Main Cast: Kenneth Connor, Windsor Davies, Patrick Mower, Judy Geeson, Jack Douglas
Release Year: 1976
Country: UK
Run Time: 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The long-running series of British "Carry On" comedies was nearing the end of the line when this 28th film in the cycle was released in 1976. Set in World War II, Carry On England explores what happens when the British military decides to set up an experimental mixed-gender anti-aircraft battery. While commanding officer Captain Melly (Kenneth Connor) is a stickler for military discipline, it soon becomes obvious that the interaction of male and female soldiers doesn't lend itself to a crack fighting unit, though it makes for plenty of broad physical comedy, especially with Major Bloomer (Windsor Davies), Melly's second-in-command, on deck. Judy Geeson, Patrick Mower, Jack Douglas, and Joan Sims lead the supporting cast. This feature was followed by That's Carry On (1977), a "greatest hits" collection of highlights from the series, and Carry On Emmanuelle (1978), which marked the end of the series until 1992's Carry On Columbus. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Diane Langton - Pvt. Alice Easy; Melvyn Hayes - Gunner Shorthouse; Joan Sims - Pvt. Ffoukes Sharpe; Peter Jones - Brigadier; Peter Butterworth - Major Carstairs; David Lodge - Capt. Bull; Julian Holloway - Major Butcher; Linda Hooks - Army Nurse; Patricia Franklin - Corporal Cook; Vivienne Johnson - Freda; Johnny Briggs - Melly's Driver; Brian Osborne - Gunner Owen; Larry Dann - Gunner Shaw; Barbara Hampshire - Pvt. Carter; Tricia Newby - Pte. Murray; Jeannie Collings - Pvt. Edwards; Louise Burton - Pvt. Evans; Linda Regan - Pte. Taylor; Billy Mitchell - Gunner Childs; Richard Bartlett - Gunner Drury; Peter Banks - Gunner Thomas; Peter Quince - Gunner Sharpe; Richard Olley - Gunner Parkes; Paul Toothill - Gunner Gale; Barbara Rosenblat - ATS; Michael Nightingale
Credit
Lionel Couch - Art Director, Gerald Thomas - Director, Richard Marden - Editor, Max Harris - Composer (Music Score), Ernest W. Steward - Cinematographer, Peter Rogers - Producer, David Pursall - Screenwriter, Jack Seddon - Screenwriter
The incompetent Captain S. Melly (Kenneth Connor) is assigned to experimental mixed sex anti-aircraft battery 13313 (somewhere in England, 1940). The previous officer has been unable to keep them in line, turning into an alcoholic. The men and women have no respect for authority and openly kiss and cuddle. The Sergeant Major is played by Windsor Davies, playing his standard role with lots of bluster and shouting.
Melly tries a number of schemes to keep the women and men separate and comes off second best every time. The men are led by Mower who is a sergeant and the women by Geeson, also a sergeant. Strange having 3 sergeants as there are maybe only 20 people there. Melly then hits on the idea of putting up barbed wire between the men's and women's huts which works, despite both groups digging holes to the other hut.
A Brigadier's (Peter Jones) inspection is due and a real anti-aircraft gun (loaned from the Imperial War Museum) is brought in to replace the wooden prop that they have onsite. Just when Melly is shown up yet again, a squadron of German Fokkers fly over. The Brigadier quickly drives off and after two failures, the next four shots from the gun brings down four German planes, showing the team is not as bad as everyone knows they are.
Production
This film featured few established members of the Carry On team. Carry On regular Kenneth Connor played a leading role, however the only other longterm regulars present, Joan Sims and Peter Butterworth, had only small roles in the film.
Windsor Davies who had joined the series with a main role in the preceding film Carry On Behind again plays a major role. Other main roles are played by established and recognisable actors Judy Geeson and Patrick Mower, both newcomers to the Carry On films.
This film was a major commercial failure and was withdrawn from some cinemas after just three days.[1]
References
Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema by Simon Sheridan (Reynolds & Hearn Books) (third edition) 2007
^ Ross, Robert. The Carry On Companion, B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. ISBN 0-7134-7967-1 p 120
