Carry on Admiral

People scurry about this garrulous farce obviously based on a play which still manages to look stagey despite blandishments like 'Spectascope' and scenes actually shot on board a battleship. Thank heavens for the score by Philip Green necessary to remind us how funny this all is.

Long best recalled as one of the titles cited in passing as 'Carry On's that weren't. It's also indistinguishable from the naval farces then being made by Hammer, and like future 'Carry On' cast members Joan Sims & Joan Hickson, includes both cast and personnel from both Hammer's comedies like Brian Reece (who had previously been in 'A Case for PC 49' and was later in 'Watch It Sailor') and horrors like Eunice Gayson (who was soon in 'The Revenge of Frankenstein'). Director Val Guest, who worked in both genres for Hammer, again demonstrates that despite his apprenticeship upon the knee of Will Hay, his later thrillers were far more successful than his comedies.

After a few years without seeing one another, two friends enjoy more than a few drinks together, a mix-up with their clothes, lands the pair in real trouble, they have to take up each others roles, professionally.

Don't come here expecting any traditional Carry on humour, the only thing this film shares is the title, and the presence of Joan Sims, other than that it's a bit of a damp squib.

I wonder if this was the inspiration behind the name of the legendary carry on film series.

There's a lot of talent here, but sadly nobody really cuts through, Ronald Shiner, David Tomlinson and Peggy Cummins are all decent, but nothing memorable.

The one saving grace is A. E. Matthews, who played Admiral Sir Maximilian, he's a scream, and his comic timing is wonderful, he stands out.

5/10.

Although it has only an average plot the 1957 film of an Ian Hay stage play is worth seeing for three reasons. First, it has some great cameos by a range of British bit-part actors, including a perplexed Reginald Beckwith, a young Joan Sims, a lugubrious Ronald Shiner, a too-short appearance by Alfie Bass and uncredited James Hayter (the original voice of Mr Kipling Cakes). Secondly, it has a barnstorming appearance by the elderly British character actor A.E. Matthews who was in his late 80s when the film was shot and had been playing the same role of a peppery old admiral/colonel etc for decades. He fluffs a few lines but carries the film along with his enthusiasm. Finally David Tomlinson, one of Britain's finest comedy actors, is a joy to behold. His comic timing is faultless and he lights up every scene he's in.

An admiralty civilian and ship's officer get drunk one evening and swap uniforms. The following morning it is a case of hangovers and mistaken identity as each then knowingly undertakes the other's duties.

If you can get over the incredulity that these two men would allow themselves to be mistaken for each other, and go along with this for a whole day, then there's a chance you might enjoy aspects of this movie. But only a chance! A weak lead performance from Brian Reece, and an annoyingly bombastic yet doddery turn out from AE Matthews don't help this thin comedy. It is some of the cameo performances that steal the film - Joan Hickson and Joan Sims make the most of their bit parts, whilst the scene with Alfie Bass and Ronald Shiner steals the show (it provided the only scene I thought funny). It's a shame this is only about one minute long.

I bet the current boss of the Royal Navy would be rather envious at the start of this film as we are taken on a brief tour of a fleet that is somewhat larger than the one the UK has now! Parliamentarian "Tom" (David Tomlinson) is on an advance recce for his boss when he encounters old pal, and ship's captain, "Peter" (Brian Reece) and thanks to a mix up from chambermaid "Mary" (Joan Sims) they start mixing gin and whisky, swapping rooms, jackets and ending up steaming for the ultimate hangover. Next morning, they find themselves quite literally in each other's shoes causing confusion and mayhem - even firing a torpedo - before "Susan" (Peggy Cummins) and "Jane" (Eunice Gayson) realise that something is amiss and decide they need to rectify things before doddery Admiral "Godfrey" (AE Matthews) initiates an whole scale review of the service - and quite possibly starts a war! It's gently comedic with a decent effort from Tomlinson steering it away from the worst excesses of farce and imbuing a degree of the post wartime spirit quite warmly. It's more of a chuckle than a guffaw, but moves along quite quickly and nicely reminds us of what used to make us laugh.