Not Carry On’s Finest Hour?
Some 18 years after the original film we reach number 28 in the series, Carry On England.
All the regular cast were offered parts but sadly only four were available. Barbara Windsor was to have played the role of Private Easy but she was too busy appearing in Twelfth Night at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Kenneth Williams was to play the Brigadier but he too was appearing on stage in Signed and Sealed. Sid James was booked to appear on stage at the Sunderland Empire in the the Mating Season sadly he died on stage on the opening night.
Carry On England was originally given a AA certificate. This would have restricted audiences to those aged fourteen and over, but the film managed to get awarded an A certificate after heavily toning down the scenes featuring topless nudity and removing one comedic use of the word fokker.
Despite the changes Carry On England was not the success it was hoped for. In fact, it proved to be a major commercial failure and was withdrawn from some cinemas after just three days.
Summary
We go back to where it all began in 1958 with Sergeant but the subject content couldn’t be more different.
Captain S Melly is sent to a new type of mixed barracks to whip the men (and unusually in this barracks, the women) into shape. As the previous Commander found out, the recruits aren’t very keen on discipline or anyone disturbing their extra-curricular nightly activities, but when Melly attempts this they fight
Clips
Starring
Kenneth Connor
Windsor Davies
Patrick Mower
Judy Geeson
Jack Douglas
Joan Sims
Peter Butterworth
Melvyn Hayes
Peter Jones
Details
Written By: David Pursall and Jack Seddon
Produced By: Peter Rogers
Directed By: Gerald Thomas
UK Release Date: 31st October 1976