Carry on Cruising (1962)

Director:

Gerald Thomas

Writers:

Eric Barker (story)
Norman Hudis (screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1962 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

That Carry On crew in a luxury laughter cruise!

Plot:

Captain Crowther's lot is not a happy one! Five of his crew have to be replaced and at such short notice...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Ship | Carry On | Independent Film

Cast

Sid James	...	Captain Wellington Crowther (as Sidney James)
Kenneth Williams	...	First Officer Leonard Marjoribanks
Kenneth Connor	...	Doctor Arthur Binn
Liz Fraser	...	Glad Trimble
Dilys Laye	...	Florence 'Flo' Castle
Esma Cannon	...	Bridget Madderley
Lance Percival	...	Wilfred Haines, Ship's Cook
Jimmy Thompson	...	Sam Turner, Barman
Ronnie Stevens	...	Drunk Passenger
Vincent Ball	...	Jenkins
Cyril Chamberlain	...	Tom Tree, Steward
Willoughby Goddard	...	Large Man
Ed Devereaux	...	Young Officer
Brian Rawlinson	...	Nervous Steward
Anton Rodgers	...	Young Man

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Peter Rogers Productions

Trivia:

Dilys Laye's dresses were bought in London's west end. She was allowed to keep the items following completion of the film.

Quotes:

Marjoribanks: I always find the first few days make me feel quite drowsy.
Captain: Shut your port-hole.
Marjoribanks: Begging your pardon, sir, one must have fresh...
Captain: ...and your cake-hole.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Carry on Cowboy (1966)

CARRY ON CRUISING (Gerald Thomas, 1962) **1/2

With a story by "Carry On" alumnus Eric Barker, this is a fairly weak entry in the series – and, as I said with respect to ANTS IN THE PANTRY (1936; The Three Stooges short which preceded it), going through a succession of films featuring the same actors, one becomes rather weary of the repetition. In this case, it's the characterization of individual members which hardly changes from one outing to the next (particularly at this early stage in the series, when the style of comedy more or less followed established rules rather than going all the way for double entendres and general tastelessness)!

For instance, Sid James is once again the flustered authority figure who has to mould his underlings – these are forever eager but incompetent, led by know-it-all Kenneth Williams and nervous Kenneth Connor (who, invariably, is given a hesitant romantic attachment); their effeminate usual cohort, Charles Hawtrey, is absent here but his replacement is the resistibly goofy Lance Percival as the new chef on James' ship. In fact, what drowns the film (pardon the pun) is the latter's schtick – as well as the presence of diminutive and dotty old lady Esma Cannon (also seen in CARRY ON REGARDLESS [1961] and CARRY ON CABBY [1963]). It doesn't help, then, that the most prominent actresses during this early phase of the "Carry Ons" – Hattie Jacques and Joan Sims – are also missing from this one…though it must be said that the two young female leads (Liz Fraser – also from REGARDLESS and CABBY – and Dilys Laye, who proves to be a surprisingly adept comedienne) are highly appealing.

Incidentally, this was the first film in the series to be shot in color and, as such, has added curiosity value – even if the overall quality isn't really up to the usual standards.