Carry on Sergeant

source: Carry on Sergeant

Trailer—Carry on Sergeant

Carry on Sergeant

The first of the Carry On films, it is a little slow to get started and the characters are rather run-of-the-mill, but once it gets up and going it is quite amusing stuff, with a number of good laughs. The story is a bit fragmented and rather sketchy, but in it there are some rather good sketches. It is also quite well photographed at times, even if there is not much else to admire on a technical scope. Overall it is not the greatest of films, and it is a bit overdone in parts, but it is certainly an entertaining film, and noteworthy as the first film of one of Britain's most popular film comedy series. Followed by 'Carry on Nurse'.

This movie proves once again that the English have a devastatingly sharp wit combined with great slapstick humor. It also proved to this old American that despite differences of accents and uniforms that early life in the Army was pretty much the same in both Her Majesty's service and in the US Army in the 1950s. This is my first time viewing of what I gather is a classic series in Great Britain of "Carry On" movies and I came to it quite late -and intend to look for later movies in the series. I urge Americans of any age to give themselves a treat and watch this movie.(BTW,everyone in this movie is just great in their roles -watch and see what I mean. Fans of James Bond movies also get to see Shirley Eaton (remember "Goldfinger" and the beautiful girl coated in gold?) My vote is a ringing 10.

Totally unfamiliar with the "Carry On" series, except for seeing the end of "Carry On Jack" while in the UK in '97, and then watching "Carry On Camping" in '02 while on another trip, I had not a clue what this was. Now the first dozen of these movies are available on DVD and I've bought this set. Beginning with "Carry On, Sergeant" how this led to Camping or Jack has me befuddled. Oddly enough, I watched this with two American teen agers and they did laugh quite a bit, more than I did. Totally unfamiliar with the lot, I recognized Williams (is it?) the nasal nostriled one, and Hattie Jacque from Camping, but they engaged in no run-ins here. It was fun seeing William Hartnell, the sensational first Doctor from Gallifrey, in a bit of a different role. I would hardly call it dated, more a historical reflection on the past, but not passe. There was humor, but not in those fire extinguishers. I'm certain my money was well spent, if for nothing else to see how this series evolves with time.

The first ever Carry On sees the worst ever freshment platoon on National Service training, as their Commander attempts to retire with his first ever star platoon. Kenneth Connors, as he was in all the early Carry Ons, is superb as the hypochondriac recruit, while Kenneth Williams does a beautiful send up of himself as the intellectually superior member of the platoon. Charles Hawtry does his usual role. This film also includes Bob Monkhouse and the late, great Bill Owen, though Owen's role is simply not big enough for him to shine. This film lacks the chaos of the later films, and the presence of a Barbara Windsor or Hattie Jacques who can give as good as they get against the men but still, a very enjoyable comedy and the one we must thank, or blame, for the success and continued popularity of the Carry Ons.

A series of films carried on, with perpetual double entendre, loved to finger an organ, unleash melons to gorge on, baps, flaps, jugs, bazookas went ding dong. Though it's not quite so funny today, Fanny plays with her balls in new ways, Dick's choppers been cut, Kitty's curtains are shut, the clams gone from splayed to being spayed.

This is a film which brings a great deal of nostalgia to my dad. He was one of the first few to go through national service in 1948 and every time he sees this film, he can see in the characters most of his army friends he joined with and it's just not writers imagination at play in this film, he has seen similar and been through similar. Everyone down from the sergeant to Charles Hawtrey's Golightly lack of co-ordination on parade brings back fond memories of his time in the Army. The first and originally supposedly the only one that was meant is one of the best with a cast that had some of the best comic and acting talent on show that Britain has produced, from William Hartnell sergeant down through Bill Owen's corporal through Kenneth Williams down to hypochondriac Kenneth Connor. There is barely a weak link in this film. For this comic film is also a history lesson because unlike most comedy film, there is a good deal of truth in this film, just ask my dad.

I've heard of the Carry On series for some time but I had never seen it. I decided to start with the first movie. "Carry On Sergeant" is one of many comedies focusing on a collection of loopy new recruits on a military base and the crazy stuff that happens. It's slapstick humor but most of it is more subtle than we're used to in the 21st century. Low-key British humor, you could say. I enjoyed the movie. And of course, I have to talk about some of the cast members. If the woman playing Mary looks familiar, it's because Shirley Eaton is best known as the woman painted gold in "Goldfinger". And then there's Charles Hawtrey, who plays lovable wimp Peter. You might recognize the name even if you can't place the face. The Beatles mentioned him in "Two of Us" ("I Dig a Pigmy" by Charles Hawtrey on the deaf aids). Anyway, it's a funny movie. I suspect that they had fun filming it.