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Sixty years ago the first of 29 Carry On films hit British cinema screens and have become a staple of traditional British humour over the years. Their popularity depended more on the quality of the actors as well as the script.
The Carry On team changed from film to film but Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Hattie Jaques, Kenneth Connor, Barbara Windsor, Joan Sims, Charles Hawtry, Leslie Phillips and Peter Butterworth were joined by the likes of Jim Dale, Bernard Bresslaw, Terry Scott and many others over the years. Some of the very best character actors this country had to offer.
Since a child in the sixties I have grown up both influenced by and enjoying the Carry On genre. The early, mostly black & white films are my favourites though nearly all are worth watching. Sadly most of these fine actors and actresses are long gone. But they have left a legacy unequalled in British comedy.
The later Carry On movies did become a little "naughtier" and had the kind of humour seen on seaside postcards. The series was only spoilt by the very last film Carry On Emmanuel which even the actors didn't like and is rarely seen on TV unlike most of the others which get regular outings.
These films do not seem to have attracted much criticism from the feminist world. Perhaps it's because the women always come out on top.
I'm sure someone will put me right on that if I'm wrong. After all I'm just a man, with a sense of humour and far from having a politically correct outlook on life.
'Carry on at your Convenience' with its clumsy attack on trade unions was another misjudged effort in that didn't go down with the Carry On series' working class audiences in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be a mention here of Liz Fraser and Fenella Fielding who both sadly passed this month. Carry On Screaming is an all-time classic!
I didn't know Liz Fraser had passed away. Sad. Fanella Fielding I did commemorate on my Facebook page.
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