Main Cast: Geraldine McEwan, Julia Lockwood, Noel Purcell, Irene Handl
Release Year: 1960
Country: UK
Run Time: 87 minutes
Plot
This is one of the rare comedies by director Gerald Thomas that does not have the words "Carry On...." in the title, and that is the first indication that the wacky, hare-brained, ribald core of the "Carry On" series is missing here. The premise is that a young couple, David and Catherine Robinson (Leslie Phillips and Geraldine McEwan), have to turn their large country house into a money-making proposition. Their solution is to invite the kids of the rich and famous, since that is where the money lies, to spend a summer enjoying all the loving care and attention they miss at home. After the youngsters arrive, David quickly realizes what the offensive little punks need is some real discipline, and so the summer begins. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Joan Hickson - Cook; June Jago - Matron; Cyril Raymond - Col. Matthews; Esma Cannon - District Nurse; Alan Gifford - Edgar Treadgold; Sydney Tafler - Mr. Rockbottom; Brian Oulton - Vicar; Eric Pohlmann - King; Brian Rawlinson - Will; Michael Sarne - Henri; Joy Shelton - Mrs. Rockbottom; Patricia Jessell - Queen; Earl Cameron; Cyril Chamberlain; Noel Hood; Peter Howell; Leslie Phillips - David Robinson; Peggy Simpson; Marion Mathie; Pearl Prescod
Credit
Joan Ellacott - Costume Designer, Gerald Thomas - Director, John Shirley - Editor, Bruce Montgomery - Composer (Music Score), Alan Hume - Cinematographer, Peter Rogers - Producer, Robin Estridge - Screenwriter, Norman Hudis - Screenwriter, Valerie Estridge - Book Author, V. Anderson - Book Author
David (Leslie Phillips) and Catherine Robinson (Geraldine McEwan) move into a rundown country house. After a number of failed ventures, they are looking to build a solid business. They strike upon the idea of setting up a summer home for the children of the wealthy. They attract a number of customers, and hire a matron (June Jargo) and a cook (Joan Hickson), and immediately fall foul of a local counciller (Irene Handl) who does not believe they should be allowed to look after children.
The family arrive and drop off their children. They range from polite, scared and helpful to wild, spoilt, rebellious children led by an American brother and sister, and an English fantasist girl (Julia Lockwood) who tries to insist that she has been maltreated by her in fact kindly family.
As the children grow increasingly ill-disciplined, the staff and owners battle to keep them under control. The father advocates a tough approach while his wife beliefs that the children's freedom should be allowed to flourish. They are undermined by an increasingly drunken cook, and the wild antics of the children.
After an illicit midnight trip out to a nearby cafe, the children are grounded for two days. They also here that the local council are sending an inspector round, who is likely to close them down if they fail the test. They rally the staff and children, who behave correctly when the visitors come.
When the children's families come to collect them, they refuse to come down - wishing they could stay. They insist that in future they are treated better by their parents, to which the parents agree. The children depart. The Robinsons realising that they have now got financial security, they decided to fulfill their dream of having more children.
