Carry On Girls
Encyclopedia
Carry On Girls is the 25th Carry On
film, released in Britain in 1973. The film is notable for being the first not to feature either Kenneth Williams
or Charles Hawtrey
. Williams was appearing in a West End play, My Fat Friend. Hawtrey had been dropped from the series the year before. The film features regulars Sid James
, Barbara Windsor
, Joan Sims
, Kenneth Connor
, Bernard Bresslaw
and Peter Butterworth
. Patsy Rowlands
makes her seventh appearance in the series. Jack Douglas
makes his third appearance, this time upgraded to a main role. Jimmy Logan
makes a guest appearance in his second and final Carry On.
) hits on the notion of holding a beauty contest. The Mayor, Frederick Bumble (Kenneth Connor
) is taken with the idea but feminist Councillor, Augusta Prodworthy (June Whitfield
) is outraged. She storms out of the meeting in disgust. The motion is carried in Augusta's absence and Sidney contacts publicist Peter Potter (Bernard Bresslaw
) to help with the organisation. Sidney's girlfriend, Connie Philpotts (Joan Sims
) runs a local hotel and soon her residents, including the eccentric Mrs Dukes (Joan Hickson
) and the Admiral (Peter Butterworth
) are outnumbered by dolly birds, including the feuding biker babe, Hope Springs (Barbara Windsor
) and the bountiful Dawn Brakes (Margaret Nolan
). A fight orchestrated by Hope provides better newspaper copy than bringing a donkey off the beach which, despite the bucket and spade of hotel employee William (Jack Douglas
), ruins the plush carpets! Press photographer Larry (Robin Askwith
) happily snaps the Mayor losing his trousers at a most awkward moment and nervously gulps his way through a nude session with Dawn. Eventually, the Mayor's wife, Mildred (Patsy Rowlands
) joins Prodworthy's bra-burning movement and plots the downfall of the Miss Fircombe contest on the pier. Peter Potter reluctantly becomes a man in a frock for another publicity gimmick for the television show, Women's Things, presented by Cecil Gaybody (Jimmy Logan
) and produced by Debra (Sally Geeson
). Prodworthy and butch feminist Rosemary (Patricia Franklin
) call in the police (David Lodge
and Billy Cornelius) but Peter's girlfriend, Paula (Valerie Leon
) steps into the breach as the mysterious girl. Finally Prodworthy's gang put "Operation Spoilsport" into action, sabotaging the final contest with water, mud and itching powder. With an angry mob after his blood, Sidney makes his escape with Hope on her motorcycle.
and Margaret Nolan
) enabled the film to gain the more commercially acceptable A certificate
(open to families) than the more restrictive AA certificate, barring entry to the under-fourteens.
Interiors:
Exteriors:
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
film, released in Britain in 1973. The film is notable for being the first not to feature either Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams was an English comic actor and comedian. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the Carry On films, and appeared in numerous British television shows, and radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne.-Life and career:Kenneth Charles Williams was born on 22 February...
or Charles Hawtrey
Charles Hawtrey (film actor)
George Frederick Joffre Hartree , known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor and musician.Beginning at a young age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving on to the radio...
. Williams was appearing in a West End play, My Fat Friend. Hawtrey had been dropped from the series the year before. The film features regulars Sid James
Sid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
, Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
, Joan Sims
Joan Sims
Joan Sims was an English actress best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, and latterly for playing Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By.-Early life:...
, Kenneth Connor
Kenneth Connor
Kenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:...
, Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:...
and Peter Butterworth
Peter Butterworth
Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was an English comedy actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in the Carry On series of films. He was also a regular on children's television and radio and appeared in seven early episodes of Doctor Who in 1965 as the 'The Meddling Monk'...
. Patsy Rowlands
Patsy Rowlands
Patsy Rowlands was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, as Betty in the popular ITV Thames sitcom Bless This House, and as Alice Meredith in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Hallelujah!.-Early years:She was born in Palmers Green, London and attended a...
makes her seventh appearance in the series. Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (actor)
Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :...
makes his third appearance, this time upgraded to a main role. Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan OBE, FRSAMD , born as James Allan Short, Dennistoun, Glasgow, was a Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.-Family:...
makes a guest appearance in his second and final Carry On.
Plot
The seaside town of Fircombe is facing a crisis - it's always raining and there's nothing for the tourists to do. So Councillor Sidney Fiddler (Sid JamesSid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
) hits on the notion of holding a beauty contest. The Mayor, Frederick Bumble (Kenneth Connor
Kenneth Connor
Kenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:...
) is taken with the idea but feminist Councillor, Augusta Prodworthy (June Whitfield
June Whitfield
June Rosemary Whitfield, CBE is an English actress, well known in the United Kingdom since the 1950s for roles in radio and television comedy series....
) is outraged. She storms out of the meeting in disgust. The motion is carried in Augusta's absence and Sidney contacts publicist Peter Potter (Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw
Bernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:...
) to help with the organisation. Sidney's girlfriend, Connie Philpotts (Joan Sims
Joan Sims
Joan Sims was an English actress best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, and latterly for playing Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By.-Early life:...
) runs a local hotel and soon her residents, including the eccentric Mrs Dukes (Joan Hickson
Joan Hickson
Joan Hickson OBE was an English actress of theatre, film and television, famed for playing Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series Miss Marple.- Wivenhoe :...
) and the Admiral (Peter Butterworth
Peter Butterworth
Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was an English comedy actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in the Carry On series of films. He was also a regular on children's television and radio and appeared in seven early episodes of Doctor Who in 1965 as the 'The Meddling Monk'...
) are outnumbered by dolly birds, including the feuding biker babe, Hope Springs (Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
) and the bountiful Dawn Brakes (Margaret Nolan
Margaret Nolan
Margaret Nolan, also known as Vicky Kennedy, is a British artist and a former actress and glamour model.-Career:...
). A fight orchestrated by Hope provides better newspaper copy than bringing a donkey off the beach which, despite the bucket and spade of hotel employee William (Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (actor)
Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :...
), ruins the plush carpets! Press photographer Larry (Robin Askwith
Robin Askwith
Robin Askwith , is an English film actor, most famous for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions... sex comedies.-Confessions...:...
) happily snaps the Mayor losing his trousers at a most awkward moment and nervously gulps his way through a nude session with Dawn. Eventually, the Mayor's wife, Mildred (Patsy Rowlands
Patsy Rowlands
Patsy Rowlands was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, as Betty in the popular ITV Thames sitcom Bless This House, and as Alice Meredith in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Hallelujah!.-Early years:She was born in Palmers Green, London and attended a...
) joins Prodworthy's bra-burning movement and plots the downfall of the Miss Fircombe contest on the pier. Peter Potter reluctantly becomes a man in a frock for another publicity gimmick for the television show, Women's Things, presented by Cecil Gaybody (Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan OBE, FRSAMD , born as James Allan Short, Dennistoun, Glasgow, was a Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.-Family:...
) and produced by Debra (Sally Geeson
Sally Geeson
Sally Louise Geeson is a British actress with a career mostly on television in the 1970s. Her most famous role was as Sid James' daughter, Sally, in Bless This House. The series was one of the first in colour in the UK; indeed the first seven episodes of Series One were in black and white...
). Prodworthy and butch feminist Rosemary (Patricia Franklin
Patricia Franklin
Patricia Franklin is an English actress. Her television credits include Black Books, The Bill, Silent Witness, The Sweeney and Play for Today....
) call in the police (David Lodge
David Lodge (actor)
David William Frederick Lodge was a British character actor.Before turning to acting he worked as a circus clown...
and Billy Cornelius) but Peter's girlfriend, Paula (Valerie Leon
Valerie Leon
Valerie Leon is an English actress who had roles in a number of high profile British film franchises, including the Carry On series.-Early life:...
) steps into the breach as the mysterious girl. Finally Prodworthy's gang put "Operation Spoilsport" into action, sabotaging the final contest with water, mud and itching powder. With an angry mob after his blood, Sidney makes his escape with Hope on her motorcycle.
Certification
The film marked a slightly more risqué treatment of the topic with more nudity and openly sexual jokes than previous films. Discreet cuts by the BBFC (mainly in the hotel fight sequence between bikini-clad contestants played by Barbara WindsorBarbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
and Margaret Nolan
Margaret Nolan
Margaret Nolan, also known as Vicky Kennedy, is a British artist and a former actress and glamour model.-Career:...
) enabled the film to gain the more commercially acceptable A certificate
History of British film certificates
-Overview:The UK's film ratings are decided by the British Board of Film Classification and have been since 1912. Previously, there were no agreed rating standards, and local councils imposed their own - often differing - conditions or restrictions...
(open to families) than the more restrictive AA certificate, barring entry to the under-fourteens.
Cast
- Sid JamesSid JamesSid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
as Sidney Fiddler - Barbara WindsorBarbara WindsorBarbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
as Hope Springs - Joan SimsJoan SimsJoan Sims was an English actress best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, and latterly for playing Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By.-Early life:...
as Connie Philpotts - Kenneth ConnorKenneth ConnorKenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:...
as Mayor Frederick Bumble - Bernard BresslawBernard BresslawBernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:...
as Peter Potter - Peter ButterworthPeter ButterworthPeter William Shorrocks Butterworth was an English comedy actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in the Carry On series of films. He was also a regular on children's television and radio and appeared in seven early episodes of Doctor Who in 1965 as the 'The Meddling Monk'...
as Admiral - June WhitfieldJune WhitfieldJune Rosemary Whitfield, CBE is an English actress, well known in the United Kingdom since the 1950s for roles in radio and television comedy series....
as Augusta Prodworthy - Jack DouglasJack Douglas (actor)Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :...
as William - Patsy RowlandsPatsy RowlandsPatsy Rowlands was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, as Betty in the popular ITV Thames sitcom Bless This House, and as Alice Meredith in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Hallelujah!.-Early years:She was born in Palmers Green, London and attended a...
as Mildred Bumble - Joan HicksonJoan HicksonJoan Hickson OBE was an English actress of theatre, film and television, famed for playing Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series Miss Marple.- Wivenhoe :...
as Mrs Dukes - David LodgeDavid Lodge (actor)David William Frederick Lodge was a British character actor.Before turning to acting he worked as a circus clown...
as Police Inspector - Valerie LeonValerie LeonValerie Leon is an English actress who had roles in a number of high profile British film franchises, including the Carry On series.-Early life:...
as Paula Perkins - Margaret NolanMargaret NolanMargaret Nolan, also known as Vicky Kennedy, is a British artist and a former actress and glamour model.-Career:...
as Dawn Brakes - Angela GrantAngela GrantAngela Grant is a British actress best known for her appearances in Carry On Up the Khyber and Carry On Girls. Before she started acting she was a teenage fashion model for the Lucie Clayton agency, she now does public speaking and work for charity. She lives in Knightsbridge, London.-External...
as Miss Bangor - Sally GeesonSally GeesonSally Louise Geeson is a British actress with a career mostly on television in the 1970s. Her most famous role was as Sid James' daughter, Sally, in Bless This House. The series was one of the first in colour in the UK; indeed the first seven episodes of Series One were in black and white...
as Debra - Wendy RichardWendy RichardWendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
as Ida Downe - Jimmy LoganJimmy LoganJimmy Logan OBE, FRSAMD , born as James Allan Short, Dennistoun, Glasgow, was a Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.-Family:...
as Cecil Gaybody - Arnold RidleyArnold RidleyMajor William Arnold Ridley, OBE was an English playwright and actor, first notable as the author of the play The Ghost Train and later in life for portraying the elderly Private Charles Godfrey in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army .-Early life:Ridley was born in Walcot, Bath, England where...
as Alderman Pratt - Robin AskwithRobin AskwithRobin Askwith , is an English film actor, most famous for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions... sex comedies.-Confessions...:...
as Larry
- Patricia FranklinPatricia FranklinPatricia Franklin is an English actress. Her television credits include Black Books, The Bill, Silent Witness, The Sweeney and Play for Today....
as Rosemary - Brian OsborneBrian OsborneBrian Osborne is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in Upstairs, Downstairs and The Sandbaggers. Osborne has also had minor roles in six Carry On films as well the TV series Carry On Laughing.-Early life:...
as "Half a quid" citizen - Bill PertweeBill PertweeWilliam Desmond Anthony Pertwee MBE is a British comedy actor. He is best known for playing the part of antagonist ARP Warden Hodges in the popular sitcom Dad's Army.-Early and personal life:...
as Fire chief - Marianne StoneMarianne StoneMarianne Stone was a British character actress. She appeared in many films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s...
as Miss Drew - Brenda CowlingBrenda CowlingBrenda Rose Cowling was an English actress. A native of London, Cowling wanted to be a film actress from the time she was a child; however, upon leaving school, she trained instead as a shorthand typist.After a time she joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she was a member of the same...
as Matron - Zena Clifton as Susan Brooks
- Laraine Humphrys as Eileen Denby
- Pauline Peart as Gloria Winch
- Caroline Whitaker as Mary Parker
- Barbara Wise as Julia Oates
- Carol Wyler as Maureen Darcy
- Mavise Fyson as Francis Cake
- Billy Cornelius as Constable
- Edward Palmer as Elderly resident
- Michael NightingaleMichael Nightingale-Selected filmography:* The Man Who Watched Trains Go By * Man in the Shadow * Ice-Cold in Alex * The Stranglers of Bombay * Watch Your Stern * The Young Jacobites * The Silent Weapon...
as City gent - Hugh FutcherHugh FutcherHugh Futcher is an English actor in theatre, television, and film. He was a member of the stock company of the Carry On films, with notable parts in Carry On Spying, Carry On At Your Convenience, and Carry On Behind...
as "There's Fiddler" citizen - Elsie Winsor as Cloakroom attendant
- Nick Hobbs as Stunt double
- Ron TarrRon TarrRonald "Ron" Tarr was a British actor who played minor roles in television series and films. He died of cancer in 1997....
as Bearded man
Crew
- Screenplay - Talbot RothwellTalbot RothwellTalbot Nelson Conn Rothwell, OBE was an English screenwriter.Rothwell was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He had a variety of jobs during his early life: town clerk, police officer, and Royal Air Force pilot....
- Music - Eric RogersEric RogersEric Rogers was a British composer, conductor and arranger, best known for composing the scores for numerous Carry On films.-Early life:...
- Production Manager - Roy Goddard
- Art Director - Robert JonesRobert JonesRobert Jones or Rob Jones or Bob Jones or Bobby Jones may refer to:-Politics:*Robert Jones , British Conservative politician, MP 1983–1997...
- Director of Photography - Alan HumeAlan HumeAlan Hume, B.S.C. was a British cinematographer.Hume started work at Denham Film Studios in 1942, and in the late 1940s he worked for Cineguild production company....
- Editor - Alfred RoomeAlfred RoomeAlfred Roome was a British cinematographer, film editor and occasional director. Born in London, on 22 December 1908 he first worked in the film industry as a film editor on the 1932 British comedy film Thark...
- Camera Operator - Jimmy Devis
- Assistant Director - Jack Causey
- Sound Recordists - Paul Lemare & Ken Barker
- Continuity - Marjorie Lavelly
- Make-up - Geoffrey Rodway
- Hairdresser - Stella Rivers
- Costume Design - Courtenay Elliott
- Set Dresser - Kenneth MacCallum Tait
- Dubbing Editor - Patrick Foster
- Assistant Editor - Jack GardnerJack GardnerJack Gardner may refer to:*Jack Gardner , 1948 ABA Heavyweight Champion*Jack Gardner , college basketball coach*Jack Gardner , general in the United States Army*Jack Gardner , American jazz musician...
- Title Sketches - LarryLarryLarry is a masculine given name in English, derived from Lawrence or Laurence. It can be a shortened form of those names.Larry may refer to the following:-Entertainment and media:...
- Titles - GSE Ltd
- Processor - Rank Film Laboratories
- Producer - Peter RogersPeter RogersPeter Rogers was a British film producer.Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper before graduating to scriptwriting religious informational films...
- Director - Gerald ThomasGerald ThomasGerald Thomas was an English film director, born in Hull.-Early life:Thomas was training in medicine when the Second World War began. He then served in the British army during the war, in Europe and the Middle East...
Filming and locations
- Filming dates – 16 April-25 May 1973
Interiors:
- Pinewood StudiosPinewood StudiosPinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
, Buckinghamshire
Exteriors:
- Brighton's West Pier. The Palace Pier, Brighton had previously been used a couple of years earlier in Carry On At Your ConvenienceCarry On at Your ConvenienceCarry On at Your Convenience, released in 1971, is the 22nd film of the Carry On series and was the first box office failure of the series. The failure has been attributed to the film's attempt at exploring the political themes of the trade union movement, crucially portraying the union activists...
. - Slough