Carry on Cabby

source: Carry on Cabby

I wish I could get with this series. I seem to remember enjoying one or two when they were first released. But now, years later, they mostly add up to a not very successful television comedy program dependent on weird-looking characters, slapstick, and weak jokes. This one centers around the conflict between the love-starved Hattie Jacques and her cabby husband, Sid James. There is an abundance of ancillary characters. I'll give an example of the humor. Charles Hawtrey, who looks like my Grandma, is constantly falling over things, frequently while carrying some delicate objects like tea cups. He falls over empty petrol cans, a table, and so forth. His goal: to become a cab driver. Hawtrey shows up at the cab company and applies for a job. His name is "Terry Tankard" but the boys all call him "Pint pot" -- "because of my name, Tankard, you see?" Sid James squints at him oddly and asks, "You're sure it was PINT pot?" (Joke.) It's all very cheerful, from the jaunty opening tune, and very working class in its plot, its humor, and its characters. And that was probably the intent. Keep it simple and only slightly off color. It probably amused undemanding audiences. But the industry in Britain was capable of far more than this sort of thing. I'll only mention the Ealing comedies of the 50s and early 60s in passing. Maybe my neurology has evolved (or devolved) but the Carry On series seems much less impressive now than it did in the early 60s. Not insulting and not dated, just a bit stale. I can imagine others finding the more amusing.

This is another solid entry in the popular series which, again, recalls earlier classics of British comedy – such as the Ealing and Boulting Brothers films. Kenneth Williams’ presence is missed here: apparently, he turned down the role of the shop steward (probably influenced by Peter Sellers’ similar, award-winning characterization in I’M ALL RIGHT, JACK [1959] and eventually played by Norman Chappell) because he felt the script was substandard – I disagree and, in fact, Talbot Rothwell became the series’ official writer from this point on! Joan Sims is also conspicuous by her absence (the “Carry On” stalwart’s typical role is played here by the slimmer Liz Fraser – incidentally, also a cast member of JACK). Sid James, however, is clearly in control – with Hattie Jacques as his female counterpart; even Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey’s characters feel subsidiary here, the film being heavier on plot than the previous series outings I’ve just watched, though both get their big scene (more on this later). The narrative concerns Jacques’ elaborate way of dealing with husband James’ slacking attentions: he’s a cab-service owner and totally absorbed in his work so, unbeknownst to him, she contrives to open a rival business – but with the advantage of young and attractive women drivers! Connor is James’ sidekick (involved with Fraser, tending bar at the cab-driver’s café) who, at one point, appears in drag when he’s made to infiltrate the ‘enemy camp’ (as part of a plan by James to get at the competition); Hawtrey is an accident-prone novice driver (his ‘baptism of fire’ is unsurprisingly fraught with disaster); Jim Dale appears in his first “Carry On” as well, in a bit as an expectant father who takes cabbies James and Connor ‘on a ride’ and causes the former to miss his anniversary celebration! While there’s some tit-for-tat routines between them (the women – knowledgeable of the fact that the men have intercepted their radio signals – deliberately give out fake addresses, while James & Co. show their force by tampering with the vehicles driven by the ladies…except that the latter still get the upper hand, because their passengers are all-too-willing to lend a helping hand!), the companies finally get together when one of Jacques’ cabs – with her, Fraser and the girls’ payroll inside – is abducted by a gang of crooks. All the various vehicles set out in co-ordinated pursuit and manage to corner the ‘stray’ cab in open-country; the final gag, then, sees Hawtrey driving James’ car into a tree – so that the boss has no alternative but to hail a cab for himself!

Carry on Cabby is directed by Gerald Thomas and adapted to a screenplay by Talbot Rothwell from a story by Richard Hills & Sidney Green. It stars Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Esma Cannon and Liz Fraser. It's the 7th film of the long running Carry On film franchise. Plot finds James as Charlie Hawkins, a man so obsessed with his taxi business he severely neglects his wife Peg (Jacques). At the end of her tether, Peg sets up her own taxi company called Glam Cabs, the draw being that all the drivers are female, all are gorgeous and all are taking the trade away from Charlie's business. The men try and strike back, but these girls are not for turning..... Aside from the fact that the cast list is missing big hitters such as Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims and Bernard Bresslaw, Carry on Cabby also stands out from the other series entries for another reason. If it feels a little different, maybe even a touch too tame for the bawdy loving crowd, then that has to do with the fact that Talbot Rothwell actually scripted it as a non series entry. It was to be a standalone picture titled Call Me A Cab, but with the series starting to gain momentum it was reworked as a Carry On movie. The film is a breezy battle of the sexes comedy built around a more than decent plot. On a list of genuinely funny Carry On movies it most likely struggles to get in the top ten, but if we can judge it away from the series? It has a warm 60's appeal whilst throbbing with classic black and white capery. It's also one of the few Carry On film's that enjoys a pro feminist angle, whilst it's a joy to see Jacques get a decent and touching role some way away from the big bruiser character's she was known for. As the lady viewers enjoy the fun "womans" angle in the plot, the red blooded male is naturally (for a Carry On movie) catered for with plenty of woof-whistle moments (Amanda Barrie-oh my). And the robbery based finale is well constructed by genre legend Gerald Thomas. Innuendo light, but in this case it's not a bad thing. 7/10

Filmed during the early 1960's and in Black and White too, this is a movie that highlights the early struggle between the sexes, the sexes that are the Husband and Wife relationship of the Hawkins. With the wonderful Hattie Jakes as the repressed and neglected wife of the taxi firm owner, Sid James. Before the Carry On phenomenon took hold during the seventies, (this little classic coming from the writing combinations of Sidney Green and Richard Hills, the screenplay, of course, is by Talbot Rothwell). Carry On Cabby shows itself to be very funny and at the same time an intelligent movie that had not yet found its niche that had made them so ever popular. Cabby, with its own unique style for an early effort, we are shown a more serious social topic, and in between the gags that come rolling in, which never fail to amuse, we have the very funny Charles Hawtrey as the comic relief, fantastic all the way. With the cast of great British talent as Kenneth Connor, Liz Frazer and his Carry On debut, Jim Dale. What Cabby does not have, yet, is the late Kenneth Williams. Carry On Cabby with its issues of sex discrimination and a battle of the sexes that occurs when the women take a stand against the ignorance and proud male dominance is done in a way that will have you in a pleasant and fond appreciation of how British movies of this elk were made, in a fine and inoffensive manner that was only meant to do what it does best, entertain, delight and without fail, make you laugh. Hail a Cab, Hail a Carry On Cab. Timeless Classic, one of the best.

This one had more going for it storywise, but the laughs were still sparse, amazingly sparse. A solid story, but cab-driving? He's ignoring me for a cab, his wife says. What a plot. Fortunately, Hattie Jacques was closer to the front. She is looking a bit more feminine here. I do enjoy her monstrous authority figures, but it was charming to see her here as a bit more docile creature. Totally absent now was Kenneth Williams. I suppose Sid James had some sort of everyman about England appeal to him. He was a bit more to listen to here, and Kenneth Conner had more to work with than his usual mugging in the previous Carry Ons. The drag scene was very interesting, as he was caught with undressing women. Would have been too rich had Hawtrey been in drag too with Conner. Charlie Hawtrey is present, but really wasted. The cabs themselves were a marvel to observe, with me being an American, they were totally foreign to me with those missing doors. Even with automobiles, the outdoor shots here still didn't match Carry On Constable's street scenes. It's fun to watch old movies, English or otherwise, and note signs, buildings, architecture and so on in the background. The men vs. women aspect of this movie was easy to ignore. The wife didn't so much want to challenge the husband, but challenge his cab. The final chase would have been much more fascinating on a street and not an empty field, but I suspect that had something to do with budget. Pity actually, as that field ruins the effect. Would have been much more memorable after all these years with a good solid pavement or buildings behind those automobiles. A return to black and white! How odd. This one actually might have been richer had it been in color. Well, on to the next Carry On: Carry On Spying!

One of my favourite Carry Ons, despite not being one of the funniest, possibly because this is Hattie Jacques' largest role. Hattie brings a believable element of pathos to the film, something not normally associated with the Carry Ons. This was the first Carry On that Eric Rogers led the production of the musical score. He was the composer for most of the colour Carry On films, and his music (bells, whistles and kettle drums) became an invaluable asset. For some reason I just love the line when Charles Hawtrey is introducing himself. 'My friends call me Pint Pot' he says. 'Are you sure it's "pint" pot?' asks Kenneth Connor.

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

Despite the matrimonial strife that makes up the majority of the plot, CARRY ON CABBY has to be one of the warmest of the long-running series - and it also contains some of the funniest jokes. The story, about Sid James's taxi business coming under threat from his wife's all-female cabbie firm, is the perfect back story for all manner of the usual hijinks. With the absence of Kenneth Williams and Joan Sims (and Kenneth Connor in a more minor role than usual), the whole film pivots on the presence of Sid James himself, and he's at the top of his game. Half the film allows him the kind of round-the-kitchen-table angsty argument that he did so well in BLESS THIS HOUSE, while the other half sees him involved in some cracking gags as he drives his cab. The opening sequence - the best in a CARRY ON, accompanied by a wonderfully jaunty score - sets things off admirably, with the kind of verbal humour that these films did so well ("She's got out of the box!"). It soon follows with one of the funniest ever scenes in which James contends with his wife on the radio, a miserable passenger in the back seat, and all manner of road hogs outside. Forget such overused lines from this series like "Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me", the "Move over and give us a bit of room, mate!" joke is THE best of the whole canon. After some notable absences earlier in the series, Hattie Jacques bags a meatier role than usual and runs away with it. Charles Hawtrey is also in the frame for much longer than expected and is involved in some great slapstick moments, while Jim Dale pops up in his first appearance in this series and Milo O'Shea proves a strong addiction to the regular cast. The presence of the pretty actresses is another plus, and Gerald Thomas does well to never let his camera leer as in later instalments. Altogether, CARRY ON CABBY is a delight.

This is one of the biggest roles Hattie Jacques ever had in a Carry-on film,and she proves here how versatile an actress she was.Apart from Hattie there are only three other members of the gang,who are Sid James,Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey as Pint Pot.This is always one of the Carry-on films that you don't forget i think because its a case of Wife verses husband at his own job,and proves she can do it better,the job being running a taxi firm,his is the typical Black Cabs,hers is an all glamour girl taxi service called Glamcabs.Well as you can guess Glamcabs steals all of Sids Black Cabs business,and he is none to pleased,and all the time he doesn't know that his wife is the opposition.Its a very amusing film and doesn't have any of the usual smut which is often associated with the Carry-ons,it seems the early ones did rely on a good story.The only fault i have with this carry-on is that its a shame it was made in black and white as the all Black Cabs up against the flamboyant Glamcabs would have been so much more interesting in colour.