That's Carry On!

This is not a documentary but a compilation of some of the best gags from the long running Carry On movie series. Introduced by Carry On veterans Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor, it takes you through what was then 28 films in the series. This is a fairly good way to get an idea of what the movies were, the slapstick, the double entendres, the silliness and sometimes crudeness, but like all compilations its missing some personal favorites. Its hard for you to go wrong to choose a film that had Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor and Charles Hawtrey in it, they are pretty much the best. I've not seen every Carry On film yet, but this is a good primer. Carry On!

Originally released in 1977 as B movie support to the Richard Harris film Golden Rendezvous, That's Carry On! is basically a compilation picture produced to make money for the then dwindling franchise of a much beloved series of films. The year previously had seen the risible Carry On England released, and the final nail in the coffin would come a year later in 78 with Carry On Emanuelle. Fighting different smutty cinema conventions like the "Confessions Of" run of films starring Robin Askwith, the Carry On formula was out of step and certainly now out of time with a changing British landscape. Sadly this meant that this compilation picture only serves to remind us of what was once great about the series, with the inevitable complaints about it not using certain clips proving to be loud from a disappointed and committed fan base. It's weird that in a film that runs over an hour and half in length, there still wasn't enough time to insert enough clips to provide relief for many Carry On acolytes!

The premise is wrapped around a scenario that sees Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor holed up in a projection booth. They swap weak innuendos whilst running through clips of the series. Kenny gives it a good go, as he always did, and Babs wears a tight top that showcases her assets that so dearly cheered the horny hounds in the Carry On crowds. Windsor's casting is understandable, but that doesn't necessarily make it a correct one. Where Williams was the stalwart who had up to then made 24 Carry On movies, Windsor had made 8. Joan Simms had done 23 by this time and Hattie Jacques 14, now they may not have been available? But really you feel that one of the older female guard should be there for this overview; as shallow as it ultimately is. The DVD finds its way into box sets and occasionally the film shows as a time filler in the early hours of the morning on British television, but it's far from essential viewing; either for fans or interested newcomers. It remains the lazy cash cow that it is, viewing it only makes us hanker still further for the times when Carry On really was a fun and vibrant British institution. 5/10

THAT'S CARRY ON is a compilation film consisting of various and extensive clips from most of the CARRY ON flicks, linked together by returning actors Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor. The plot - if you can call it such - sees them sharing some time together in a projection booth while they reminisce over the old days and share plenty of saucy laughs.

There's a definite mercenary feel to this production, the impossible-to-ignore realisation that it was purely made just to wring a few more coins out of a by-then jaded movie-going public. The CARRY ON stable had long since been on the wane and the wraparound filler material is extremely feeble compared to the good old days.

I sometimes enjoy watching compilation movies, as they're good for both introducing worthwhile-but-unseen films to the viewer or for nostalgia purposes, sharing memorable moments like old friends. THAT'S CARRY ON doesn't really work in either respect, as at the end of it you just wish you'd watched one of the proper CARRY ONs instead...

Well, hardly the best of.

If I were wanting to introduce someone to Carry On, I wouldn't recommend this. It wasn't full or complete.

For some reason it showed more of Carry On Camping and the Khyber one. I thought I was watching the actual movie of one of them, so much scene was being shown.

But there were great moments from other movies that weren't shown, which was a shame.

Williams and Windsor did dish out their dialogue in the connecting bits very well.

I especially liked Williams talking about how he would only listen to or work with someone who was clearly more intelligent than he, he worded it much better than that, and the clip from "Carry On Regardless" when he was walking the monkey was shown.

Altho I now stand at having only seen half the series, the first half, that is, I do think there was more to the Carry On movies than what this hilight reel states.

But I was disappointed that the theme music from the first five Carry Ons was dismissed with Cruising. What a pity.

No idea how that music would have sounded with "Carry On Cowboy" or "Carry on Screaming" but I think someone who was half creative could have figured something out.

Carry on.

That's Carry On is basically just a compilation of the films highlighting the best moments from them with an overview by Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor.

3/10: I can't rate it highly due to having not one good scene that hasn't been viewed before