Carry On Abroad (1972)

Thanks for the memories!

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I doubt many CARRY ON fans would agree with me that this is the second best entry in the series, or that it deserves a 10. But I'll put forward in argument in favour.The CARRY ON films were all about cheeky seaside postcard humour, sending up British institutions and poking fun at peculiar aspects of life in Britain. SCREAMING is the one I consider the best because it has an energy running through it higher than any of the others. Everyone is at the top of their game - the actors, the script writers, the producers... everyone. Everything is right about that film - the pace, the puns, the atmosphere, the comic timing, the flow... everything. Well, CARRY ON ABROAD is a close second in that department because everything feels 100 per cent perfect here as well. All the regulars are in this film and they deliver some of their finest performances here, with special mention to Peter Butterworth and Hattie Jacques. It is well-documented Charles Hawtrey's alcoholism was a problem during the film, and as a result, he was sacked from the series after this film. But he goes out with a bang, not a whimper, and seems to relish every moment of filming. He is simply a joy to watch on the screen and this was his finest performance in the whole series in my humble opinion. The reason why I rate SCREAMING the best, above ABROAD, is that the jokes flow a little better and the characters play off each other that bit better too. There's not much separating the two, though.No one watches a CARRY ON film expecting much of a plot but here goes - a group of tourists go to an island in the Mediterranean and find the hotel they're booked to stay in is only half-finished. Cue lots of hilarity as toilets malfunction, balconies fall over, bathrooms have to cover two rooms and much more.The strange thing about all this is that the whole thing is so well acted, scripted, photographed and everything that I used to think they actually did go to Spain to film it. I was quite surprised that much of the filming was at the back of Pinewood Studios... in a car park!The film squeezes out every gag that can be had from the situations presented to the "gang". And there are plenty of corny lines that don't sound all that funny but are hilarious when delivered on the screen. Here's an example:Kenneth Williams: I'm the executive from Wundatours - Stuart Farquhar.Peter Butterworth: Stupid what?Kenneth Williams: STUART! STUART FARQUHAR!Sid James (mutters to Joan Sims): I think he was right the first time!Here's another of my favourites:Kenneth Williams: Well it seems to me that this hotel isn't quite finished.Peter Butterworth: Not finished? It's nothing... just a little building work... four or five floors maybe, that's all.There's plenty more where they came from. The whole thing is very corny and very British. But it all has a timeless charm and films like this will always be fun to watch, as many other films and franchises have come, gone and been forgotten. Also, given a choice between what seems to pass for a comedy film these days (rubbish "rom-coms") or a delightful, unpretentious film like CARRY ON ABROAD, the latter wins hands down every time. You simply can't go wrong with this film.

To begin with, I had previously caught a bit from this one on TV while channel-surfing when in London in September 1999! Like CARRY ON DOCTOR (1967), this is another multi-title offering: CARRY ON ABROAD, OR WHAT A PACKAGE, OR IT'S ALL IN OR, SWISS HOLS IN THE SNOW! While this is essentially a second-tier "Carry On", it proved to be consistently enjoyable – which is why I went for a higher rating than I had myself anticipated; even so, there are a bit too many gay stereotypes here and it's marred somewhat by the flat TV-style look.Incidentally the hotel shenanigans which take up most of the running-time anticipate the FAWLTY TOWERS (1975) TV series. By the way, this turned out to be Charles Hawtrey's final "Carry On" – unfortunately, he doesn't get to do much…but, then, neither does Kenneth Williams as the tour leader (he's even given an unconvincing romance with a pretty young colleague). On the other hand, Peter Butterworth is at his best as the multi-purpose hotel manager who speaks in broken English (with Hattie Jacques as his massive and grumpy backwoods wife). Among the guests are Sidney James, who's married to Joan Sims but his eyes are constantly on Barbara Windsor!; Sims herself draws the attention of gallant but henpecked Kenneth Connor. There are also a number of youngsters thrown into the fray, as well as a manly Scot, and a group of monks (one of whom, Bernard Bresslaw, is allowed to strike a friendship with one of the girls – her companion, incidentally, is played by Sally Geeson from Norman Wisdom's WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE [1969], which I watched recently).As I said, many hilarious gags revolve around the run-down condition of the unfinished hotel – but the scene shifts halfway through to an outing in town (which turns into a massive scuffle and lands the group in jail); the climactic farewell party, then, sees the hotel – literally on its last legs – as it's flooded and crumbling around them. CARRY ON ABROAD (on which a certain Sun Tan Lo Tion served as technical adviser) is one of the more satisfying latter-day efforts from the gang – but, ultimately, it's a notch below classic series titles such as CARRY ON COWBOY (1965), CARRY ON SCREAMING! (1966) and CARRY ON...UP THE KHYBER (1968).

I have always liked the Carry On films, with their double-meaning sexual innuendo dialogue and moments of slapstick comedy, but I can see why the critics give this one two stars. Basically, many British people are gathering on a coach to go on a Spanish holiday to an island called Elsbels to the Palace Hotel. What they didn't know is that it is not completely built, plus they have to share bathrooms with their neighbours, they have crap draws, and many other complications and complaints that the owner Pepe (Peter Butterworth, putting on quite an amusing accent, e.g. peace sounding like the bad P word). Starring Sid James as Vic Flange, Kenneth Williams as Stuart Farquhar, Charles Hawtrey as Eustace Tuttle, Joan Sims as Cora Flange, Barbara Windsor as Sadie Tomkins, Kenneth Connor as Stanley Blunt, an apparently crap (I personally can't remember who he is) Jimmy Logan as Bert Conway, June Whitfield as Evelyn Blunt, Hattie Jacques as Floella (a ridiculous hag character, not as memorable as her usual Matron), Bernard Bresslaw as Brother Bernard, Sally Geeson as Lily, Carol Hawkins as Marge, Jack Douglas as Harry and Patsy Rowlands as Miss Dobbs. I admit it is not great, but there are just enough dialogue gags, and of course Babs in the shower, and going to to her bum with that iconic whistle, and later a rapid rip off of her bra. Okay!

After 'Carry On At Your Convenience' this is the funniest of the 70's Carry On movies. Featuring the fullest rota of team members since 'Carry On Doctor' this is an absolute delight that bears up on continued viewings just because it's so 'in-your-face-stupid'. Taking the pee out of foreigners for any one British is always funny-Peter Butterworth is fantastic as the hotel owner who thinks he's running the best place going despite the fact it's still being built and clearly has less stars than an x-factor knockout round and Hattie Jacques finally gets to cast off her matron persona as his constantly cussing bad tempered missus, she is brilliant in this. The dialogue in this is amongst the best in the series... Peter Butterworth continually calling Stuart Farquar (Kenneth Williams) MISTER FARKY-ARSE just sums up the feel good humour on display- indeed the best bit is the interchange between these two characters when they first meet:Williams... I'm Stuart FarquarButterworth (Immediately)... Stupid What?Williams... STUART FARQUARJames... I think he was right the first time.Classic Carry On. Another great exchange is when Sid James is Talking to June Whitfield:James...Drink?Whitfield... I Tried It Once And Didn't Like ItJames... Smoke?Whitfield...I Tried It Once And Didn't Like ItJames... That's UnusualWhitfield... My Daughter's The SameJames... Your Only Child I Presume...!!Talbot Rothwell at his best.This was Charles Hawtrey's last 'Carry On' and subsequent entries in the series declined in quality. This is the last 'modern day' film in the classic run (Emmannuelle and Behind excluded- Talbot Rothwell and Sid were gone) and as such along with 'Dick' can be seen as one of the last of the True Carry on's. Just enjoy it for what it is, unpretentious and a bloody good laugh.After 'Screaming' And 'At Your Convenience' my 3rd favourite 'Carry On' movie.Brilliant. 10/10ps, a previous reviewer of this film commented on a 'Missing Scene' that had Sid in a monk's robe.... The scene actually appears in 'Carry On Camping' and belongs to that film.