Watch Your Stern

The crew of a British naval cruiser are assigned the mission of testing the new acoustic torpedo, code named The Creeper. The first test goes well but an accident involving gin, electrical plans for the ship's refrigeration system and bumbling OS Blissworth see the secret plans go up in flames. With the Admiral coming to the ship to view the plans and discuss the trials, Captain Foster and Lt Cmdr Fanshawe have to conceal the destruction from him until they can get the only other copy back to the ship.

Being a Carry On film in all but name, this film has more in common with the gentle humour of the start of the series rather than the crude innuendo of the later years. However this is not to say that it is funny and entertaining because, really it is far too slight to stick in the memory or provide more than basic, dated entertainment. The plot is solid enough to suit the gentle comic tone, although it is hardly the sort of narrative that you will be coming to it for. The laughs are gentle but does enough to provide a pleasant distraction on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon (which is just what it was when I watched it!), just don't expect to be rolling in the aisles with tears in your eyes because it isn't that sort of humour.

The cast help it be better than the material suggests it should be. Connor is given the "dressing up" role to deliver but he does it well and shows a nice comic touch throughout. Barker and Philips play the management-types well and provide some nice laughs. Sims doesn't have a great deal to do but Jacques makes an impression with her usual, boisterous characters. The rest of the cast are good but mainly just given cameo roles to deliver; James, Milligan, Sykes and a few others add some nice laughs and all make good use of their limited screen time. Connor though is the one that stands out and it was nice to see him having the lead with so many other famous names in support.

Overall, not the greatest of films and even fans of the period won't see it as anything more than a slight but fun little comedy. The plot sets up the usual gentle antics and the cast make the most of the comic tone to provide a nice distraction for viewers looking for an old fashioned British comedy to enjoy as part of a relaxing afternoon in front of a nice fire and a cup of tea.

I can't be the only person who finds Kenneth gorgeous on so many levels. Beautiful physically, immensely talented, and so, so versatile. All these qualities serve to make this film special.

The story is okay, the supporting cast brilliant, the script is not great to be honest. Some people claim it should be ranked up there with the Carry Ons but really it's a B-movie. Suitable for a cosy watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon but nothing more.

But Kenneth is, to use his own catchphrase, truly "Cor!" The film is worth watching if only to witness his comic genius. 'What A Carve Up!' is worth watching too.

Some of the external location scenes for this film, were shot at the then H.M. Dockyard, Chatham, when it was still a working Naval Dockyard. The Dockyard is now closed, but the historical part, which includes the Main Gatehouse seen in the film, is open to the public. The gatehouse has featured in a number of TV programmes and films. In one film, 'Let Him Have It', which told the story of Derek Bentley, the Gatehouse was used to depict the entrance to the prison, where Bentley was held prior to his execution. Other parts of the Dockyard used includes the Admirals Offices, which was used in the first series of the British TV series 'Cats Eyes', filmed in the early 1980's, which starred Jill Gascoigne and Leslie Ash.

Watch Your Stern is directed by Gerald Thomas and adapted to screenplay by Alan Hackney and Vivian A. Cox from the play Something About A Sailor written by Earle Couttie. It stars Kenneth Connor, Eric Barker, Leslie Phillips, Joan Sims, Noel Purcell and Hattie Jacques. Music is by Bruce Montgomery and photography by Ted Scaife. Plot is set mostly aboard a British warship and revolves around the loss of top secret plans for an acoustic torpedo. With the Admiral coming to peruse the plans the captain and his charges must try to bluff the Admiral that the plans are still in safe hands. Not going to be easy since a top scientist is also on route to inspect the plans for a fault correction.

Potter, Impostor, Foster and Uncle Humpers.

Out of Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors and filmed primarily at Pinewood Studios, Watch Your Stern is put together by the production team responsible for the popular Carry On series of films. However, to lump it in with the more bawdy and boisterous Carry On series would be wrong, for this is Carry On lite, more amiable and delicate in humour, it's a picture driven by a fine cast and solid structure of writing. The premise of course is hardly ground shaking, but story is strong enough for a good deal of humour to shine through whilst allowing the likes of the excellent Connor to showcase his undoubted comedic talents. There's even some stand out work in the secondary support slots from Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes. Not all the characters are fully formed, and in some cases; such as with Leslie Phillips, actors are not utilised for better results. But pic is never less than charming, with there being enough quality in dialogue and set pieces to make it a safe recommendation to fans of British comedy movies from off of the Anglo-Amalgamated production line. 6.5/10

I watched this film on British television quite a long time ago. I remember it as being a perfectly acceptable black and white British comedy, in the style of the better Carry On movies. Despite a cast of successful British comic actors, it is really memorable for the performances of star Kenneth Connor, whose character I seem to recall disguises himself as a woman and a Scottish scientist (there may have been other disguises that I can't remember so well). Connor was surely the most versatile and underrated actor of the Carry On ensemble, and this film showcases him at his best.