CARRY ON BLOGGING

They could never be considered high cinematic art - indeed film critics, at least those that do notice them at all, regard them with a sneer. They are a nonsense, the British saucey postcard given life, a retread of the same childish humour over and over again, a diversion for breast obsessed, Sun newspaper reading Brits.

They are, of course the Carry On films and no matter what the critics say, they are very much a British institution. Woefully old fashioned in these overly politically correct times, the series was responsible for titillating generation after generation of British schoolboys, and quite a few dads too. But look beneath the surface and the Carry On series, for the most part, represents the British music hall from which many of its star performers hailed.

Kenneth Williams, who appeared in 26 of the thirty Carry On movies, had a long history both on the stage and in radio and television before appearing in his first Carry On, 1958's Carry on Sergeant. He was, of course, a regular character in the Tony Hancock radio show as well a a man of many characters on Round the Horne. Indeed when Round the Horne finished a spin off radio series, Stop Messing About was developed around Kenneth's talents. These are currently playing on BBC Radio 7. In his diaries he was often highly critical of the Carry On films, both of his own performances and those of his fellow actors, and gave the impression that he considered them to be beneath his talents. This was the case with many of the films, television programmes, stage plays and radio shows he appeared in. He was quick to find fault with his own work, but in my opinion he was over harsh with himself. He's only got to pull that pansy-boy face and I crack up with laughter.

Next to Kenneth Williams, perhaps the actor most associated with the Carry On films, is craggy faced Sid James. Before becoming an actor Sid worked as a hairdresser, diamond cutter, dance tutor and reputedly a part-time boxer in fairgrounds, before becoming a professional actor. Sid was equally at home with dramatic roles as comedy - he made his name as Tony Hancock's sidekick in the long running Hancock's Half Hour, both on radio and TV.

Sid became a leading member of the team, originally to replace Ted Ray who had appeared in Carry on Teacher in 1959. It was intended that Ray would become a recurring Carry On star, but he had been dropped after just one film because of contract problems (he was contracted to ABC films who had never used him). James ultimately made 19 Carry On films, receiving top-billing in 17, making him one of the most featured performers of the regular cast. The characters he portrayed in the films were usually very similar to the wise-cracking, sly, lecherous Cockney he was famed for playing on television, and in six cases bore the name Sid or Sidney.

Barbara Windsor, Joan Sims, Charles Hawtry, Kenneth Connor, Bernard Brewlaw, Peter Butterworth and Hatti Jaques were also series regulars. And the list of actors who popped up in the movies from time to time, reads like a who's who of British comedy.

The formula was usually stuck to with rigidity, but several of the movies, especially the historically themed ones are classics of British slapstick theatre Carry on Henry, Carry on Jack, Carry on Cleo and Carry on up the Khyber. Carry on Cowboy, is a successful spoof of the western genre and Carry on Spying does the same for the spy thriller. Below is a complete list of the series, together with link to their WIKI page.

• Carry On Sergeant (1958)
• Carry On Nurse (1959)
• Carry On Teacher (1959)
• Carry On Constable (1960)
• Carry On Regardless (1961)
• Carry On Cruising (1962)
• Carry On Cabby (1963)
• Carry On Jack (1963)
• Carry On Spying (1964)
• Carry On Cleo (1964)
• Carry On Cowboy (1965)
• Carry On Screaming (1966)
• Carry On Don't Lose your Head (1966)
• Carry On Follow That Camel (1967)
• Carry On Doctor (1967)
• Carry On Up The Khyber (1968)
• Carry On Camping (1969)
• Carry On Again Doctor (1969)
• Carry On Up The Jungle (1970)
• Carry On Loving (1970)
• Carry On Henry (1971)
• Carry On at Your Convenience (1971)
• Carry On Matron (1972)
• Carry On Abroad (1972)
• Carry On Girls (1973)
• Carry On Dick (1974)
• Carry On Behind (1975)
• Carry On England (1976)
• That's Carry On! (1977) Compilation
• Carry On Emmannuelle (1978)
• Carry On Columbus (1992)

It's difficult to pick out the best films, since everyone has a favourite. Cowboy is one of my faves, but then that's because of my love of the western genre rather than the film being better than any of the others. Carry on Doctor is a classic, as is Carry on Abroad. Below is a video of classic clips from Carry on Cowboy - there are a lot of Archive readers outside the UK who will not be familiar with the series. So go on enjoy, British comedy at its best.