect her acting career. Born in Sussex in 1948, Judy Geeson attended the famous Corona Academy in West London. Corona produced many notable young actors including Dennis Waterman and Richard O'Sullivan (as well as the majority of the younger cast in Carry On Teacher). Judy's earliest screen appearances came on television with guest spots in the likes of Probation Officer, Dixon of Dock Green and Emergency Ward 10. These roles all came in the early 1960s. Although further television appearances would follow (including a major role in the classic serial Poldark in the mid-1970s and a recurring role in an early soap opera, The Newcomers), Geeson found her greatest fame on the big screen with a run of major film parts.
Judy Geeson's first big success in films came in 1967 which she took on the role of Pamela in To Sir With Love opposite Sidney Poitier. Incidentally, both actors reprised their roles in an American television movie sequel in 1996. Further films came her way, including the 60s classic Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush, co-starring with Barry Evans, Adrienne Posta and Angela Scoular. This was followed by Prudence and the Pill, in which Judy worked with the likes of Joyce Redman, Edith Evans and David Niven. Judy also had another early role, playing Joan Crawford's naughty daughter Angela in the macabre British thriller Beserk! in 1967. The film also featured the likes of Robert Hardy, Diana Dors and Geoffrey Keen.
Another of Judy's famous screen roles came in 1971 when she played Beryl Evans in the film 10 Rillington Place. This film told the sinister true story of British serial killer John Christie, played by Richard Attenborough. John Hurt also starred as Judy's on screen husband. Judy followed this up with a run of classic British horror films, very much in vogue at the time. These included Fear In The Night (1972) starring Joan Collins and Peter Cushing; A Candle For the Devil (1973) and Dominique (1978) which co-starred Jenny Agutter, Jean Simmons, Flora Robson and Ron Moody.
In 1975, Judy Geeson starred opposite Hollywood legend John Wayne in the police thriller Brannigan, which saw Wayne's character come to London to catch a Chicago mobster. The following year came Judy's sole Carry On role, as Tilly Willing in England. Judy was one of many new faces (including Patrick Mower, Diane Langton and Melvyn Hayes) who were drafted in to freshen up the film franchise. Unfortunately they couldn't play the Carry On comedy like the traditional regulars and the film flopped. This didn't stop Geeson signing up for two similar low-brow comedies at around this time. Judy starred alongside Robert Lindsay, Adrienne Posta and Barry Evans in the sub-Confessions film Adventures of A Taxi Driver and also appeared in the Betty Box and Ralph Thomas comedy Percy's Progress.
Judy returned to big budget films later in 1976 with a supporting role in the Second World War drama The Eagle Has Landed. The film boasted an amazing cast which included Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Jean Marsh and Jenny Agutter. Judy continued to work in British film and television until she took the decision to move to the United States in the early 1980s.
Work in the United States came mainly from television. Judy won roles in the likes of The Love Boat, Star Trek, MacGyver, Mad About You and Charmed. Having settled in California, Judy Geeson took a break from acting in the 2000s, however she has recently returned to film, appearing in two horror films - The Lords of Salem in 2012 and most recently, the slasher film 31, released this year. Judy Geeson is also of course the sister of Carry On and Bless This House actress, Sally. The two sisters have never acted together, as far as I'm aware but both had very successful careers as the 1960s started to swing. Judy lived with the set designer Sean Kenny in the early 1970s and following his death married the actor Kristoffer Tabori in 1985. They divorced in 1989.
As far as I'm aware Judy has never spoken about her role in Carry On England. I would love to hear her thoughts on the production. Whatever she is doing today, I hope she has a fantastic birthday!
I have been writing an occasional series of blogs which attempt to highlight my favourite scene in each of the thirty original Carry On films made between 1958 and 1978. Today I am going to cross off another of my less than favourite series entries, Carry On England. I might dare to suggest that England is actually worse than the film that followed it, Carry On Emmannuelle. Released in 1976, Carry On England came in the wake of the sad death of Sid James. There were far too many changes to the tried and trusted formula for England to be a success. Too many of the regular cast were either missing or had been replaced. Only Kenneth Connor, Jack Douglas, Peter Butterworth and Joan Sims were present and correct. Despite a starring role for Connor, the others are pretty much restricted to frustrating and low quality cameo roles.
One of the big mistakes made with England was to include a rash of unfamiliar, younger performers who did not have the necessary experience to pull off a Carry On comedy. The likes of Patrick Mower, Judy Geeson, Diane Langton and Melvyn Hayes all did their best but it really didn't work out. Furthermore, the longstanding music composer Eric Rogers missed his first Carry On film in over a decade. Annoyed at cuts to his budget, Rogers chose not to work on the score for England, which instead was produced by Max Harris. The change is noticeable throughout. Finally, while Talbot Rothwell was no longer well enough to provide a Carry On script, Dave Freeman had stepped in for the previous film, Carry On Behind, and delivered a belter. Instead of hiring Freeman again, Rogers decided to bring in two new writers to the world of Carry On. Sadly, this wasn't a wise decision either.
In an attempt to keep pace with the very popular Confessions films, the Carry Ons adapted a more honest treatment of sex and nudity in England. This film was the first to be awarded a restricted certificate, meaning the core Carry On audience of working class families could not see the picture together. This was due to several scenes featuring prominent nudity from some of the supporting actresses. Despite acquiescing to several cuts, the film was still too much for many regular Carry On fans. So enough of my grumbling. What's my favourite scene in the mess that is Carry On England? Well, against my better judgement the climax of the film which sees the bumbling characters take part in a shoot out with some rogue German planes is actually quite patriotic. Despite being badly shot, scripted and acted, the scene somehow manages to work on some levels and it actually looks like the cast are enjoying themselves (for a change). Both Kenneth Connor and his co-star Windsor Davies also have good chemistry throughout these scenes. Honestly though, it could all have been oh so much better!
