Carry On Spying (1964)

A top secret chemical formula has been stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans), and so Agent Simpkins and his three trainees are hot on the trail, ... See full summary »

Director:

Gerald Thomas

Writers:

Talbot Rothwell (original screenplay), Sid Colin (original screenplay)

Stars:

Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenneth Williams	...	Desmond Simkins
Barbara Windsor	...	Daphne Honeybutt
Bernard Cribbins	...	Harold Crump
Charles Hawtrey	...	Charlie Bind
Eric Barker	...	The Chief
Dilys Laye	...	Lila
Jim Dale	...	Carstairs
Richard Wattis	...	Cobley
Eric Pohlmann	...	The Fat Man
Victor Maddern	...	Milchmann
Judith Furse	...	Doctor Crow
John Bluthal	...	Head Waiter / Doctor Crow - voice
Renee Houston	...	Madame
Jack Taylor	...	Thug
Tom Clegg	...	Doorman

Storyline

A top secret chemical formula has been stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans), and so Agent Simpkins and his three trainees are hot on the trail, chasing the villains across the world. There are gadgets galore, and disguises are compulsory if the heroes are to win the day from The Fat Man, Dr Milchman and Dr Crow!

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Plot Keywords:

carry on | spy comedy | woman with a gun | cigarette smoking | woman wears underwear | 

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Taglines:

Here Come Secret Agents O-O-Oh!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first treatment by Norman Hudis, Kenneth Connor was cast as secret agent Bold, Hattie Jacques as Dauntless, Joan Sims as Valliant and Sidney James as the head of the the spies. Four months later the basic script was the same, but Kenneth Williams was now the leader with the spy ring now consisting of Sidney James as Lucky Dexter, Joan Sims as Janie May, Kenneth Connor as Art Accleston, Charles Hawtrey as Fingers Allen and Esma Cannon as the administrator Amelia Barley. Peter Rogers, however, wasn't happy with the script. He'd been hoping for a James Bond parody, but what he got had one scene with the spies disguised as CND activists joining a peace rally. Disenchanted with Norman, who he'd later call a genius, he brought in Talbot Rothwell to write a new script with the title 'Come Spy With Me', but a month later, it had reverted to the original 'Carry On Spying (1964)'.

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Goofs

When trying to escape from the STENCH HQ, the agents go through some large circular saws and Charles Hawtrey's suit trousers and jacket are both ripped. Yet, in the next part of the sequence, just before they go through the jets of water, he turns around and his suit is undamaged.

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Quotes

[Harold Crump approaches Carstairs, in disguise as the filter tip bootlace salesman]
Harold Crump: I cannot smoke those, they make me deaf!

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Alternate Versions

A scene - apparently now lost - shows Agent Bind stopping to feed money into a fruit machine as the other recruits are escaping the fun house. It would seem that all existing prints of "Spying" now fade out just before this occurs but there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that this full version had been shown on British TV at least once during the 70s.

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Connections

Followed by Carry on Camping (1969)

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Soundtracks

"Greenslevees' (uncredited)
Traditional
Played by Harold Crump as he charms the snake

User Reviews

A spoof of British eccentricity

An audience may be forgiven for viewing Carry on Spying as a spoof of an eclectic range of spy films. However, in fact this is a mistaken view. Films such as The Third Man (1949), Casablanca,(1942), The Lady Vanishes (1938) and James Bond are all borrowed in order to spoof British culture; the eccentricity of the British and our view of the world, particularly during the Cold War era. Moreover, the film suggests that as Brits we are not afraid to send up ourselves and, moreover, that we have a sense of humour, thereby detracting from the'stiff upper lip' persona.

Acting wise the ' Carry On' team performed well, and were particularly adept at stereotyping British eccentrics. The message they conveyed via their respective acting roles in the film was to look on the bright side of life! The film has broad appeal to those interested in the genres of thrillers, spy, or comedy. Moreover it will appeal to film buffs of the black and white genre.

Details

Official Sites:

Carry On Line

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1964 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Agent Oooh!

Filming Locations:

Archive, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peter Rogers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1