'Carry On Doctor' (1967) & the 'Carry On' Comedy Series
Apr 7, 2018 0:48:23 GMT
louise, sostie, and 1 more like this
Post by petrolino on Apr 7, 2018 0:48:23 GMT
The 'Carry On' film series consists of 31 feature-length British motion pictures released between 1958 and 1992, a quartet of Christmas specials, a television series and three West End and provincial stage plays. The series mined a rich vein of humour rooted in the British traditions of music hall and light entertainment while exploiting national passions for bawdy seaside postcards and glamour girl photography. In 2008, an online poll was conducted to decide the greatest entry that exists within the 'Carry On' comedy cannon.
'Carry On Doctor' (1967), which ranks at number 2 in the poll, would probably be my personal selection for number 1, although I find the public's top 10 list to be generally strong. 'Doctor' is part of the medical cycle with 'Carry On Nurse' (1959), 'Carry On Again Doctor' (1969) and 'Carry On Matron' (1972), providing perhaps the strongest template in the series, though I'd rate their holiday cycle of 'Carry On Cruising' (1962), 'Carry On Camping' (1969), 'Carry On Abroad' (1972) and the historical holiday hybrid 'Carry On Behind' (1975) almost as highly.
The scattershot storytelling in 'Carry On Doctor' moves from patient to patient in a similar fashion to the original template created with the social satire 'Carry On Nurse' though it's a much broader comedy overall. The writing of Talbot Rothwell pokes good-natured fun at the 'Dr. Kildare' craze with Jim Dale demonstrating his rare talent for physical comedy as clumsy specialist Dr. Jim Kilmore. Many of the series regulars were operating at their peak from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, having established successful working methods, a strong rapport and a deep understanding of director Gerald Thomas' unshakeable comedy format. 'Carry On Doctor' is also notable for its use of sound which enhances the usual slapstick shenanigans.
Sid James, Joan Sims, Peter Rogers, Gerald Thomas, Barbara Windsor, Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques & Jim Dale assemble during the filming of 'Carry On Again Doctor'
'Itchycoo Park' - Small Faces
'Itchycoo Park' - Small Faces
This is the 'TOP 10 CARRY ON FILMS' as decided by the voting public : 1. Camping (1969); 2. Doctor (1967); 3. Up The Khyber (1968); 4. Nurse (1959); 5. Matron (1972); 6. Screaming (1966); 7. Cleo (1964); 8. Abroad (1972); 9. Sergeant (1958); 10. Constable (1960).
Peter Butterworth, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Sid James, Charles Hawtrey & Barbara Windsor with the cast of 'Carry On Abroad'
This is the 'TOP 10 STARS' as voted for by the public : 1. Sid James; 2. Kenneth Williams; 3. Barbara Windsor; 4. Hattie Jacques; 5. Charles Hawtrey; 6. Jim Dale; 7. Joan Sims; 8. Kenneth Connor; 9. Terry Scott; 10. Wendy Richard.
Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor, Sid James, Joan Sims & Peter Butterworth with the cast of 'Carry On Girls'
'Carry On Doctor'
'Carry On Doctor'
'Carry On Doctor' (1967), which ranks at number 2 in the poll, would probably be my personal selection for number 1, although I find the public's top 10 list to be generally strong. 'Doctor' is part of the medical cycle with 'Carry On Nurse' (1959), 'Carry On Again Doctor' (1969) and 'Carry On Matron' (1972), providing perhaps the strongest template in the series, though I'd rate their holiday cycle of 'Carry On Cruising' (1962), 'Carry On Camping' (1969), 'Carry On Abroad' (1972) and the historical holiday hybrid 'Carry On Behind' (1975) almost as highly.
"They were shot on minuscule budgets and their director, Gerald Thomas, worked at such speed that he was always ahead of their strictest 9-to-5 schedules. They were regarded as the lowest of the cultural low. And yet, 20 years after their demise, the Carry On films are not only endlessly repeated on television but are being accorded the honour of a complete retrospective at the National Film Theatre which starts on February 16.
It seems, rather surprisingly, that they still retain the capacity to shock and annoy. When a couple of years ago I placed Carry On Up The Khyber and Carry On Cleo in a list of top 10 films of all time, I wasn't sure whether I was lodging my tongue firmly in my cheek or sticking it at the pompous idiots who had never recognised these films for the perfect gems they were. The reaction was more than gratifying. A recent documentary had a leading fount of pomposity bursting with outrage and dyspepsia at my choice as though to recognise the value of the Carry Ons was to place Throne and Altar in danger.
In a way, it does. The first and most important thing to say about the Carry Ons is that they are devoted to puncturing the absurd claims of authority whether that is represented by Caesar or the Commanding Officer, Robespierre or Matron. Indeed, perhaps the most endearing charm of this series is its assumption that there is no difference between petty and real Hitlers; that at bottom, and I use the term advisedly, authority is little more than a ridiculous attempt to deny the reality and presence of the body.
I don't want to propose for a moment that these films are subversive or radical. There is no hint of replacing the existing order of authority but there is equally no suggestion that the order is anything other than ridiculous. The humour of the Carry On films is perhaps best described as plebian, a continuous outpouring of derision at class pomp and pretension. It is usual to characterise the Carry On films in relation to Angus McGill seaside postcards and that peculiar British attitude to sex which regards it as, in essence, socially embarrassing. There is no doubt that the lineage is correct. But the deep springs of the creativity for the Carry On films are to be found in the second world war and the extraordinary flowering of humour which came out of that most democratic of combats ..."
- Professor Colin MacCabe (in 1999), 'Why Carry On Cleo And Carry On Up The Khyber Are Two Of The Best Films Ever'
Barbara Windsor
'I Can't Explain' - The Who
It seems, rather surprisingly, that they still retain the capacity to shock and annoy. When a couple of years ago I placed Carry On Up The Khyber and Carry On Cleo in a list of top 10 films of all time, I wasn't sure whether I was lodging my tongue firmly in my cheek or sticking it at the pompous idiots who had never recognised these films for the perfect gems they were. The reaction was more than gratifying. A recent documentary had a leading fount of pomposity bursting with outrage and dyspepsia at my choice as though to recognise the value of the Carry Ons was to place Throne and Altar in danger.
In a way, it does. The first and most important thing to say about the Carry Ons is that they are devoted to puncturing the absurd claims of authority whether that is represented by Caesar or the Commanding Officer, Robespierre or Matron. Indeed, perhaps the most endearing charm of this series is its assumption that there is no difference between petty and real Hitlers; that at bottom, and I use the term advisedly, authority is little more than a ridiculous attempt to deny the reality and presence of the body.
I don't want to propose for a moment that these films are subversive or radical. There is no hint of replacing the existing order of authority but there is equally no suggestion that the order is anything other than ridiculous. The humour of the Carry On films is perhaps best described as plebian, a continuous outpouring of derision at class pomp and pretension. It is usual to characterise the Carry On films in relation to Angus McGill seaside postcards and that peculiar British attitude to sex which regards it as, in essence, socially embarrassing. There is no doubt that the lineage is correct. But the deep springs of the creativity for the Carry On films are to be found in the second world war and the extraordinary flowering of humour which came out of that most democratic of combats ..."
- Professor Colin MacCabe (in 1999), 'Why Carry On Cleo And Carry On Up The Khyber Are Two Of The Best Films Ever'
Barbara Windsor
'I Can't Explain' - The Who
The scattershot storytelling in 'Carry On Doctor' moves from patient to patient in a similar fashion to the original template created with the social satire 'Carry On Nurse' though it's a much broader comedy overall. The writing of Talbot Rothwell pokes good-natured fun at the 'Dr. Kildare' craze with Jim Dale demonstrating his rare talent for physical comedy as clumsy specialist Dr. Jim Kilmore. Many of the series regulars were operating at their peak from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, having established successful working methods, a strong rapport and a deep understanding of director Gerald Thomas' unshakeable comedy format. 'Carry On Doctor' is also notable for its use of sound which enhances the usual slapstick shenanigans.
My 'Carry On' Favourites : Ranked
01. Carry On Doctor (1967)
02. Carry On Abroad (1972)
03. Carry On Matron (1972)
04. Carry On Spying (1964)
05. Carry On Up The Jungle (1970)
06. Carry On Camping (1969)
07. Carry On Screaming! (1966)
08. Carry On Henry (1971)
09. Carry On Dick (1974)
10. Carry On Loving (1970)
Shirley Eaton
Liz Fraser
11. Carry On Again Doctor (1969)
12. Carry On Girls (1973)
01. Carry On Doctor (1967)
02. Carry On Abroad (1972)
03. Carry On Matron (1972)
04. Carry On Spying (1964)
05. Carry On Up The Jungle (1970)
06. Carry On Camping (1969)
07. Carry On Screaming! (1966)
08. Carry On Henry (1971)
09. Carry On Dick (1974)
10. Carry On Loving (1970)
Shirley Eaton
Liz Fraser
11. Carry On Again Doctor (1969)
12. Carry On Girls (1973)
13. Carry On Teacher (1959)
14. Carry On Cleo (1964)
15. Carry On Cowboy (1965)
16. Carry On Regardless (1961)
17. Carry On Cabby (1963)
18. Carry On Behind (1975)
19. Carry On Cruising (1962)
20. Carry On Nurse (1959)
Dilys Laye & Kenneth Connor
Angela Douglas
Valerie Leon
21. Carry On England (1976)
22. (Carry On) Don't Lose Your Head (1966)
23. Carry On Constable (1960)
24. Carry On Jack (1963)
14. Carry On Cleo (1964)
15. Carry On Cowboy (1965)
16. Carry On Regardless (1961)
17. Carry On Cabby (1963)
18. Carry On Behind (1975)
19. Carry On Cruising (1962)
20. Carry On Nurse (1959)
Dilys Laye & Kenneth Connor
Angela Douglas
Valerie Leon
21. Carry On England (1976)
22. (Carry On) Don't Lose Your Head (1966)
23. Carry On Constable (1960)
24. Carry On Jack (1963)
25. Carry On Sergeant (1958)
26. Carry On Up The Khyber (1968)
27. (Carry On) Follow That Camel (1967)
28. Carry On Emmannuelle (1978)
29. Carry On At Your Convenience (1971)
30. That's Carry On! (1977)
Jacki Piper
'Love Is All Around' - The Troggs
31. Carry On Columbus (1992)
26. Carry On Up The Khyber (1968)
27. (Carry On) Follow That Camel (1967)
28. Carry On Emmannuelle (1978)
29. Carry On At Your Convenience (1971)
30. That's Carry On! (1977)
Jacki Piper
'Love Is All Around' - The Troggs
31. Carry On Columbus (1992)
'Carry On Doctor' is currently available as part of the 'Carry On' dvd collection box-set. The 'Carry On' franchise is set to be rebooted but it's been stuck in pre-production limbo hell for most of this decade. Top U K celebrities including Graham Norton, Richard Osman, Sheridan Smith, Amanda Holden, Alan Carr and Ant McPartlin have reportedly led the charge to appear in the new movie, such is the enduring popularity of this great British institution. Let's hope it's better than the disastrous 'Carry On Columbus' (1992) ...
