Carry On Dick

The 26^th Carry On film produced by Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas was also the last film in which most of the main cast including Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Barbra Windsor appeared, it was also the last of the classic historical parodies, (If you exclude the disastrous Columbus which came out 18 years later). This film follows a character from history that you would have expected Rodgers and Thomas to have covered much earlier and that is Dick Turpin, not least because of the name, which in itself has the slapstick innuendo on which movies such as Camping and Follow that Camel, absolutely thrived. However it does not measure up in anyway to the plot, acting or humour of Cleopatra, Marc Anthony or Doc Holliday.

I expected the film to have ‘Stood and Delivered’ far more on the Highwayman humour and jokes, but it never quite felt as funny as Cowboy, Cleo or even Henry. Strangely the film deviates down the espionage route, indeed you would expect a subject such as Dick Turpin to live up to it’s full potential, unfortunately it doesn’t even come close.

The film isn’t particularly memorable, nor iconic although there are still many merits to be found, such as it’s fast pace, straight forward plot and a few comical gags. The highlight for me was the commitment and acting performances from the whole cast particularly Sid James as Turpin and Bernard Bresslaw, who hams up his role perfectly as the film’s ironically named villain, Sir Roger Daley. As a Carry-on devotee, it is always wonderful to see the gang together, so happy and having such a good time making the film. In some ways it felt like a cinematic pantomime, where they could be as silly and crazy as they liked, which for the most part makes the Carry On series so iconic and unique. To conclude, I have to say that despite its overt flaws, not living up to it’s potential, with a disappointing ending the film just makes you smile. Carry on Dick is ridiculously goofy and still great fun to watch some 46 years later.

6/10 – Calum Roberts