Carry on at Your Convenience

There's trouble brewing at Wm.C. Boggs' lavatory factory, where work-to-rule union rep Vic Spanner (Kenneth Cope) seizes every opportunity to bring out the workers on strike (especially if the local football team is playing at home): unless foreman Sid Plummer (Sidney James) can keep production going, the factory may have to close for good.

Times have changed a lot since the 1970s, the decade that saw Britain plagued by industrial action, and Carry On At Your Convenience's once topical 'union workers versus management' storyline now seems very dated. Even so, this film still delivers plenty of laughs thanks to spirited turns from most of the series' regulars (Babs Windsor is the only notable performer missing), lots of quality innuendo, and a script that wisely moves the action away from the shop floor, first to the Plummer home, where Hattie Jacques' budgie proves a winner at the gee-gees, and then to Brighton seafront for the factory's annual drunken day out.

The team is on cracking form here, Sid James guffawing for all he's worth while patting lovely Joan Sims on the bum whenever possible, Kenneth Williams putting in a fun turn as factory owner Mr. Boggs, the unwilling subject of his secretary's amorous advances, and big lunk Bernard Bresslaw copping off with a busty blonde in Brighton. Best of all, as far as I am concerned, is the presence of top Carry On crumpet Jackie Piper as pretty tea girl Myrtle, who sports tiny blue hot-pants for the trip to the coast and briefly strips to her bra and knickers after marrying the boss's lucky son Lewis (Richard O'Callaghan).

What stands out for me is the trip to the sea side. Oh what a sweet time! I never saw England back then but today it just looks charming. I would love to visit that pier complete with the tacky corny rides and attractions. It really is quite delightful. The film captures the period beautifully. The reliable cast are all there. Thankfully the annoying ones are not (especially Kenneth Connor). Hawtrey is superb in this and Sid James and Hatti are a delight. Its lovely seeing the sacred cows get a knocking. There is nothing PC about this film. If dear old Sid did some of the things he does to lovely Joan he would be up on harassment charges today. Its all good fun. They certainly did not think much of the union movement in this film. Not the best carry on but it has lovely moments.

Considered by many the best ever "Carry On" film, I think I still prefer CARRY ON...UP THE KHYBER (1968) to it, but it's certainly one of the more tolerable entries in the series. Essentially an update of I'M ALL RIGHT, JACK! (1959) in its concern over working conditions in a factory and the frequent strikes ordered by the union's representative (usually over a trifle, or even a technicality in the regulations!), the fact that the manufacture involved is toiletware, the lavatorial humor associated with this team is quite appropriate here - though it never descends to the grossness which seems to be the norm for today's would-be comedies.

Most of the regulars of the series can be seen strutting their stuff (though perhaps the most notable contribution is given by newcomer Kenneth Cope as the shop steward) and there's no shortage of lewd remarks but, as I said, it's all done in fun (while these films may have been restricted to adult audiences back in the day, they're quite PG stuff today!). There's still a bit of padding involved - such as Sid James' winnings at the races (following the predictions of his wife's pet bird!), the love triangle involving Cope, Jacki Piper (as James' daughter) and Richard O'Callaghan (as the son of factory boss Kenneth Williams) and especially the lengthy outing in Brighton; all things considered, however, an enjoyable vintage comedy which is ideal viewing for the festive season.

This is the Carry On film which took longest to make back its money. It's not difficult to see why as it is so disparaging towards the unions and the typical Carry On fan in the early 70s was working class. If you are going to insult your target audience then don't be surprised to find they don't go to see your film. Having said that the basic storyline has plenty of opportunities for Talbot Rothwell's seaside postcard humour especially as they go on a works outing to Brighton. One of the Carry On films' best points is the way they added those little details so you get a toilet manufacturer called WC Boggs, the foreman's name sounds like plumber, his daughter's name is Myrtle which is a plant that grows in bogs. If I could only buy a budgie like Sid Plummer's I'd be laughing even more.

I have seen this film so many times now, usually just because it is on British television so much, but even so, it is SO funny. (Enough "so"s for you??)

As well as providing a dense and long strand (oo-er!!) of toilet jokes, it also has a certain sociological insight into the strike riddled decadence of 1970s Britain with a classic portrayal of bolshy union official by an actor who did not appear in many (or any?) other Carry On roles.

The annual works trip to the sea-side is excellent too, just to see those places before they went into terminal decline.

You need a certain sense of humour and you need to be in the mood, but if you are... great fun!