Carry On Sergeant (1958)

Really Surprised!

People are voting emotionally.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

When this film was made it is a safe bet that nobody thought it would start a long running series of films; the Carry On films may not have been the greatest ever made, in fact some were terrible, but they are certainly a British institution. Made in 1958 'Carry on Sergeant' isn't non-stop smut like some of the later films; instead it is genuinely laugh out loud funny! The film follows the training of the unfortunately named Able Platoon; a group of National Servicemen who for the most part don't seem like army material; Pvt. Strong is a hypochondriac, Pvt. Golightly is… well he is Charles Hawtrey and Pvt. Brown has failed the course several times already. They are trained by soon-to-be-retired Sergeant Grimshawe who is determined to win the award for the best platoon. As one would expect their training does not go well; bayonet training and the assault course going particularly badly… of course by the end the platoon have come together and it is just a question as to how well they can do in their final tests. Besides their training there is a sub-plot involving one of the conscripts who was called up on his wedding day and his trying to get some time with his new bride who has followed him to the camp and got a job in the Naafi.When I sat down to watch this I thought it may have dated somewhat but actually it seemed surprisingly fresh and I laughed far more than I expected; it was certainly a lot funnier than many of the later instalments to the series. The cast included several actors who would go on to become regular members of the Carry On team including the excellent Kenneth Williams who played Pvt. Bailey; probably the most competent of the platoon, Kenneth Connor who played the hypochondriac Strong and Hattie Jacques who played the camp doctor. If you have enjoyed other early Carry On films I'd recommend this as it was surprisingly good… don't be put off by later rubbish like 'Carry on England'.

Another early outing for the 'Carry On' franchise featuring most of the familiar gang. Although there's the usual dose of sexual innuendo - hardly to surprise in a military movie - the descent into toilet humour has yet to appear. Most of the jokes are of a military prescription, with a group of disparate conscripts drafted-in for national service. William Hartnell gives a believable turn as a sergeant hoping to pass-out his best-drilled company of soldiers prior to imminent retirement, only to find himself confronted by the misfits from hell.The two Kenneths are in full flight, Williams as the campy hauteur that he plays to perfection, whilst Connor gags-up as a lovelorn hypochondriac. Bob Monkhouse features as a man conscripted on his wedding day. There's good old Hattie Jacques as authoritarian medic, and also - unusually - Dora Bryan working in the NAAFI. Some of the humour will be lost on a modern audience because of the passage of time since its release, especially the military jokes, as most people today have no experience of the armed forces beyond the abstract medium of news bulletins. However, the continuing appeal of 'Dad's Army' suggests that there is still an interest in vintage military bullshine.It's definitely one of the funnier 'Carry On's'.The franchise was pretty much a busted flush by 1965.

Not the best of the bunch but a reasonable beginning, this first entry into the famous series is not as filled with the innuendo as are some of the later ones, in fact there are only a couple of references to one soldiers lack of a proper wedding night. Only about four of the series regulars make an appearance with Charles Hawtry playing the same character, albeit with different names, as he did in all the carry on's. Hattie Jacques plays an army doctor, a role that will become Matron in a least two other carry on movies including the next one Carry On Nurse. Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor are the other two regulars. Also appearing is Shirley Eaton who will also join Jacques in the next movie.

I have liked this movie since I was at least eight and that's been twelve years and still I like it. As a kid I liked most of the Carry On films but now have become browned off by the majority except for Sergeant. Sergeant is a heart-warming tale featuring William Hartnell -the first Doctor Who and with excellent bit roles such as in The Yangste Incident and his last platoon. It features some of the well known Carry On faces such as Terry Scott and Kenneth Connor who is my favourite in this one as Private Strong. Excellent lines that still make me laugh and scenes that do likewise. Also starring the late great legend that was Bob Monkhouse. This is in my opinion the greatest of the Carry On movies and right up there with comedies of the time such as Doctor in the House, Wrong Arm of the Law and The League of Gentlemen.