Chillichap's Review - Carry on Sergeant (The First Ever Carry On Film) - William Hartnell, Bob Monkhouse, Shirley Eaton - A Film I've Just Watched

Hello!

Well, I thought I'd pay homage to perhaps one of the greatest film franchises ever seen in the UK-The Carry On Films (it has the largest number of films of any franchise). I grew up watching these films and still watch them now. Some were before my time, but repeated of course on British TV. These days, Carry On films will probably be regarded as politically incorrect by the Wokerati-social justice activists who are determined to find offense with anything and everything. To me, the Carry On films represent a light-hearted era where people just had fun. Directed by Gerald Thomas, written by R F Delderfield and screenplay by Norman Hudis, Carry On Sergeant is the first ever Carry On film. Most of the actors in this film went on to become household names (some were already famous).

Spoiler Alert - When I review films, I usually talk about the whole film, but never reveal the ending. I hope you enjoy my review.

The film starts with the wedding of Charlie and Mary Sage (Bob Monkhouse and Shirley Eaton). Charile's dad is reading out the telegrams and messages and one is Charlie's call-up papers for the army. He catches a train and shares a compartment with Horace Strong (Kenneth Connor) who is clearly a hypochondriac and can't believe he passed the army medical. Over at the army barracks, Sergeant Grimshawe (William Hartnell AKA the first Doctor Who) is talking with the other sergeants in the bar and Sergeant Paddy O'Brien (played by a young Terry Scott) bets him fifty pounds that he can't turn his last group of recruits into his first-ever champion platoon.

The recruits start to arrive and Sergeant Grimshawe mistakes recruit Mile Heywood (Terence Longdon) for an officer, personally escorting him to the barracks. Charlie thinks he sees Mary in the back of a laundry van. He did, as she snuck in and pretended to be part of the catering staff. Fortunately, she's taken under the wing of Norah (Dora Bryan) who teaches her the ropes. Meanwhile, Horace is trying to convince Charlie he needs to see a psychiatrist because he thought he saw Mary. 

Sergeant Grimshaw and Corporal Bill Copping (Bill Owen famous as Compo in Last of the Summer Wine) arrive at the recruit's barracks. Grimshaw says he will share his prize money with Copping and also will help Copping be promoted to Sergeant. They inspect the recruits. Horace asks to report to Sick Bay. Charlie asks for compassionate leave. Peter Golightly (Charles Hawtry) arrives late and reveals he was locked in somewhere. James Bailey (Kenneth Williams), is casually lying on his bed, reading a book, and tells Grimshaw to stop shouting. Grimshawe and Copping talk tactics outside and decide to tackle the recruits differently (Grimsawe calls them delicate blooms). They meet Private Brown (Norman Rossington) who reveals himself as a lost cause and having given up trying to complete training, just does the cleaning.

In the army mess, Charlie sees Mary working behind the bar. Norah takes a shine to Horace and he scarpers. Norah's fixed the newlyweds with a spare room. Later Mary and Charlie go to the wrong room which belongs to Grimshawe.

The next day Horace goes to see the no-messing army doctor Captain Clark (Hattie Jacques). She passes him fit. The recruits get their kit. Horace is late and gets his kit in the space of 5 seconds. Outside Gimshawe readies the recruits for inspection by Captain Potts (Eric Barker). Potts is not impressed until he meets Heywood, who reveals all his relatives are high up in the army. Later as the recruits are sorting out their kit, Potts does a surprise inspection. Charles and Peter come in with fire extinguishers and have a mishap with them, causing everyone, including Potts to be covered in foam.

Charlie sees Potts and explains he was called up on his wedding day. Potts gives him seven days' leave. The recruits receive intense training but show little progress. Doctor Clark keeps passing Horace as A1. He bumps into Norah, who finds out he's single. This is seen by Doctor Clark who has a wry smile.

Charlie comes back from honeymoon. The recruits have bayonet practice with hilarious results. One classic line comes from Bailey, who asks Grimshawe if bayonet practice is a trifle out of date with a world bristling with H-bombs. He's told to shut up. Horace is reporting to sickbay daily and Charlie and Mary hatch a plan. Horace is told to report to the kitchen where he helps Norah and they start talking. Norah reveals her feelings while they romantically peel spuds together. Horace eventually does a runner. In the barracks, Bailey teaches Brown the basics of soldiering in a way that he understands.

The next day Heyward is asked by Potts to fill in an application for Officer. He declines. Grimsahawe's recruits continue to underperform on the assault course and confidence is at rock bottom. It's the last day of training. Potts tells the platoon they're a shambles and he'll be glad to see the bottom of them. Captain Clark takes Horace for a ride to see a group of medical specialists for a thorough examination. Physically he's A1, so the last specialist he sees is a psychiatrist, who plays word association with Horace. His final word is Norah and he's a new man! He walks into the mess and asks Norah if she wants to be his doll-but no the sort that goes 'mama' when he squeezes it. They kiss in the back room.

Outside Grimashawe tells Copping that he must have stood under a ladder and kicked thirteen black cats. Copping says it's a pity the sergeant didn't have a champion platoon as he retires tomorrow. This is overheard by Brown who rushes back to the barracks and tells the men. The guys decide Grimshawe is actually a really good bloke and decide to give him a surprise.

Conclusion

I'm going to stop there, as I don't want to ruin the ending for you. The plot of newlyweds being parted on their wedding day soon moves aside to that of 'can this platoon of raw recruits make the grade?' The stand-out performance in this film in my opinion is by Kenneth Connor as Horace Strong the hypochondriac. William Hartnell as the beleaguered Sergeant Grimshawe is great too. You can see the green shoots of potential for the evolving Carry On films and certain character roles are already defined. Hattie Jacques as Doctor Clark is efficient and not to be messed with. Charles Hawtry as Peter Golightly is whimsical and off with the fairies. While Kenneth Williams as James Bailey is highly educated, often blunt and a bit snooty, In my opinion,  until Sid James appears in later films (Carry On Constable 1960), the early Carry Ons don't quite make the grade. Of course, later Barbara Windsor appears on the scene in Carry on Spying (1964), and the rest, as they say, is history.

Thanks for reading

Matt AKA Chillichap