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Carry On At Your Convenience [1971]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

In 1971 when Carry On at Your Convenience hit our screens, the series had long since become part of the fabric of British popular entertainment. Never mind the situation, the characters were essentially the same, film after film. The jokes were all as old as the hills, but nobody cared, they were still funny. But it's just too easy to treat them as a job lot of postcard humour and music hall innuendo. This tale of revolt at a sanitary ware factory--Boggs and Son, what else?--certainly chimed in with the state of the nation in the early 1970s when strikes were called at the drop of a hat. Here, tea urns, demarcation and the company's decision to branch out into bidets all wreak havoc. Kenneth Williams as the company's besieged managing director, Sidney James and Joan Sims give their all as usual, but it's the lesser roles that really add some lustre. Hattie Jacques as Sid's budgerigar-obsessed, sluggish put-upon wife and Renee Houston as a superbly domineering battleaxe with a penchant for strip poker remind us that in the hands of fine actors, even the laziest of caricatures become real human beings. --Piers Ford


Carry On at its Peak
Review date: 2007-07-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

Carry On suited the smutty seventies, and here is smut and innuendo in abundance.

Kenneth Williams and co are bang on form, following an interesting plot, with some seemingly improvised on-location action filmed in Brighton towards the end of the story.

There is a great early-seventies feel to this film: the cliches about union power, nudge-nudge jokes about sex, and flared trousers.

On an analytical level, the timing is great, the script hilarious and the gags almost non-stop.

In a nutshell, its a scream!

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Reviews


classic "seaside" humour.
Review date: 2006-11-28 Rating: 8 out of 10

a far better "carry on" film than some of the other ones that were made at the time.
sid james and kenneth williams give the best performances. highlights for me are; the meeting in the canteen where sid james and joan sims provide some great laughs and the scene where the cast go to brighton for the day. kenneth williams is brillaint when drunk.
a shame the rest of the "carry ons" didn't meet the standards of this one.

What A Carry On!
Review date: 2006-05-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) drew a mixed response from critics and fans. Some fans claim that this is one of the very finest of the series, displaying the true spirit of the Carry On phemenon. The film however served as a disappointment in Box Office terms with it not nearly enjoying as much success as either Henry (1970) or Loving (1970). However this stands as one of the best of the 1970's Carry On and the usual roster of regulars (apart from Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Connor) are all present and evidently in high spirit.
Long time toilet manufacturers W.C Boggs & Son seems set to crumble as their union representative, Vic Spanner (Kenneth Cope), jumps on every possible excuse that crops up to call a strike. The company chairman Sid Plummer (Sid James) suggests that an annual outing to Brighton might be whats needed to boost work morale.

Of course there is no plot as such and the work outing scenes in Brighton could be described as something of a time-filler but it doesn't matter as there are so many laughs to be endured along the way it really doesn't matter and the cast are all top form. Sid James is his usual, double-dealing, rogue-like self who spends half his cash down at the bookies. Hattie Jaques puts in one of her funniest and most concentrated characterisations as a dowdy housewife who spends most of her time talking to a budgie who Sid discovers (much to his delight) can predict the winners in horse racing. Highly amusing stuff! The Brighton scenes work well and there is some lovely dialogue between Sid James and Joan Sims at the end of the trip where they blatantly comtemplate spending the night together but relent knowing full well that they'd be in trouble with their spouses if one of the neighbours was to see them. Also included are Kenneth Williams as Mr. Boggs, Charles Hawtrey in a small but amusing supporting role, Bernard Bresslaw in one of his more familiar characterisations, Patsy Rolands as Miss. Withering, Jaki Piper as the Canteen girl and daughter of Sid Plummer, Richard O' Callaghan as the pompous Lewis Boggs, Bill Maynard as Joan Sims husband and Renee Houston in a fantastic cameo as Vic Spanners ferocious, domineering mother. Her characterisation is used to great comic effect and her timing is impeccable. All in all a classic entry in the series and one that is highly recommended.



Brilliant
Review date: 2006-02-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

Apart from 'England','Emmanuelle' and 'Columbus' I love the Carry On films and have seen all of them at least 10 times over the years. Seeing each film is like visiting an old friend and my two favourite mates are 'Screaming' and 'At Your Convenience'.
Possibly the only film in history to be set in a toilet factory this film is pure gold - consistantly funny and despite the doom and gloom of unions and strikes this movie has a definate feel good quality about it. All the cast are clearly having the time of their lives and it's so good to watch them in the various set pieces Talbot Rothwells brilliant script throws at them. Sid and his Budgie are hilarious - "Ta daddy, Ta daddy, TA!!!" (makes me laugh just thinking about it), Richard O'Callaghans pursuit of Jacki Piper (in my opinion the most beautiful Carry On regular) and especially the trip to Brighton are just three good reasons for watching this film - the Brighton section would have made a terrific film in it's own right. Shame they didn't do it. Kenneth Cope plays his part perfectly as does everyone.Bernard Blesslaw is at his bumbling best and Sid James and Kenneth Williams just be themselves but there's nothing wrong with that - it's always a joy to watch them.
Seriously if you only ever watch 2 Carry On movies make sure this is one of them (And 'Screaming'!)
Brilliant film and in my all time top 20 movies list.
Buy it, I'm now off to watch it!!

Classic Comedy
Review date: 2004-03-13 Rating: 8 out of 10

Rollicking good fun from the Carry-On team at a time when they were in their zenith. Highlighting the "British Disease" of the 1970's, this great family-fun movie gently pokes fun at trade unions, but in a non-offensive way.

The team are typically brilliant with double-entendres abounding - perhaps not the greatest film they made, it is nevertheless well worth watching!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Joan Sims
Charles Hawtrey
Kenneth Williams
Sid James
Hattie Jacques

Creators:
Kenneth Williams (Primary Contributor)
Sid James (Primary Contributor)
Ernest Steward (Cinematographer)
Alfred Roome (Editor)
Peter Rogers (Producer)
Talbot Rothwell (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115034533
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Special Edition,
Release date: 2003-07-07
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 87 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1971-12
Language: English (Original Language)

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