carry on at your convenience 1971

rating

plot

In the boardroom of W.C. Boggs and Sons, makers of fine tolietware - Established 1870 - Mr W.C. Boggs is testing out his latest toilet bowl for size and comfort. The guinea pig for this unusual chore is his long-suffering secretary, Miss Withering. Also present is the factory foreman, Sid Plummer and the firm’s designer, Charles Coote.

Meanwhile, hard at work in the packing room are Chloe Moore, her crony Maud and Bernie Hulke under the supervision of rebellious shop steward, Vic Spanner.

But the industrious atmosphere does not last long. After a swiftly contrived dispute over tea breaks, the whole factory goes on strike. This doesn't worry Lewis Boggs; in fact, it is the perfect opportunity for him to date Myrtle Plummer, the foreman’s attractive daughter and factory canteen girl, that afternoon - much to the annoyance of Vic, who also has his eye on her.

So the workers all arrive unexpectedly at their respective homes for lunch. At the Plummer's, Sid settles himself down for an afternoon of 'horses', which immediately upsets his wife Beattie who bemoans the fact that he wastes so much money on them and never picks that elusive winner. When she takes up Sid's challenge to do better, they soon notice their budgie (who up until then, has never uttered so much as a squawk) chirps during Sid's reading of the list of runners from the previous days racing - and every chirp coincides with the winner of that race. Sid has found himself a feathered goldmine, to the cost of his local bookie.

For others, the afternoon has been far from happy. After Bernie has picked up Vic on his motorbike, they are racing through town to the football match when they see Lewis picking up Myrtle in his sports car. At Vic’s command to follow them, Bernie pulls away so abruptly, that he leaves his pal standing in the middle of the road - minus his trousers.

Vic’s troubles do not stop there. He arrives home furtively, only to be greeted by the dreaded voice of his Mother demanding to know what he's doing without his pants. He looks aghast at his Mum, who has emerged from her tête-à-tête with Charles Coote - who is lodging with them - dressed only in her underwear, unaware that they are emerged in a game of strip poker.

That afternoon has not worked out for Lewis and Myrtle either, and after a series of disasters, Myrtle storms out on him.

Eventually life returns to normal at the factory. Lewis has been absent for a couple of weeks, but returns with an order for 1000 bidets for a harem in the Far East. The bank manager refuses to increase the firm’s overdraft to cover the initial outlay, so Sid consorts with his budgie and overcomes this little problem.

But there is another cloud on the horizon. Vic has called another strike, when his discovers two of his fitters are required to do two jobs. W.C. Boggs is plunged into despair as he seriously faces bankruptcy.

Suddenly the workers stream back into the factory - just in time for the firm’s annual outing to Brighton. W.C. Boggs startles everyone by announcing that he'll be joining them. He even sets the tone of the trip himself, as the management and staff shed all their inhibitions in a mad scamper in and out of the hotel bar and around the piers amusement booths.

It turns out to be quite a day. Lewis, having organised a special marriage licence, chases Myrtle everywhere until they finally get married that afternoon. Knowing of Miss Witherings deep hidden passion for W.C, Sid - aided by Chloe - poses as a fortune-teller and puts the unsuspecting couple on the road to romance. Finally the whole party return home - absolutely plastered, but totally happy.

The factory's labour problems are also about to be solved. The very next day Agatha Spanner arrives at the factory leading a regiment of women workers and wives to break the picket organised by her son and open the factory doors. Work is resumed and W.C. Boggs is in business again!

review

The best of the 1970's Carry On's, and certainly a strong contender for the best Carry On ever. The whole film is a delight from start to finish, with the usual characters firing on all cylinders especially during the Brighton scenes.

Amazingly enough this was the first major flop in the Carry On cannon, taking about five years to make up its production costs. This was due to the fact that the major Carry On audience were alienated due to the negative portrayal of unions and their representatives. In this case Kenneth Cope, as the bolshie union leader, comes across as a troublemaking Mummy's boy who ultimately gets trumped in the love stakes by Richard O'Callaghan, who portrays the boss' son, and finally let down by his fellow workers

Thankfully overall, history has been kind to this particular film and sums up everything that is quintessential about a Carry On film. There are plenty of toilet gags (inevitable as its set in a toilet factory) a raucous trip to Brighton and loads of Sid chuckles and Kenneth's ooohs. In amongst all this is a wonderfully touching scene between Sid James and Joan Sims almost, but not quite, giving in to temptation after their return from the coach trip. It shows that there could be a serious and touching side to the series behind all the innuendo.

Other things to watch out for are the fantastic opening credits blessed with some of Eric Rogers strongest musical work, Kenneth Cope trying to have a serious union meeting but the innuendo just keeps flying,  a great send up of the sex education films that were creeping in at the time with Harry Towb as the 'well known and practicing doctor' and Kenneth Williams getting completely 'refreshed' on the pier.

other information

Having had his trousers torn off by Bernard Bresslaw's motorcycle (well, it could happen to anyone), Kenneth Cope tries to cover his embarrassment by pretending to be a race walker, presumably in the belief that race walkers wear shirts and under-pants.

Both Terry Scott and Bill Pertwee, saw their roles cut from the film. Terry played Mr Allcock, the union leader. Whilst Bill Pertwee played the manager of a smashing bar and nightclub venue called The Whippit Inn.

Bernard Bresslaw came unstuck when he claimed to Peter Rogers that he could ride a motorbike. The scene when Bernie is required to stop his bike and dismount ran to over 20 takes. Unheard of for a Carry On.

Jack Crump was a coach operator who traded as Denham Coaches whose vehicles can be found in several of the films over the years. Jack's operating centre was actually in the grounds of Pinewood Studios, so naturally much of his work entailed taking the production teams on location and he provided coaches for filming as required. In this case the coach that takes the gang down to Brighton.

Outside of the UK, the film was called Carry On Round the Bend.
click here to view the poster

Filming of the Pier sequence took place on Brighton's Palace Pier. Whilst the street used for Vic's house was the Baker Street set that was originally constructed for the film, 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'.

bloopers

Whilst Charlie says "It was hardly designed as a reading room" during his first scene, the camera immediately changes shot and he can be seen saying the word 'room' again but with no audio.

A bloke wearing a great suit (ahem!) with a big mop of red hair can be seen walking down the street when Bernie first pulls up outside Vic's house. Soon after, the same bloke can be seen across the road from the parked motorbike. A few seconds later, there he is again, back walking down the street behind Vic.

On the coach on the way to Brighton, look at the road they are on when Lewis is chasing them. It turns to the left of the screen. In the next shot inside the coach the road is different and turns to the right.

Benny the Bookies cigar grows longer and shorter during his conversation with Sid.

When the coach pulls up in Brighton where they are supposed to have their lunch, Bernie is the first one out. In the shot before he is right at the back.

When Vic is getting beaten up in the Ghost Train by Lewis, compare the sound to that of him getting smacked by his Mum at the end of the film. It's the same sound effect.

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