Watch Carry On England

Carry On England, a comedy directed by Gerry Thomas, was released in 1976 as the 29th instalment of the popular Carry On film series. Set during World War II, the movie follows the antics of a dysfunctional British army unit stationed at a remote coastal base, which has continually failed to repel the German forces. Kenneth Connor stars as Captain S. Melly, a naive and bumbling officer who is overwhelmed by his responsibilities and has no clue how to manage his troops. He is aided by his superior, Major Giles Flack, played by Windsor Davies, who is a veteran soldier and a stickler for discipline. However, the two officers have very different ideas on how to run a tight ship, and they clash constantly.

The cast includes other familiar faces from the Carry On films such as Joan Sims, Patrick Mower, and Melvyn Hayes. The movie also features notable performances by Judy Geeson, who portrays a WREN officer serving at the base and Adrienne Posta, who plays the love interest of one of the soldiers.

One of the movie's primary themes is the struggle between discipline and morale, as Captain Melly attempts to boost the troops' spirits by introducing frivolous activities and competitions, including a beauty pageant, a talent contest, and a soccer game. The soldiers, in turn, spend most of their time drinking, gambling, and flirting with the local women. These antics not only affect the soldiers' readiness for battle but also put Melly's leadership skills to the test.

Another overarching theme of Carry On England is gender politics, as the inclusion of female officers in the military unit challenges traditional ideas of femininity and their place in a male-dominated environment. The tension between the male and female characters creates some of the film's most humorous moments, as the men often underestimate the women's abilities or try to impress them with their machismo.

The film also satirizes the British class system and the incompetent upper-class officers who hold positions of power, such as Colonel Fortescue, played by Peter Jones. Fortescue is a bumbling aristocrat who has no grasp of military strategy and continuously interferes with Melly and Flack's command decisions.

Carry On England received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its humour and others criticizing it for being too predictable and formulaic. Nevertheless, it remains a beloved cult classic among fans of the Carry On series and British comedy.

The film's comedic elements include slapstick humour, innuendo, wordplay, and parody, all of which are hallmarks of the Carry On films. The script, written by David Pursall and Jack Seddon, is filled with jokes and gags that range from the silly to the clever, with some political satire thrown in for good measure.

The movie's production design and costumes are also noteworthy, with its depiction of 1940s Britain and the military outfits of the characters. The film's score, composed by Eric Rogers, is another highlight, with its upbeat and whimsical tunes perfectly complementing the on-screen action.

In summary, Carry On England is an entertaining and lighthearted comedy that showcases the talents of its ensemble cast and the trademark humour of the Carry On series. Its themes of discipline, morale, gender, and class are explored through a mix of satire, slapstick, and innuendo, providing laughs and nostalgic charm for fans of British comedy.

Carry On England is a 1976 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.0.