Carry on Loving (1970)

The Wedded Bliss computer dating agency aims to bring together the lonely hearts of Much-Snoggin-in-the-Green. Its owner, Sidney Bliss, has enough complications in his own love life, but ... See full summary »

Director:

Gerald Thomas

Writer:

Talbot Rothwell (screenplay)

Stars:

Sidney James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sidney James	...	Sidney Bliss
Kenneth Williams	...	Percival Snooper
Charles Hawtrey	...	James Bedsop
Joan Sims	...	Esme Crowfoot
Hattie Jacques	...	Sophie Plummett
Terry Scott	...	Terence Philpot
Richard O'Callaghan	...	Bertrum Muffet
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Gripper Burke
Jacki Piper	...	Sally Martin
Imogen Hassall	...	Jenny Grubb
Julian Holloway	...	Adrian
Janet Mahoney	...	Gay
Amelia Bayntun	...	Corset Lady
Lucy Griffiths	...	Woman (scenes deleted)
Mike Grady	...	Boy Lover (as Michael Grady)

Storyline

The Wedded Bliss computer dating agency aims to bring together the lonely hearts of Much-Snoggin-in-the-Green. Its owner, Sidney Bliss, has enough complications in his own love life, but still produces a pamphlet called "The Wit to Woo". The strange collection of hopefuls lead to some outlandish matches, and jealousies are bound to lead to trouble.

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Plot Keywords:

carry on | dating agency | twentieth part | three word title | underwear | 

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Taglines:

Doing their bit for laughter!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Carry On Line

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ist ja irre - Liebe, Liebe usw.

Filming Locations:

Artherton Court, Meadow Lane, Eton, Windsor, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Rank Organisation,Peter Rogers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Yutte Stensgaard originally appeared in this film, however her scene was cut.

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Goofs

The sign outside the Marriage Guidance Bureau depicts 'Citizen's', however, it should actually read Citizens'

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Quotes

Bertrum Muffet: I want a wife, like that
[indicating Hattie Jacques]
Sidney Bliss: I think we can do a bit better than that...

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Crazy Credits

Closing credits: AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED AND FOUGHT HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

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Alternate Versions

Despite the stronger subject matter the UK cinema version suffered only mild BBFC cuts with the removal of the dialogue lines "You can't do much with your little finger" (from an exchange between Sid and Terry) and "You know, putting it in, the meat" (which lost the last two words) from Jenny's description of her job as a sausage packer to Sally. Video and DVD versions feature the same print and the cuts may no longer survive.

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Connections

Edited into What a Carry On: Episode #1.5 (1985)

User Reviews

Very basic and crude comedy that only fans of British 1970's sexual "comedies" will get much from

Sex is all the rage in the small city of "Much Snogging-on-the-Green" with everyone talking about it, doing it or talking about doing it. In the midst of all this the Wedded Bliss computer dating agency uses "computer technology" to try and bring together those unlucky enough not to be getting any. Meanwhile the unmarried Percival Snooper dispenses marital guidance for those unlucky enough to be already hitched.

A review by TC Raymond on this very site suggests that this "isn't a prime candidate for the best in the series" but goes on to say how good it is. Of course I agree strongly with that specific statement if not his overall opinion. Of course Loving is not up there as the best of the series and the reason for this is because it is actually at the other end of the scale with the Carry On films made in the 1970's that generally saw the series lose touch with the spoofs and wit of the better films (such as Khyber for example). The plot is a series of double-entendres, sexual misunderstandings and people talking at cross purposes. You see, the big joke is that they sound like they're talking about sex but really they're not – oh my splitting sides. Now I'm not against a bit of that (I'm bl00dy doing it now) but it doesn't make a film on its own and sadly this is the majority of the comedy and there is little else here. I barely laughed once I think but I suppose those that think the "Confessions" films are the height of comedy will like this and find value in it.

The cast are mostly poor. O'Callaghan made me realise just how good Jim Dale was because the former is pretty awful in the character often played by the latter. James is always good at the sort of lecherous character he is given here and he is amusing. Williams is his usual self but his material is weak and he deserves better (as indeed many of them do). Sims and Jacques play the clichéd women's roles while Piper is the totty. At least Hassall is different from the usual female character within this series. Small turns from Scott, Bresslaw and a few others don't add that much.

Overall then a pretty poor film which is sadly where the Carry On series found itself as it lurched towards its death in the 1970's. Viewers who love saucy postcards and smutty jokes may find some value in it but for the majority I suspect it is too basic and obvious to be worth watching. Befitting the quality of the script the whole thing ends in one big messy pile, which is a pretty good summary of the quality of the whole affair if you ask me (and yes I know you didn't).