Carry on Cabby

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.

The best so far, the situation is a taxi company, and we are back to B&W film, the colour and picture quality might be a problem but the acting and screenplay isn't. The abduction chase is very good.

Sid James leads again, with Hattie Jacques proving what a good actor she was taking second billing, Kenneth Connor was third again, Liz Fraser provides the glamour again, but not with Dilys Laye, her place is taken by the equally stunning Amanda Barrie, for more glamour were the other 'Glam Cab' drivers but they were uncredited, the only one of note was Valerie Van Ost, who did 3 more, but all bit roles. Again some of the usual Carry On team are not in it, Kenneth Williams who did the most is not in this one, also Joan Sims but Charles Hawtrey is back and also Bill Owen, this was Bill's last Carry On but it did not affect his career, he went on to do many more roles and became famous in older life as Compo in 'Last of The Summer Wine', which was his last role, in fact his last few shows did not go out until after he had passed away, so 'proving the adage that "there is life after death" in 1999 aged 85. It was also Esma Cannon's last Carry On, she only did 3 but her presence made it seem like it was more, the "Mad Pixie" as Sid James called her did one more more small role before retiring and passed away in 1972 aged 66 in France. Charles Hawtrey was in it as was Cyril Chamberlain (Cyril plays his last proper role), and a new team member is Jim Dale, but he didn't know it at the time, he just got a bit role in this, also another new one was Peter Gilmore, not as high profile as Jim, but he did do a good few Carry-On's, a versatile actor.

But all in all the best so far so I gave it an Eight, despite that it was in B&W (the last one was in colour it would be a little while before the next one), the acting and direction was spot on though.

This is an old fashioned "battle of the sexes" comedy where an unappreciated wife ( Hattie Jacques ) sets up a glamorous female-only taxi outfit in competition with the existing old-fashioned male-only taxi firm run by her workaholic husband ( Sidney James ). Of course the glamorous cabs win all the custom until the male cab business is on the rocks...

By no means the best of the series but still far far funnier than "Carry On Columbus" or "Carry On Behind" etc.

Cabby is generally regarded as one of the best of the series and it was to be said it is a very good film. Hattie Jacques has probably her finest part and her and Sid James always made a good team. That said even though this was Talbot Rothwell's first Carry on script and there are some bawdy lines and very funny situations it still has that Norman Hudis feel to it. Now i was never a fan of the Hudis Carry on's i feel they were no different to any other harmless stiff upper lip British comedy film's that were being made at the time despite their somewhat high reputation. This was a decent warm up for Rothwell and after a couple of silly follow ups Jack and Spying he really hit home with the hilarious and brilliant Cleo (the first great Carry on film). Cabby is harmless fun with great support from Hawtrey and Connor, but much better was to come.

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