Carry On Matron (1972)

A gang of thieves plan to make their fortune by stealing a shipment of contraceptive pills from Finisham maternity hospital. They assume disguises and infiltrate the hospital, 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	...	Sid Carter
Kenneth Williams	...	Sir Bernard Cutting
Charles Hawtrey	...	Dr. Francis A. Goode
Joan Sims	...	Mrs. Tidey
Hattie Jacques	...	Matron
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Ernie Bragg
Kenneth Cope	...	Cyril Carter
Terry Scott	...	Dr. Prodd
Barbara Windsor	...	Nurse Susan Ball
Kenneth Connor	...	Mr. Tidey
Jacki Piper	...	Sister
Bill Maynard	...	Freddy
Patsy Rowlands	...	Evelyn Banks
Derek Francis	...	Arthur
Amelia Bayntun	...	Mrs. Jenkins

Storyline

A gang of thieves plan to make their fortune by stealing a shipment of contraceptive pills from Finisham maternity hospital. They assume disguises and infiltrate the hospital, but everything doesn't go according to plan. The hypochondriac consultant Sir Bernard Cutting, Matron and the doctors and nurses at Finisham have a habit of getting in the way.

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | carry on | hospital | pill | contraceptive pill | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Carry On Line

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

Carry on - Die total verrückte Oberschwester

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Rank Organisation, Peter Rogers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bernard Bresslaw had to wear a wig for his appearance in this film.

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Goofs

When Cyril is at home having just put on the nurses uniform there is a sign behind him about using the telephone next to what appears to be a slot machine, the long shot has the sign totally uncovered but in close up part of the sign is obscured by the slot machine.

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Quotes

Dr. Prodd: Name, please?
Miss Smethurst: Smethurst.
Dr. Prodd: Oh yes, I have some good news for you, Mrs Smethurst.
Miss Smethurst: Miss Smethurst.
Dr. Prodd: Oh, in that case I have some bad news for you.

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Crazy Credits

Alternative Titles: "Womb at the Top" and "The Preggers Opera"

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Alternate Versions

Some prints have completely different music over the title sequence, particularly as the 'alternative titles' appear on the screen.

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Connections

Featured in The Barbara Windsor Story (2017)

User Reviews

"Occasionally funny entry in the long running series."

Sid Carter (Sydney James) is a leader of a gang of thieves and he persuades his son Cyril (Kenneth Cope) to dress up as a female nurse and infiltrate the "Finisham Maternity Hospital" so that he can get the gang a plan of the place enabling them to steal vast quantities of "The Pill". "I know a couple of countries who'll go mad for the stuff" says Sid.

Occasionally funny entry in the long running series. The funniest moments include the scene where the Matron (Hattie Jacques) visits the registrar Sir Bernard Cutting (Kenneth Williams) in order to bring him his morning post. Sir Bernard is a proper hypochondriac who thinks he's on the verge of a sex change, "Your mail" says Matron handing him the letters, "I know and I can prove it do you hear prove it" screams Sir Bernard not aware of what she really meant. Another stand out moment is when Syd Carter and his gang arrive at the hospital to pull off the raid, Syd is disguised as a doctor sporting a laughable beard and dark glasses. "I am Dr Zhivago" he says. When the film isn't funny it gets by because it possesses a charm that many of the other less funny Carry On's have, a charm that one journalist described as "an England that never was" and besides that there is the assured presence of all the regulars including Charles Hawtery, Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor and Bernard Bresslaw, but Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Syd James ultimately steal the show.