Carry on Cabby

Well almost! There is a real battle of the sexes in this carry on and if you don't mind the expression the women come out on top. This is not a very funny carry on, in fact quite the contrary. There are moments that are actually quite touching. THe marriage between Hatti and husband Sid is a troubled one and its nece to see real character development. Its actually quite poignant. Hatti is playing for truth rather than being cast as the fat funny lady.The climax of the movie when all the cabs start chasing the bad guys who are abducting Hatti Jacques and Liz Frazer is actually very exciting. Those taxis and other "relics" of the time look wonderfully nostalgic. The interior sets look cute too and its all in glorious black and white. The music is wonderful and the script is character driven but still has a strong story line. Although it may not be very funny it is extremely entertaining and its a fine movie. The script is excellent and the characters are beautifully developed. This is a good story. We are given a break from the fabulous Kenneth Williams but there is plenty of talent. Great to see Hatti Jacques get more to do and she gives a brilliant performance. The ever reliable Liz Fraser does great work too. Sid James is wonderful in this role and its easy to see why he became so popular. Jim Dale in a small role is great and later its interesting that he became so sexy. Charles Hawtry is in fine form and the normally annoying Kenneth Connor gives his best under stated performance without the annoying mannerisms that detracted from many of the carry on movies. Esma Cannon plays it quite straight for a change and as always still steals every scene she is in. The real star of this is Hatti Jacques who really makes this fine movie a totally enjoyable experience.

Sid James plays Charlie Hawkins, workaholic owner of Speedee Taxis, the only cab firm in town. After repeatedly ignoring his long-suffering wife Peg (Hattie Jacques) in favour of picking up fares, Charlie finds himself unexpectedly facing competition from his miffed spouse, who secretly sets up rival taxi company GlamCabs, featuring all female drivers.

From the above synopsis, one might think that this film intends to strike a blow or two for feminism, but this being a Carry On film from the early sixties, it quickly becomes apparent that fighting for sexual equality isn't the film's primary motive. With GlamCabs only employing women with an hour-glass figure and a cracking sets of pins, the film's 'battle of the sexes' plot is actually a thinly veiled excuse to fill the screen with cracking crumpet.

Not that I'm complaining: the leggy lovelies, whose number include the fabulous Amanda Barrie (who would go on to star as Queen Cleopatra in Carry On Cleo), not only provide viewers with quality eye-candy (especially in the scene where Kenneth Connor, disguised as a woman, is ushered into the ladies changing room), but also plenty of laughs as they use their impressive womanly attributes to steal Hawkin's business.

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

Made in the days when Cortenas were considered exotic; this is an unusual 'Carry On' in that the humour is gentler (Sid James - fresh from a TV series called 'Taxi' - isn't yet the coarse lecher he later became) and the woman more nuanced, possibly because it started life as a non-'Carry On'.

Written under the title 'Call Me a Cab' by Morecombe & Wise's old writers Sid Green & Dick Hills, this was one of the last 'Carry On's in black & white, the last to feature Cyril Chamberlain, Esma Cannon, and the lovely Liz Fraser (unless you count the unspeakable 'Carry On Behind', which I don't), the first to feature Jim Dale and Amanda Barrie and be scored by Eric Rogers. And one of the VERY few without Kenneth Williams.

I write this exactly 60 years on from this film being made. The version of the UK it portrays is long gone, manners and behaviours have changed significantly and the monocultural nature is now morphing into something altogether new. In that respect the film is a nice view of a slightly idealised version of what life was like for ordinary people back then. As such one can enjoy it and, be amused, as it's as much historical relic as old fashioned comedy. The characters are the usual mix of caricatures, stereotypes and archetypes, each instantly recognisable, places are middle England and there is very subtle social commentary on the ex forces types being down at heel and needing a leg up.

The world of equality and sixties swinging was fast heading over the hill. This and many other films of the era marked the beginning of the end of the post war society and the emergence of the modern era that fought its way out of the shadows during the 70s.

I really liked this Carry On entry. This is considered as Hattie Jaques's personal favourite of the Carry Ons and it isn't hard to see why. She seems to be having a ball as the neglected wife of cab driver Charlie Hawkins, who is played to perfection by the one and only Sidney James. Carry On Cabby has a very irreverent screenplay, that will leave you in tears of laughter, but what made this particular Carry On stand out for me was that the plot was one of the strongest plot lines in Carry On history. As for the other performances, Jim Dale is hilarious in a small role, and Kenneth Connor is his usual charming self. Charles Hawtrey is solid in his role too. The photography was skillfully done, and the music score was great. My only complaints are its length and its rather slow beginning, other than that, pretty darn good if you ask me. 8/10 Bethany Cox