Carry on Camping
Written by Graeme Huggan
Copyright 1998
Carry on Camping is probably the most memorable Carry on film due to some unforgettable scenes and some classic double-entendres. Sid Boggle and his mate Bernie (Sid James and Bernard Bresslaw) lure their girlfriends Joan Fussey and her friend Anthea (Joan Sims and Dilys Laye) to what they believe to be a nudist camp. When they get there, they find a half-empty campsite, a campsite owner Mr. Fiddler (Peter Butterworth) who is only interested in making money and looking after his chickens, and Joan and Anthea insist they sleep in separate tents. Meanwhile, Dr.Soaper (Kenneth Williams) and the girls from Chayste Finishing School are on a school trip via Stonehenge to the campsite. When they arrive at the campsite, Sid and Bernie take a fancy to two of the girls, Barbara (Barbara Windsor) and Fanny, but are thwarted in their attempts to get to know them by Joan and Anthea, Dr. Soaper and his companion, the Matron (Hattie Jacques). Other holiday-makers include a businessman Peter Potter (Terry Scott) and his 'laughing like a hyena' wife Harriet Potter, and their new-found companion, the impossible Charlie Muggins (Charles Hawtrey). The main storyline is about Sid and Bernie's attempts to arrange a rendezvous with Barbara and Fanny, but other story threads include the undeliberate attempt by Charlie Muggins to split up Peter and Harriet, the example of Mr.Fiddler living up to his name, and the continuation of the long-running on/off romance between Kenneth Williams' character and Hattie Jacques' 'Matron'. There are many memorable scenes, such as, of course, the famous scene where Babs "loses" her bra, the opening scene with Charlie Muggins in a tent with the shop assistant, and the various scenes between Matron and Dr.Soaper. Memorable quotes include:- Dr.Soaper- "No, no, Barbara. Tent up first, bunk up later!" "Its getting it to stay up, that's what counts!" Acting and comical honours go to Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques who make a perfect double-act, Charles Hawtrey who continues to harass the other cast members with his innocent and ignorant portayal of Muggins, and Barbara Windsor who shines as Babs! The major parts played by Sid, Bernie, Joan and Dilys are well-performed but are undistinguished, as is Terry Scott's portayal of Peter. The minor part of Mr.Fiddler is a 'tour-de-force' for Peter Butterworth. Even though the film suffers from a wafer-thin plot and seems to have no ending, it is still a great piece of British comedy entertainment. The actors are in very high spirits (even though it was filmed in November on a green-painted muddy field), the double-entendres come thick and fast, and the numerous memorable scenes make this movie a classic of the Carry On's. Well-worth watching.
My rating:- 5 out of 5 stars.
Written by Graeme Huggan.
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