UK, 1964
87m
black and white
English
A British comedy science fiction film directed by Gerald Thomas. It is the ninth film in the Carry On series, the last to be shot in black and white and the first to feature series regular Barbara Windsor.
Premise
When a secret chemical formula is stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans), British secret agent Simpkins is assigned to the case. Taking three bumbling trainees into the field, he pursues the enemy agents around the world before finally confronting the evil Dr Crow in a secret base.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Gerald Thomas
© Anglo Amalgamated Productions Ltd. MCMLXIV
A Peter Rogers production. Adder Productions *
Produced by: Peter Rogers
Associate Producer: Frank Bevis
Original Screenplay by: Talbot Rothwell and Sid Colin
Director of Photography: Alan Hume
Editor: Archie Ludski
Music Composed and Conducted by: Eric Rogers
Sound Recordists: C.C. Stevens, Bill Daniels
Costume Designer: Yvonne Caffin
Make-up: W.T. Partleton
Hairdressing: Biddy Crystal
Art Director: A. Vetchinsky
Studio: Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Cast
Kenneth Williams (Desmond Simkins)
Barbara Windsor (Daphne Honeybutt)
Bernard Cribbins (Harold Crump)
Charles Hawtrey (Charlie Bind)
Eric Barker (The Chief)
Dilys Laye (Lila)
Jim Dale (Carstairs)
Richard Wattis (Cobley)
Eric Pohlmann (Emil Fauzak, “The Fat Man”)
Victor Maddern (Milchmann)
Judith Furse (Doctor Crow)
John Bluthal (head waiter)
Renee Houston (Madame)
Jack Taylor (1st thug)
Tom Clegg (doorman)
Bill Cummings (2nd thug)
Gertan Klauber (code clerk)
Frank Forsyth (Professor Stark)
Norman Mitchell (native policeman)
Anthony Baird (1st guard)
Alternative Titles
Ist ja irre – Agenten auf dem Pulverfaß – Germany
Links
See also
James Bond
Dr. No (1962)
Press
1964
The Times 30 July 1964
A return to form for the “Carry On” team after their last unfortunate tangle with the costume extravaganza. […] The verbal humour is as shameless as ever, and often so outrageously childish in its fourth-form double-entendres that even the starchiest spectator will have to succumb. Very British, very much a Bank Holiday film and, yes, when all is said and done, very funny. – from an uncredited review
Financial Times 31 July 1964
Carry on Spying, now doing the rounds, is squarely in the tradition of old corn and innocent innuendo, and has Kenneth Williams in the lead. – from a review by David Robinson
The People 2 August 1964
It's holiday stuff that will probably choke you with laughs. – from a review by Ernest Betts
Sunday Times 2 August 1964
[A] burlesque which takes in the Ian Fleming series and the Third Man lot. Overplaying from Kenneth Williams, but general standard of farcical acting pretty good: Bernard Cribbins especially enjoyable. – from a review by Dilys Powell
The Spectator 7 August 1964
The Carry On series may lack subtlety, but at least it avoids the weedy refinement that passed for it in Ealing comedies. Carry on Spying, which should only be seen with a large audience, is probably the funniest and certainly the crudest to date. The inspiration is obviously the Bond films, although one can hardly call it either parody or satire. It is burlesque, and at its best thoroughly outrageous. […] Let's hope for more burlesques from Rogers and Thomas and more good old English camp from all concerned. Give lines about Carnival Queens or Barbara Windsor doing her bit to Kenneth Williams and they're played for much more than they're worth. And that is how it should be. – from a review by Ian Cameron
The Universe 7 August 1964
The laugh may be signalled a mile off, but never once, as in more serious films, do we feel that normal intelligence is being strained too far. – from a review (Slapstick comedy, a joy to watch) by Piers Compton
The Observer 9 August 1964
In “Carry on Spying” the characters are not only square enough to wear braces (partly so that they can catch on door handles); they are also camp enough to send up the colossal bull of a woman who is the film's heavy parody of Ian Fleming's M, in charge of an organisation called Stench. To put it another way, the range is so vast that it comfortably includes both Kenneth Williams and Richard Wattis. There is also Charles Hawtrey, playing an aged schoolboy as usual, with bared kneecaps as big as a cart horse's. Bernard Cribbins vaguely tries to turn Barbara Windsor into a male spy, but he can't find a place on her to hang her holster. Then he shows her how he draws his gun, which gives her a chance to say blissfully: “Oh Mr Simpkins, I'm sure I'll never get my draws off as slickly as that.” If this leaves you in misery, don't go. – from an illustrated review (In praise of Carrying On) by Penelope Gilliat
References
Periodicals
- ABC Film Review vol.14 no.8 (August 1964) p.22 – review
- Classic Television no.1 (September 1997) pp.25-33 – illustrated article (Carry On Remembering by Jim Bright)
- The Daily Cinema no.8934 (3 July 1964) p.7 – review
- Kine Weekly vol.548 no.2886 (24 January 1963) p.16 – note (Production plans)
- Kine Weekly no.2961 (2 July 1964) p.9 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.31 no.368 (September 1964) p.133 – credits, synopsis, review
- New Statesman 31 July 1964 – review (by John Coleman)
- Sight & Sound vol.3 no.5 (May 1993) p.70 – video listing
- The Spectator 7 August 1964 – review (by Ian Cameron)
- TV Quick 20-26 April 1991 p.19 – credits, review
- Variety 22 July 1964 – review (by Rich)
Newspapers
- Daily Herald 31 July 1964 – review (by Margaret Hinxman)
- Daily Telegraph 31 July 1964 – review
- Daily Worker 1 August 1964 – review (by Eddie Woods)
- Financial Times 31 July 1964 – review (by David Robinson)
- The Observer 9 August 1964 – illustrated review (In praise of Carrying On by Penelope Gilliat)
- The People 2 August 1964 – review (by Ernest Betts)
- Sunday Times 2 August 1964 – review (by Dilys Powell)
- The Times 30 July 1964 – review (uncredited)
- The Universe 7 August 1964 – review (Slapstick comedy, a joy to watch by Piers Compton)
Books
- British Sixties Cinema by Robert Murphy p.220 – note
- Carry on Confidential by Andy Davidson pp.74-80 – credits, notes
- The Carry On Story by Robert Ross pp.56-59 – illustrated article
- Elliot's Guide to Films on Video by John Elliot p.129 – credits, review, video data
- The Official Carry On Facts, Figures & Statistics by Kevin Snelgrove p.109 – credits
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.57 – credits
- What a Carry On: The Official Story of the Carry On Film Series compiled by Sally Hibbin and Nina Hibbin pp.90-91 – illustrated article
Other sources
- British National Film Catalogue vol.2 1964 – English
