Fifty Years Of Carry On by Richard Webber

Author:Richard Webber [Webber, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781446409961
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2011-03-31T07:00:00+00:00

Part 3

The Beginning of the End?

I

IF A SURVEY was conducted to identify the weakest and least-liked of the 31 Carry On films, it’s probable that England and Columbus, followed closely by Emmannuelle, would be in pole positions. For many, 1976, the year when the vapid England was released, marked the beginning of the end for the Carry Ons. Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas had spent their careers paying little attention to what critics had to say about their offerings, which is just as well because most reviewers slated England on its release. Arthur Thirkell, in the Daily Mirror, wasn’t impressed by the army-based picture at all, reporting that ‘it’s sad to say that another British institution, the Carry On series, is in a worse state than the economy.’1 No holds barred, he branded the latest effort ‘pathetic’2, classing it ‘British comedy fluttering the white flag, surrendering wit and imagination to the flabby forces of uninspired farce.’3

Reflecting on his relationship with the critics, and how they rated the films, Peter Rogers admits nonchalantly that he didn’t worry about their opinions. ‘They didn’t like the films and were very rude about them, but it didn’t make any difference – not a bit.’ Rogers believed he could always predict what papers would report, and remembers an occasion when he jested with a journalist about penning his review for him. ‘We always held a function for various members of the press, providing them with lunch and drinks. I knew what they were going to be like, and to one rather drunken character I said: “Don’t worry, I’ll write your notice for you, I know what you’re going to say.” So I didn’t worry about them – in fact, some of the critics became friends, in a way.’

In his review of England, Thirkell acknowledged the stance that Rogers and Thomas took regarding his industry, but thought that perhaps this time they should take note. He wrote: ‘Those genial chaps, producer Peter Rogers and director Gerald Thomas, remain unrepentant. Their attitude is that if the critics like their films they fear they might be on the wrong track. But I suspect that not only critics are going to give the thumbs-down, or some other hand sign, to this rubbish.’4

As Rogers would have expected, Arthur Thirkell wasn’t alone in drubbing the latest Carry On, which saw the team return to khaki for the 28th film in the series, just as the original cast had done for the first picture, Sergeant, in 1958. But similarities with the inaugural production were in short supply and there was little to remind us of the catalogue of successes that had gone before.

Set in 1940, England spotlights the tomfoolery of the guys and gals posted to the experimental 1313 anti-aircraft battery. Rather than doing their bit for Britain with proficiency and dedication, they prefer to shirk their responsibilities and drive their captain to drink. When Captain Bull, played by David Lodge, makes way for the diminutive Captain S. Melly, portrayed by Carry

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