Carry on Loving

This film is about hooking up and stars Sid James as Sidney Bliss, who runs the Wedded Bliss Agency along with Hattie Jacques. A series of lonely hearts come in looking for their significant others and this movie basically is a series of vignettes about what happens. The worlds do collide somewhat and while things get chaotic, they are also fun. This film is truly a product of its time in that there are open displays of affection and the young ladies wear miniskirts. This was the first film with the very pretty Jacki Piper, buts its the ensemble aspect of this film which makes it work. Its a sex comedy without the nudity. Its fun and enjoyable.

Again, this turned out to be more enjoyable than I was anticipating – despite the essential lack of plot and the general feeling that the regulars are merely going through the paces. The premise – or, more precisely, series of sketches – revolve around Sidney James and Hattie Jacques' matrimonial agency; several people with various hang-ups turn up at their door – including marital consultant (but confirmed bachelor) Kenneth Williams, Terry Scott and inexperienced Richard O'Callaghan. The thing is that James and Jacques aren't married themselves, and he's been having a fling with Joan Sims (who's herself doted upon by pony-tailed wrestler Bernard Bresslaw)!

Many generally amusing complications arise from this situation, though a lot of time is spent with the younger generation at the expense of the series stalwarts (Peter Butterworth, for instance, only gets an unbilled – albeit great – cameo). Some of the better moments include: Scott's visit to the house of proposed soulmate Imogen Hassall, with relatives who seem to have strayed in from an episode of THE ADDAMS FAMILY TV series!; their date in her flat (she eventually has a startling make-over), which is constantly interrupted by the arrival of her ostensibly engaged flat-mates; the unexpected arousal of Williams' stuffy housekeeper Patsy Rowlands after he brings home Jacques, and then Sims turns up to seduce him (because James wants to get back with Jacques) – the scene is further complicated by the arrival of the raging Bresslaw, who's however hilariously knocked-out by the charged-up Rowlands!; the side-splitting pie-throwing finale during James and Jacques' marriage – which is definitely one of the highlights of the entire series.

P.S. Hammer Films starlet Yutte Stensgaard's scenes were deleted from the released version (reportedly, she was also in CARRY ON AGAIN DOCTOR [1969] – but I didn't recognize her in that one).

Carry On gang run a marriage bureau. The proprietors, Sid and Sophie Bliss (Sid James and Hattie Jaques) seem set on matching the most unlikely couples. And mayhem ensues - which is expected in this low-key, yet fun Carry on entry. The crude bawdiness came 3/4 years later, and though it's more obvious in its naughty one liners, it's still in the classic mould of Carry-on. It's not the best one, but it's a good watch.

Great to see Sid James and Hattie Jacques play off on another. The rest of the veteran cast - such as Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Bernard Bresslaw - do their parts well. The younger group are fine; Jackie Piper and Imogen Hassel bring the temperature up!! Also seeing London in 1970's and the fashion makes a great time capsule.

I see so many reviews of people commenting about Loving being one of the Carry on movies during its declining years, I have to disagree with those, with Convenience, Girls and Behind still to come the crew were still on top form. Loving highlights a sexual revolution that had pretty much already happened years before. It's not loaded with particularly original material, but it has its moments, Sid and Hattie are great fun as warring married couple The Bliss's, Kenneth Williams is hilarious as Percival, the excellent Patsy Rowlands is finally given a large role, making full use of it. Joan Hickson is a delight as Jenny's mum, as are the whole eccentric family, but the all time highlight must be the laugh out loud finale which is side splitting, you can almost see the look of joy on everyones faces. I must admit to a feeling of sadness when I watch Imogen Hassall, such a tragic waste, a good actress, incredibly beautiful, such a shame she never went on to bigger things. Bernard Bresslaw is once again made an idiot out of, not able to show that he could act. It may not be one of the classics, but it's still a very, very funny film.

"Sid" (Sidney James) and "Sophie" (Hattie Jacques) run the "Wedded Bliss" dating agency that supposedly uses complex computer algorithms to match couples. Their cleverly entitled "to wit to woo" brochure is supposed to help make true love blossom but it's a "Carry On" so of course you're going to get the mismatches of the century playing out for the next ninety minutes. This is one of the more memorable of the franchise for me. The comedy bond between James and Jacques was always a strong one and here there is just enough humour - as opposed to tacky innuendo - to keep the thing entertaining enough with Joan Sims and a rather unlikely Lothario in Terry Scott, adding well too. It's not one of the better roles for Kenneth Williams ("Snooper"), Charles Hawtrey's "Bedsop" was actually quite annoying and it definitely recycles a few earlier ideas just once too often, but as these films go this is a slightly better effort that maybe raises a titter rather than a laugh and passes the time in a predictably smutty fashion.