Carry On Constable

Carry On Constable
Original UK quad poster
Directed by Gerald Thomas
Produced by Peter Rogers
Written by Norman Hudis
Starring Sid James
Eric Barker
Kenneth Connor
Charles Hawtrey
Kenneth Williams
Leslie Phillips
Joan Sims
Hattie Jacques
Shirley Eaton
Terence Longden
Music by Bruce Montgomery
Cinematography Ted Scaife
Edited by John Shirley
Distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated
Release date
 25 February 1960 [1]
Running time
 86 min.
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Budget £82,500

Carry On Constable is the fourth film from the Carry On series, with 31 entries. It was released in February 1960. Of the regular team, it featured Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, and Hattie Jacques. Sid James makes his debut in the series here, while early regulars Leslie Phillips, Eric Barker, and Shirley Eaton also turn up, although Phillips did not appear again in the series for 32 years. It was the first "Carry On..." film to include some nudity with Connor, Hawtrey, Williams, and Phillips baring their behinds during a shower scene.

Plot

A suburban police station is understaffed due to a flu epidemic, and Sergeant Wilkins, under pressure to maintain staffing levels, is pleased to hear that three new recruits, straight from training school, are due shortly.

Before even arriving, the three policemen inadvertently assist some bank robbers into their getaway car, and are embarrassed when they learn the truth. The new constables are self-proclaimed intellectual and amateur psychologist PC Timothy Benson, former socially well-connected playboy and cad PC Tom Potter, and extremely superstitious PC Charles Constable. The arrival of WPC Gloria Passworthy, with whom Constable falls in love, and Special Constable Gorse completes the roster.

Out on the beat, the new constables try hard, but are less than successful. Benson nearly arrests a plainclothes detective, and Constable believes he is just heard a murder being committed, but it turns out to be a radio play. Potter investigates a report of an intruder, but finds a young woman in the bath and engages in a civil conversation with her about her recently broken relationship. Gorse, tasked to patrol with a police dog, is unable to control it. They have better luck when a wages robbery takes place. Benson and Potter locate the getaway car, and all four engage in a confrontation with the thieves, arresting them and recovering the money.

Commended for his efficiency and excellent results, Inspector Mills is promoted to a training position and Wilkins is promoted to replace him. Charlie Constable gets his girl (with a little help from Sgt Moon) and stops being superstitious.

Cast

Crew

  • Screenplay – Norman Hudis
  • Idea – Brock Williams
  • Music – Bruce Montgomery
  • Art Director – Carmen Dillon
  • Director of Photography – Ted Scaife
  • Editor – John Shirley
  • Production Manager – Frank Bevis
  • Camera Operator – Alan Hume
  • Assistant Director – Peter Manley
  • Sound Editor – Leslie Wiggins
  • Sound Recordists – Robert T MacPhee & Bill Daniels
  • Continuity – Joan Davis
  • Make-up – George Blackler
  • Hairdressing – Stella Rivers
  • Dress Designer – Yvonne Caffin
  • Set Dressing – Vernon Dixon
  • Casting Director – Betty White
  • Producer – Peter Rogers
  • Director – Gerald Thomas

Role of Sergeant Wilkins

Initially, the role of Sergeant Wilkins was intended for Ted Ray following his work on the previous film Carry On Teacher. However, Ray was contracted to ABC (despite being unused by them), who distributed the Carry On films to cinemas. Unhappy seeing one of their contracted actors in a rival production, they threatened to stop distribution, so Peter Rogers reluctantly dropped him from the films and replaced him with Sid James, thus beginning James's 19-film long membership of the Carry On team.

Filming and locations

  • Filming dates – 9 November-18 December 1959

Interiors:

Exteriors:

The exterior of the police station is Hanwell Library, Cherrington Road, W7. Other scenes were filmed along the parade of shops on The Avenue in West Ealing, W13, with the Drayton Court Hotel visible in many scenes. The Royal Mail Sorting Office in Manor Road and the railway footbridge over the GWR out of West Ealing is also seen as still standing today. Other scenes were filmed on and around St Mary's Road (including St Mary's Church) and the surrounding streets, Ealing W5. The store used was F.H. Rowse department store. The building was demolished in the early 1980s and was situated on the junction of Green Man Lane and Uxbridge Road in Ealing.

Release

The fourth film in the classic British comedy film series, Carry On Constable premiered at London’s Plaza cinema on 25 February 1960.[1]

Bibliography

  • Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1-908630-01-8.
  • Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0-85768-279-6.
  • Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0-09-949007-4.
  • Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1-906358-15-0.
  • Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (2007) (Reynolds & Hearn Books)
  • Ross, Robert (2002). The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-8771-8.
  • Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-55183-6.
  • Rigelsford, Adrian (1996). Carry On Laughing – a celebration. London: Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-554-5.
  • Hibbin, Sally & Nina (1988). What a Carry On. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-55819-4.
  • Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-7403-0.

References

  1. 1 2 "Carry On Constable". Art & Hue. 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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