Carry on Jack

Caught the second half of "Carry On Jack" about seven years ago. Thought it was completely unreal.

I recognized Cribbins from the Doctor Who movies with Peter Cushing. Here he reminds me a bit like John Cleese at times, and Trevor Bannister off "Are You Being Served?"

Clearly he is filling the blank left by Kenneth Conner.

Wonder why Juliet Mills appeared in this? As Haley's sister and Sir John's daughter, surely she could have gotten whatever she wanted and didn't have to join this bandwagon.

She reminded me of the young girl who "posed" as a boy in "Swiss Family Robinson". Not at all convincing.

The cow in the lifeboat bit was good.

The amputation joke would have NEVER existed in American film or television back in '64.

The one joke I always recalled was 'the captain fell on deck right where that plaque is.'

"I'm not surprised, I nearly tripped over the silly thing the other day myself."

When I first heard that line, I had to do a triple take.

No, Sid James, Kenneth Conner, Joan Sims, dear Hattie and Barbara Windsor (thus far, I have only seen her in one, Carry On Spying) weren't in this one.

The interchanging performers basically doing the same characters is a standout for this assortment of movies.

Now on to the next Carry On: Carry On Cowboy.

yee-hah!

Carry On Jack is directed by Gerald Thomas and written by Talbot Rothwell. It stars Bernard Cribbins, Kenneth Williams, Juliet Mills, Charles Hawtrey, Donald Houston & Percy Herbert. It's the 8TH of the popular film franchise that would eventually finish at 31.

Albert Poopdecker (Cribbins) is all set to finally take up assignment on HMS Venus when he loses his uniform in a house of ill repute. Press ganged the next day onto the Venus, nobody believes him and he is forced to serve his time on board as a menial worker. However, there's mutiny afoot and Albert soon finds himself at the centre of all sorts of misunderstandings.

Not one from the series that is name checked by fans or critics, Carry On Jack is a little better than its reputation suggest it is. It's also a very important entry in the Carry On pantheon,for it was the first time Rothwell, the man who shaped the series, would be in sole charge of writing. It's also the first venture into historical parody, from where the series would get its best ideas and promptly make the best film's of the run. This one clearly revels in sending up Mutiny On The Bounty, HMS Defiant (using some of the same sets from that production) and the Hornblower writings. The absence of Sid James is very much felt since piracy and mutiny appear to be themes you would think suited him. But no Barbara Windsor is not an issue here, simply because there's only one female role of note, and Mills attacks it with gusto and delivers a fine performance. Cribbins, too, is full of life and raises enough laughs as he plays off of the reliable Hawtrey.

Not overtly smutty or as manic as some of the other historical parodies that followed it, Carry On Jack is a fun and tidy time filler. 6/10

I do like the Carry On films in general, and while Jack is not the best, it is still amusing. I have to admit I do prefer Cleo, Screaming and Khyber, but I do think it is better than Columbus, England and Emmanuelle, which I consider the nadirs of the series. Jack does have its problems, it does have a thin story, some of the pacing isn't as secure as it could have been and I do miss Joan Sims, Sidney James and Hattie Jaques. However, the film looks great, great costumes and sets, and while never absolutely hilarious it is amusing enough. And the acting is fairly good, Charles Hawtrey almost steals the show, Kenneth Williams isn't given as much to do but he is good, Jim Dale's is small but he is hilarious, Juliet Mills is pleasant (and has a great derriere), while Bernard Cribbins is very likable. Overall, not outstanding but worth watching. 7/10 Bethany Cox

One of the better Carry on films, set in 1700s England and aboard a ship, there's lots of nice detail here and genuinely good characters. Captain Fearless played by Kenneth Williams is brilliant and it's great to see Bernard Cribbins leading a film, we also get Juliet Mills, Donald Houston and Percy Herbert thrown into the mix, so not a conventional casting for a Carry on film! The jokes are very witty without being crude and certainly have a quality to them.

7/10: It's good and colourful

This Carry ON looks very impressive. The sets, the scenery and the costumes are first rate. It is also well written although I must say I did not find it very funny, there are not that many laughs but kids I think will love it.I have found it interesting that the carry on movies are no longer as funny as I recalled them as a child. The slap stick in the movie seems very much geared to kids. Australian audiences are in for a special treat when they see one of this country's most loved actors, the great Ed Devereaux as Hook, the pirate. He was in a few Carry on movies but in this one he has a rather lovely cameo. He also is clearly having a ball hamming it up... something this fine actor rarely, if ever did. There are fine actors in the movie such as Donald Huston who puts on a star turn. Then in an all too brief appearance there is the great Cecil Parker. England's great actor brings a great deal of class to the movie.Of course Hawtrey and Williams are as much fun as always but there are many new faces. This is a great idea because it added a bit of variety to the series. Its nice to have a change.Jim Dale has a small appearance and the "taxi" gag (Flintstones inspired?) is cute rather than funny. Juliet Mills is utterly delightful and as always does a great job in the film.Of course its really pushing the boundaries of belief that the crew actually thought she was a bloke. She made another light comedy called Nurse on Wheels... wish it was available on DVD. The real star of the movie is the great Bernard Cribbens who is absolutely brilliant. Cribbens was a great talent and so much better than the awful Kenneth Connor who was the weakest link in all the Carry on movies. Its lovely not to have him in Jack.