Carry On Dick (1974)

good back-story, and good acting

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

As time progressed the Carry On films tended to get more and more puerile with vulgarity replacing wit; this one, as its title suggests, contains more than its fair share of 'dick jokes' thankfully another generalisation about the Carry on films is that the historical ones tended to be funnier than the contemporary outings. Set in the 1750s this one tells the story of Captain Desmond Fancey's attempts to apprehend the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin. Turpin's crimes all take place near the villages of Upper and Lower Dentures so he heads there with his sergeant. Not knowing what Turpin looks like they wish to remain incognito and inform nobody but the local rector or their true identity… of course the rector is none other then Dick Turpin! In the course of their investigations they learn that Turpin has an unusual birthmark but its location, which isn't hard to guess, means the sergeant ends up following anybody heading to the pub's gents for a quick examination! Turpin is keen to be rid of the two London policemen so manages to trick them into getting arrested for his crimes by the local constable… unfortunately he writes to London to inform them of 'Turpin's' arrest so the real Turpin must come up with another plan.I was quite surprised at some of the film's content as I didn't expect to hear so many dick jokes or to see Barbara Windsor in a see through top on Sunday afternoon television! While there were a few too many such jokes some earned a snigger and there were quite a few more wholesome laughs. It also helped that there was a decent story and the fact that nearly all the Carry On team were present and on top form. Sid James was great as Turpin/Reverend Flasher as was Kenneth Williams as Capt. Fancey. Other regulars present included the aforementioned Barbara Windsor, Hattie Jacques, Joan Sim and Kenneth Connor although the last of these had certainly slipped in the rankings; being reduced to the small role of the local constable rather than being one of the top names he was in the earlier films. The only character I wasn't amused by was Jack Douglas's Sgt. Jock Strapp although I'm not sure if that is down to the acting or just the character. If you are a fan of the Carry On series this is worth watching just don't expect the innocence of the earlier outings.

Sid James plays Dick Turbin in his final appearance in the Carry On films. He plays a bandit whose robs people in England in the the year 1750. Kenneth Williams is in charge of catching him. Bernard Bresselaw plays Sir Roger Daley and he basically is Kenneth's boss and keeps the pressure on him to capture Sid. Sid James also plays Reverend Flasher. Kenneth talks with him about his plan to stake out The Old Cock Inn, where the crooks usually hang out. This movie has too many dirty references to a man's privates for my taste. I enjoy the earlier films more because they were more tame. I did not care for the portrayal of the Reverend. It's not funny to make dirty jokes in a church or anywhere else for that matter. Carry on Columbus had a real stupid scene with church members in black Klan outfits. I still enjoyed Sid James as a bandit and he was sorely missed after this.

Well what a good Carry On Film for Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Hattie Jacques to retire from the series on.The Carry On team produced some great historical comedies but this was the one for me personally. Sid James was made for the part of Dick Turpin/Reverend Flasher. Usual cast together for one last time, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor, Bernard Bresslaw. the whole gang.What a good idea to do a historical comedy set around Dick Turpin, one of England's most notorious highwaymen of the 16th century. The Carry on Gang have done the series proud. In his last carry on appearance Sid James still manages to steal the film as his character. LAST OF THE GREAT CARRY ONS! The series began to decline after this one, one reason NO SID James!

This film is perhaps the last truly amusing one from the carry on stable. With Sid James in the title role as Dick Turpin the usual jokes are bound to surface "Have you seen dick" etc, etc.However this Carry on is the last one to use all your favourites ie; Williams, Jaques, James etc.A good movie for a sunday afternoon.