carry on cabby 1963

rating

plot

Speedee Taxis Limited, under its proprietor Charlie Hawkins, is a flourishing concern plying for hire in a suburban town. It flourishes, however, at the expense of Charlie's wife Peg, who finds herself taking a very poor second place to the cabs. Ted Watson, the General Manager, acts as a constant arbiter between the two, whilst maintaining a passionate interest in Sally Green, who runs the cab-yard canteen.

Driven to the limits of her endurance when she spends her wedding anniversary alone, Peg decides to take aggressive action. In partnership with Flo, the wife of one of Charlie's drivers. Peg opens her own taxi business in opposition to Speedee Taxis. But this is a cab company with a difference. Called 'Glamcabs' Pegs organisation is operated by a team of gorgeous girls attired in revealing uniforms. After due training all this glamour is unleashed on the unsuspecting public. Charlie is staggered, but has no inkling that it’s financed with all his money (since it's all in Pegs name) and run by his wife. He and Ted promptly declare war on Glamcabs who quickly sweep business away from under the wheels of the stunned Speedee taxis. Warfare between to rival companies develops from simple acts of sabotage into a full-scale feud.

When all Charlie's machinations fail, he resorts to invasion. He persuades Ted to disguise himself as a Glamcab girl in order to infiltrate the enemy camp.

But Glamcabs have a spy in the Speedee Taxis camp. It's Sally, who gives Charlie's plot away to Peg, who with her girls, successfully foils the invasion.

But it's a hollow victory for Peg, who soon discovers that Charlie's outraged dignity at discovering that his arch enemy is his own wife is more difficult to live with then his preoccupation with cabs. She and Sally are not laughing all the way to the bank with the week’s takings the day they are hi-jacked by crooks.

Peggy manages to sound the alarm through the cab radio and Charlie alerts all cabs over his network. Arriving in the nick of time, he engineers rescue operations with magnificent military aplomb and at the same time, succeeds in restoring domestic bliss to the Hawkins household.

review

The best of the Black and White Carry Ons, but the first without Kenneth Williams. Although his presence goes largely unnoticed as the cast are all on top form and blessed with a cracker of a script by Carry On debutant Talbot Rothwell. Whereas the previous six films had mostly dealt with new recruits of some sort trying to impress their weary boss, this film concentrates on the marriage between Charlie and Peggy like the strain on the relationship caused by work commitments, whilst also dealing with the eternal battle of the sexes. Therefore this one is grounded more in reality than the previous six outings and as a result is able to convey a strong social comment whilst still maintaining comedic values.

Here we see the genesis of Sid's Cockney character that would go on to typify a Carry On, whilst Hattie shines as the housewife that is exasperated by her husbands cab obsessed shenanigans. They both play their roles relatively straight and this adds to the realism of the piece. The humour comes from the other members of the cast and the situations they find themselves in.

Special mention must be given to Charles Hawtrey as the wonderfully naive PintPot, ("ooh, I could punish myself!") who tries hard and regularly fails to do anything correctly.

Overall Carry On Cabby is a film about relationships and how devotion to work can cloud judgement on other important factors in your life. Whilst also commenting on such problems faced by society such as failing relationships and failing businesses. The fact that an essentially depressing film can be so great is testament to the all-round ability of all concerned.

other information

Carry On Cabby started life as a Talbot Rothwell script entitled Call Me A Cab. Indeed it was only changed to Carry On Cabby at the last minute due to a request by Anglo Amalgamated. The opening score is still based around the words 'call me a cab'.

This was the first film that credits music man Eric Rogers. Previously Bruce Montgomery was on composing and conducting duties. Eric assisted, uncredited, for the previous three films.

In Taxi! (BBC, 1963-64) Sid James played London cabby Sid Stone who, like his character in Carry On Cabby, gets involved in the day to day problems of his fares and his fellow drivers. The twelve, 50-minute episodes were an uneven mix of drama and comedy that unfortunately did not prove successful in the audience ratings. It also starred Bill Owen as Sid's partner Fred Cuddell and Ray Brooks as driver Terry Mills. Click here for a photo of Sid in Taxi! and click here for the Radio Times billing for the first episode.

Charles Hawtrey couldn't drive before filming commenced. It was up to a Pinewood stagehand to teach him in the grounds of the studios.

Rumour has it that this film was made in colour and that two versions of the film exist. Unhappily they don't.

Kenneth Williams was pencilled in to play Allbright, however the actor was unwilling to participate, so the role was reduced and given to Norman Chappell.
This is the only film that has both the Rank logo and the Anglo Amalgamated logo in the pre-credits.

Promotional tie ins were arranged with both the Ford Motor Company and Regent Petrol. Both get good plugs in the film!

bloopers

Charlie enters the office blind drunk. However minutes later he's ably masterminding a car chase before setting off on the road himself. How did he drive in that state?

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