Carry On (film Series) - Filmography

Filmography

Year Title Screenplay Music Distributor Production Costs Notes
1958 Carry On Sergeant Norman Hudis. Bruce Montgomery Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd. £74,000 Sergeant was based on the novel The Bull Boys by R.F. Delderfield, with additional material by John Antrobus. It was the only film of the series to feature Bob Monkhouse, who played the leading role, with William Hartnell as the titular sergeant. The film also introduced Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques and Terry Scott to the series. Production lasted for two months, commencing in March 1958 and finishing in May and was released in August 1958. Sergeant was third in the box office ratings for that month.
1959 Carry On Nurse Norman Hudis Bruce Montgomery Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £71,000 Nurse was based on the play Ring For Catty by Patrick Cargill and Jack Beal, It was the first film in the series to star Joan Sims. It became the most commercially successful film in the series with the critic Dilys Powell commenting that the film was "a welcome breath of good, vulgar, music hall fun, no connected plot to speak of and, in its series of comic or farcical incidents, some excellent playing". Production commenced in November 1958 and finishing the following month. The film was released in March 1959.
1959 Carry On Teacher Norman Hudis Bruce Montgomery Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £78,000 Teacher starred the popular radio comedian Ted Ray, who was recruited by Peter Rogers thanks to his success on radio during WWII. Ray, who was under contract to ABC Films at the time, proved to be popular with Carry On audiences on its general release and, as a result, Rogers intended to cast him in future films. However, ABC producers, enraged at Ray's success for a rival producer, demanded he stop appearing in the Carry Ons, and threatened Rogers with legal action, forcing him to find another lead actor. Production lasted a month, commencing in November 1958 and finishing the following month. The film was released in March 1959.
1960 Carry On Constable Norman Hudis Bruce Montgomery Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £82,000 Additional writing material was supplied by John Antrobus and Brock Williams, but both efforts were omitted from the final script. As inspiration, Hudis worked closely with officers from Slough police station, where at the time there was a flu pandemic and used this as a basis for the film. Production lasted a month, commencing in November 1959 and finishing the following month. The film was released in February 1960. Reviews were mixed. A film reviewer for the Kinematograph Weekly commented "Make no mistake, Carry On Constable will give exhibitors big houses", while a correspondent at The Times stated the film had "..little to recommend it...good ideas are few, and there is material here for little more than a modest series of television sketches farcically involving the police". The first film of the series to star Sidney James, who appeared in a part originally written for Ted Ray.
1961 Carry On Regardless Norman Hudis Bruce Montgomery Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £100,000 Regardless was the first film of the series not to follow a plot and as such, consisted of a series of situational sketches. Out of the series, Regardless had the highest amount of unused material omitted from its script. Hattie Jacques was initially asked to play a leading role in the film; but illness prevented her from doing so and she was paid a fee of £100 in exchange for a minor part as the hospital matron. Taking just seven weeks to make, it was released in March 1961.
1962 Carry On Cruising Norman Hudis Bruce Montgomery Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £140,000 The screenwriter Michael Pertwee completed two scripts entitled "Carry On Flying" and "Carry On Smoking" - with the latter being based on life within a fire station. Rogers was not keen; as a potential disaster involving either an aeroplane or a fire could happen and would therefore render the film's release as "bad taste". A new script was commissioned from Rothwell who completed a draft for a camping-themed film. Again, Rogers was not keen and so asked Rothwell to adapt a film script from a short story written by Eric Barker which was based on a group of holiday makers on a cruise in the Mediterranean. Filming began on 8 January 1962 and lasted two months. Cruising was the first film of the series to be shot in colour and was released in April 1962.
1963 Carry On Cabby Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £149,986 Cabby was the first film in the series to star Jim Dale and a return to black and white. It was based on an original story by Dick Hills and Sid Green called Call Me a Cab. Cabby is also noted for being the first film of the series to be written by Talbot Rothwell, who took just two weeks to complete the script. At the start of filming, Charles Hawtrey could not drive so had to be taught within a week. He passed his driving test the day before shooting commenced. Filming began in March 1963 and lasted two months, with the film being released in June 1963.
1963 Carry On Jack Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £152,000 The second Carry On to be filmed in colour, Jack was originally intended to be a separate film from the series, and had the pre-production title "Up The Armada". However, the title was rejected by the British Board of Film Censors for being too rude. Jack was the first film of the series to be period based and had the working title of "Carry On Mate". Juliet Mills was cast having previously appeared in two of Rogers and Thomas's earlier films: Twice Round the Daffodils and Nurse on Wheels. Production started in September 1962 and finishing the following month. Jack was released in November 1962.
1964 Carry On Spying Talbot Rothwell and Sid Colin Eric Rogers Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £148,000 The last film of the series to be made in black and white and the first to star Barbara Windsor. Spying was a parody of the highly successful James Bond series. Rogers registered the title "Carry On Spying" in 1962 as a result of the success Dr. No - the first James Bond film of the series. Dissatisfied with an initial script by Norman Hudis, Rogers commissioned Rothwell and Sid Colin to write the screenplay instead. Peter Rogers was threatened with legal action during the film's production as the character played by Charles Hawtrey was named James Bind. The name was changed to Charlie Bind as a result. Production on Spying started in February 1964 and finished the following month. It was released in June 1964.
1964 Carry On Cleo Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £194,323 "It is the most sumptuous of all the ten Carry On comedies. Not the funniest but still very funny in parts and a far bigger laugh than the more ambitious efforts of the Taylor-Burton-Harrison team" was the Daily Mail's response of Cleo upon its release in November 1964. Cleo was made just after the Hollywood feature Cleopatra; the same sets and costumes were used for Cleo after they were abandoned by American producers. Filming commenced in July and finished in August 1964. It was released in October the same year.
1965 Carry On Cowboy Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £195,000 The first film in the series to star Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw. The film featured a cameo by the composer Eric Rogers as the band leader in the saloon bar. Production started in July and finished in September 1965. Cowboy was released in November that year.
1966 Carry On Screaming! Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd £197,500 Sidney James, who was recovering from a heart attack, was replaced by Harry H. Corbett in the lead role. The film's duration was the longest of the series, running for 98 minutes. The opening music was released on vinyl on a 45 rpm and was released in 1966. It was sung by vocalist Boz Burrell, though the version used in the film (and credited to 'Anon') was actually sung by Embassy Records session singer Ray Pilgrim. Burrell later played bass for bands King Crimson and Bad Company.
1966 Don't Lose Your Head Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £200,000 In 1966, Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors Ltd appointed Nat Cohen as its new managing director. Cohen disliked the Carry On series intensely, forcing producer Peter Rogers to strike a deal with Rank Organisation. The deal was sealed within days on the condition that the Carry On prefix be omitted due to its close association to Anglo Amalgamated. However, box-office takings suffered as a result on the release of Don't Lose Your Head and of the following film Follow That Camel and so the Carry On prefix was reinstated the following year.
1967 Follow That Camel Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £288,366 Based loosely on the P.C. Wren adventure novel Beau Geste, Peter Rogers decided to cast Phil Silvers in place of Sidney James who had suffered another minor heart attack a few months before production began. Silvers was paid a fee of £40,000 in total and was the highest fee paid to any actor in the series history.
1967 Carry On Doctor Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £214,000 The first of two Carry On films to star Frankie Howerd and one which Rogers intended to be the last. Joan Sims was originally asked to play the part of "Matron" due to her earlier success playing the same part in Doctor in Clover, but the part eventually went to Hattie Jacques. With the Carry On prefix still an unfavourable title among Rank producers, Rothwell initially entitled the script "Nurse Carries on Again". Doctor was also the first of four Carry On films to benefit from illustrations on the opening credits. They were drawn by Larry, an illustrator for Punch magazine. Production started in September 1967 and finished the following month. Doctor was released in December that year.
1968 Carry On Up The Khyber Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £260,000 Filmed on location in Snowdonia, North Wales, Up The Khyber was the only film of the series to venture out of England for filming. Up The Khyber was voted 99th in a poll of the finest 100 films ever made by the British Film Institute. It took three days to complete the infamous dinner scene. Filming began in March and finished in May 1968. Up The Khyber was released in August 1968.
1969 Carry On Camping Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £208,354 Camping was perhaps one of the best known films of the series. It was filmed between October and November 1968 and held its premiere at the Metropole Victoria on 3 July 1969. Camping scored a number one at the box office for 1969. The film became infamous for the sequence in which Barbara Windsor's bra flew off during early morning exercises. So risqué was this scene, that Ireland banned the film upon its Irish release.
1969 Carry On Again Doctor Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £219,000 The first medical theme based Carry On for nine years, Again Doctor was the last consecutive film to star Jim Dale. Dale insisted on performing all his own stunts in the film and, as a result, broke his arm. The film's composer, Eric Rogers, makes his second on screen appearance as the trumpet player during the hospital dance sequence. Again Doctor commenced filming on 17 March 1969 and finished three weeks later at the beginning of May. Again Doctor went on general release in August 1969.
1970 Carry On Up The Jungle Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £210,000 Up The Jungle, had the pre-production title of "Carry On Tarzan" but was changed as the name "Tarzan" was owned by the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was the second and final film to star Frankie Howerd, whose part was originally written for Kenneth Williams. Up The Jungle went into production in October 1969 and took three weeks to make. It was released in March 1970.
1970 Carry On Loving Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £215,000 Rothwell wrote a script called "Carry On Courting" but was re-titled by Rogers to Carry On Loving. Loving was one of the cheapest films to make of the series, but grossed one of the biggest profits at the box-office. Dick Richards from the Daily Mirror commented that Rothwell "whipped up some funny situations" while the Daily Express predicted that "The fun lovers who have flocked to the cinema and made the other films so successful will no doubt flock to this." Filming started in May 1970, finished in June and was released in September the same year.
1971 Carry On Henry Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £223,000 The pre-production title was "Anne of a Thousand Lays" - and was as the title suggested; a parody of the Richard Burton film Anne of the Thousand Days. Sid James wore the same costume worn by Burton in the earlier film. Thomas managed to secure royal permission to film on the grounds of Windsor Castle - a first for any British film. Filming started in October 1970 and finished the following month. Henry was released in February 1971.
1971 Carry On At Your Convenience Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £220,000 The film was known as Carry On Round the Bend outside the United Kingdom. At Your Convenience was the first box office failure of the series. The failure has been attributed to the film's political theme about the trade union movement; portraying the union activists as incompetent troublemakers. A profit on the film was not made until 1976 after several international and television sales. The first of two films to star Kenneth Cope.
1972 Carry On Matron Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £224,995 Matron was the last medical based Carry On. Norman Hudis was asked to produce a script for what would be the 23rd film of the series. However, as a result of his membership in the Writers Guild of America, difficulties arose and the contract was never signed. Matron entered into production in October 1971 and was the first film of the series for Jack Douglas, who was paid £25 for his role which took a day to film. Filming finished in November 1971 and Matron was released in May 1972.
1972 Carry On Abroad Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £225,000 Filming began on 17 April 1972 and was the last Carry On to star Charles Hawtrey. Filmed entirely in England, Abroad was completed within a month and was released in December 1972. It featured the most amount of Carry On regulars with only Jim Dale and Terry Scott missing from the cast.
1973 Carry On Girls Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £205,962 Girls had a six-week shooting schedule which commenced on 16 April 1973 on location in Brighton. Gerald Thomas was eager to cast Kenneth Williams, although Williams turned the role down due to theatre commitments. Thomas trimmed down the role to entice Williams to join the cast, but again Williams refused. The part designated for Williams would eventually go to Jimmy Logan in what would be his second Carry On engagement. Girls was released in November 1973.
1974 Carry On Dick Talbot Rothwell Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £245,000 Talbot Rothwell's contract was up for renewal and Rogers enlisted Lee Wyman and George Evans to produce a script. However, Rothwell's contract was renewed and Wyman and Evans received a credit as "Based on a treatment by...". With the pressure of producing a quality script in a limited amount of time, Talbot Rothwell was forced to retire from writing halfway through the scripts draft after suffering an attack of nervous exhaustion. It was to become his last film for the series. Dick was also to be the last entry for both Sidney James and Hattie Jacques. Dick started filming in March 1974, finished a month later and was released in July the same year.
1975 Carry On Behind Dave Freeman Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £217,000 Talbot Rothwell was busy with other writing commitments when approached by Rogers for another holiday based Carry On, so Dave Freeman was enlisted to complete the screenplay for what would be the 27th film in the series. The German model Elke Sommer was cast for a fee of £30,000. The last film of the series to star Bernard Bresslaw and Patsy Rowlands. Filming began in March 1975 and lasted a month. Behind went on general release in December 1975.
1976 Carry On England David Pursall and Jack Seddon Max Harris Rank Organisation £250,000 Originally intended as a T.V episode for the 1975 Carry On Laughing series the previous year, writers David Pursell and Jack Seddon, we're asked to adapt their script - "The Busting of Balsy" - into a film. England was the only film of the series to be partially funded by both Rogers and Thomas as Rank refused to pay the full amount. England featured Patrick Mower in place of Sid James who had died a month before filming began in May 1976. The film took a month to make and was released in October of that year. Due to the topless nudity and one use of the word "Fokker" it was briefly released with a 'AA' certificate which excluded anyone under the age of 14, before the scenes were cut and the film passed with the traditional 'A' certificate.
1977 That's Carry On! Tony Church Eric Rogers Rank Organisation £30,000 Compilation film presented by Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor. This was to be Windsor's 10th and final appearance in the series. The idea for the film was inspired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's popular That's Entertainment! series of documentaries. The last film of the series to be entirely distributed by Rank who instead, co-produced alongside EMI. That's Carry On! was a box-office flop.
1978 Carry On Emmannuelle Lance Peters Eric Rogers Hemdale £320,000 With Rank having pulled out of the series altogether the previous year, Rogers was approached by the private investment company Cleves Investments who invested £349,000 on the new production. Rogers was keen to capitalize on the popularity of the Confessions of... series which had proved popular with British cinema audiences and so hired the Australian author Lance Peters; a prominent writer of Australian sex comedies to produce a script. Emmannuelle marked the end of an era; not only was it the last film for fourteen years, but it was also the last film of the series to star Peter Butterworth, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Joan Sims. Emmannuelle commenced filming in April 1978, finished the following month and was released in November the same year. Due to the increasing sexual nature of the film it was given a 'AA' certificate in the UK which excluded anyone under the age of 14.
1992 Carry On Columbus Dave Freeman and John Antrobus John Du Prez Island World £2,500,000 Devised and produced by John Goldstone, Columbus was the most expensive Carry On of the series. It had financial backing from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and commenced filming in April 1992. Intended to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Christopher Columbus voyage to America, Rogers commissioned Dave Freeman to produce a script in record time. A new generation of comedy actors were cast including Rik Mayall, Keith Allen, Alexie Sayle and Julian Clary. Frankie Howerd was asked to star but died two days before the start of filming.

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