Carry on Cruising

I'm a Yank who's always loved British comedy and I'm sorta amazed that the reputation of this series never really traveled over to this side of the pond.

I haven't seen all of the Carry Ons, but of the ones I've enjoyed, Cruising stands out. I'm not sure why it doesn't get the love of the later films. Maybe it's because it's a relatively laid-back affair with a breezy sense of humor that never really sinks into toilet jokes or smutty double entendres.

Some say that Sid and Kenneth are underused - my opinion is that they're like a dash of cayenne pepper in the mix. A little dab'll do ya! I miss Charles Hawtrey but Lance Percival is hilarious. The color works well and the sets are very elaborate, especially the shot when the camera pans down into the ship's swimming pool. I showed this one to my girlfriend (who generally doesn't like older movies) and she was laughing out loud the whole time.

There seems to be a minority who rate this entry highly. For my money this one's better than Cleo and Cowboy...maybe not as good as Screaming. Just my 2 cents.

When captain Wellington Crowther (Sid James) boards his ship the S.S.Wanderer he finds several of his crew replaced by apparent incompetents. Kenneth Williams is a sarcastic know-it-all, Kenneth Connor is a love-hungry doctor, and Lance Percival plays a chef with strange ideas about cake ingredients. Soon he realises the passengers are just as loopy: tiny old dear Esma Cannon is a "mad pixie" with a passion for mixers, Ronnie Stevens plays an alcoholic who drinks himself around the world without leaving the ship's bar, and Dilys Lane is on the prowl for a man much to the annoyance of her best friend (Liz Fraser).

The replacement crew do their best to please their temporary captain, but all efforts only serve to frustrate him. When they find out this cruise is to be his last on the ship they set about organising a surprise party to make amends.

The first colour Carry On is slightly smuttier than the earlier films, an indication of things to come, and boasts a large and realistic ocean liner set. Due to obvious budgetary limitations the action doesn't leave the ship, so brief stock footage is used to establish foreign locales when the ship drops anchor.

Sid James is rather underused in his mainly straight (and non-lecherous) role as ship's captain, his trademark cackle only appearing once or twice. Kenneth Williams doesn't get to do much more, as here the talented Kenneth Connor takes centre stage. He shyly pursues Dilys Lane's husband hunting young woman, who stalks both the gym tutor and the captain before realizing the doctor's intentions. Lance Percival (a face created for comedy) amuses as the ship's chef, and Esma Cannon provides a few laughs as a dizzy pensioner.

Those who prefer the earlier Carry Ons may find this one falling between two stools, as the transition to the series' middle period is much in evidence here. As always though, it provides enough real laughs and remains as watchable and good-natured as any in the series. A good example of vintage British humour for those interested.

After a long and distinguished career on the ocean wave, Captain Wellington Crowther is on his last voyage as captain of an ocean liner when he learns that five of his usual crew are unavailable. With the short notice, Crowther is forced to take whomever he can get to act as replacements and ends up with a group of some of the most unseaworthy sailors he has ever seen. Mind you – they fit right in with the passengers who include several women hunting husbands, a serial drunk and a flirty old woman.

The Carry On films are hardly the height of comedy at the best of times but in this entry they seem content to just find the middle ground and settle of an average comedy with few highs but few lows either. The plot sees the usual collection of innuendo and physical humour placed onto an ocean liner but basically just doing the same stuff they do in all the other films. The plot is not as good as the best of the series and is far too thin to really support a film of any substance but, luckily, this is not a film of any substance! Therefore we have a collection of romantic misunderstandings and aspirations that barely manage to set up enough opportunities for joking. This is not a massive problem of course, because there really aren't that many clever, witting or imaginative jokes, scenes of lines (maybe a handful at best). I was amused but I rarely laughed out loud even once and it was only a spattering of funny lines that made the film worth seeing. The one thing I did appreciate about the film was that it was almost totally lacking the lazy and obvious crude humour that can often date the Carry On films very badly.

With little material to really work with, the cast are left to just try their best. James doesn't get much to do apart from look annoyed by the various clowns in his service. Williams is his usual camp self and is blessed with a great character name (Marjoribanks). Connor doesn't have that much to do in terms of laughs and is left carrying much of the plot himself – and in fairness he does his best with it. Fraser and Laye are hardly the best looking women in the world but they are flirty and quite sexy in a 1960's type of way. The rest of the cast are OK but mostly just clown around – a few Carry On faces are there but the absentees make more of an impact that those that are present.

Overall this is an OK film but it is far from the high points of the Carry On series (although happily far from the lows either). The jokes are mostly basic and involve physical clowning or innuendo and it is unlikely you'll get any big laughs out of it even if you're amused for most of the time. Fans of Carry On films will like it but the rest of us should stick with the acknowledged 'greats' from the series.

There's something wonderfully fresh, cheery and bright about Carry on Cruising. 1962 gave us the first Carry on Film in colour, and it does feel different to the early Black and White entries.

It's slightly cheekier in several ways, we're not talking Carry on Behind, but it does have its moments, that naught, picture postcard brand of humour is just about starting.

It worries me that repeats have dried up, as has comedy, some of the reviews.....you'd wonder if people have any sort of sense of humour.

For me the addictive element is the diminutive Australian actress Esma Cannon, who is hilarious, a total joy from start to finish, the drunken scene between her and Dilys Laye is side splitting. The usuals are on great form, Sid and Kenny contrast well, it is missing Joan, Charles and Hattie, but there are enough lovely performances to make it enjoyable, Liz Fraser and Dilys Laye in particular are utterly lovely.

A nice film for all the family to sit down and enjoy.

7/10.

Based on a suggestion by Eric Barker to base a film around a package holiday - for which he received a story credit - the fifth 'Carry On' in many ways marked an attempt to make something more ambitious.

Anglo were beginning to invest in colour and sanctioned its use on 'Carry On Cruising' since it a was lot cheaper than filming on location (only the second-unit actually left Shepperton, and they only got as far as Southampton).

The result is one of the most charming and mellow of the series, as indicated by the fact that Kenneth Williams is still a clever dick and Sid James for once doesn't play a lecher. (The lack of an appearance by Charles Hawtrey being that he was replaced by Lance Perceval after being placed on suspension for demanding a star on his dressing room door).