Carry on Spying (1964)

7/10

chris_gaskin12331 May 2006

Carry On Spying was the one where the Carry On team mocked the James Bond movies and also Barbara Windsor's Carry On debut.

After a top secret formula is stolen by organisation STENCH, a group of agents are sent to investigate, resulting in many chaotic and funny situations. The investigation takes them over the world and back to their workplace...

As well as Babs Windsor, this also stars the excellent Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Jim Dale who are joined by Bernard Cribbins and Eric Barker. Not so many of the regular team in this one.

Have a good laugh at Carry On Spying. Brilliant and very funny.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

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7/10

The great Barbara Windsor

petersj-216 September 2008

This is one of the funnier efforts by the team. Its obviously a send up of other movies of the genre and is shot in glorious black and white which sometimes I prefer. Black and white seems to suit the carry on movies. Life may indeed be in colour but these movies were never a depiction of life. The campery of Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey is as funny as ever. There are those two wonderfully reliable old British actors Eric Barker and the fabulous Richard Wattis as his assistant. It would be hard to find better actors to play the chief and his off sider. I loved the performance of Judith Furse.. hilariously butch.Bernard Cribbins is a great talent and he brings so much more to the series than the annoying Kenneth Connor did. This might have been the first with the great Barbara Windsor and what a spectacular career she had. She actually steals the film and I found myself roaring with laughter. Its a very good carry on but above all the introduction of one of Britains finest stars Magnificent Barbara Windsor. Barbara Windsor was much more than the sexy little bomb shell that added so much to these films and many others. She was a brilliant comedienne and I hope she gets the recognition she richly deserved. Her timing is brilliant.

Yes its all very corny but all great comedy is corny. Its rather fun seeing their idea of modern technology,those mobile phones are fun. Wonder what they would think of what we use today. I love the cheap effects of the movie such as the car wash, rather not explain but its hilarious. Its great fun seeing one of Australias most loved exports, John Bluthall in the early stages of a great career.

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7/10

CARRY ON SPYING (Gerald Thomas, 1964) ***

Bunuel19769 February 2008

This is yet another popular (and good) entry in the "Carry On" series. Like JACK, CLEO and SCREAMING, it's a parody of a current film or fad in its case the box-office sensation that were the James Bond extravaganzas (in fact, it was the first of innumerable spoofs/imitations of that long-running franchise). Kenneth Williams (complete with funny accent) is more or less at his best here; accompanying him are Barbara Windsor (this proved to be her series debut), Bernard Cribbins, Charles Hawtrey, Dilys Laye (as a femme fatale), Jim Dale (playing the gang's long-suffering contact man) and Eric Barker (as, what else, their superior).

While it cleverly features an androgynous villain (played by Judith Furse and voiced by John Bluthal), the film also lampoons earlier classic British thrillers such as Hitchcock's 1930s efforts and THE THIRD MAN (1949). The action takes place in a variety of locales from a Viennese café to an Algerian harem; typical espionage elements are the gang's donning of various disguises to follow or elude enemy agents and the perilous train journey. By the way, the villains' headquarters are amusingly accessed via a public convenience which also pays off with an inspired surreal ending. In a direct nod to the Bond model, we get silly acronyms for the various organizations involved (such as S.T.E.N.C.H., S.M.U.T., S.N.O.G., etc).

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This Was A Surprise!

richard.fuller118 June 2004

After "Carry On Cabby", I expected "Carry On Spying" to descend into the campy sixties, but truthfully, this one was entertaining. Without regulars Sid James, Hattie Jacques (I suspect she was offered the villianess role) and Kenneth Conner, I expected this one to focus entirely on Williams buffoonery.

He was more of a nitwit here than a snotty know-it-all, but he was given the spotlight this time.

So this was Barbara Windsor! She truly was entertaining and not just because of her physique. She's not boring to watch or listen to.

Obviously Bernard Cribbins was filling in the Kenneth Conner spot, and quite honestly, Cribbins (whom I only know from the Doctor Who movies with Peter Cushing) he wasn't as Jim Carrey-esque as Conner has been in the previous films.

What an entertaining series this is, watching the transition from "Carry On Sergeant" to "Carry On Spying" thus far. I do look forward to what I have left to see of these films.

After this, it is on to "Carry On Cleo"!

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7/10

Good fun of its era

neil-47617 December 2020

Warning: Spoilers

The Carry On serries was hitting its stride when it was fortunate enough to intersect with the spy film craze, as the James Bond films began to take off. In this story of secret agents seeking to take down the clandestine organisation STENCH, we see the two worlds collide to amusing ends.

This is the final black and white Carry On, and it quite suits the subject matter. Sid James isn't in this one, but the rest of the regulars are. The script is the usual mixture of silliness and smut, and the low budget doesn't look anything like as low as it is.

As with all the Carry Ons, it is hardly high art but it is nonetheless very entertaining.

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7/10

Do you expect me to talk? No I expect you to laugh!!

coltras359 July 2021

It's panic stations at BOSH, when secret formula ' X' is stolen by agents of the subversive organisation known as STENCH. Only Agent Simkins, Honeybutt, crump and Charles Bind (Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbens and Charles Hawtrey) can stop them!

A fun spoof of spy movies that isn't so loud as the later Carry on's - it's really funny in an understated way. The scene where Charles Hawtrey puts his holster in the wrong place had me in stitches. Judith Furse as Dr Crow is hilarious- a sort of a nod to blofeld. The one liners are great. The lair scene at the end was brilliantly staged and had me laughing, especially when the train went backwards.

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7/10

Better than the previous one I saw

ericstevenson4 June 2018

I admit that I didn't think too highly of this seeing as how the first "Carry On" film I saw was just okay. This on the other hand was better and enjoyable. This film focused a lot more on comedy and was definitely more entertaining. Was this the first spoof movie ever made? It's obvious that it takes elements from "James Bond" and this was when those movies were first coming out. I'm glad it ended up being better than Woody Allen's "Casino Royale".

I wanted to see if this movie had the same actors and characters from the previous films. It had the same actors, but not the same characters. The basic story is that a bunch of bumbling spies are trying to destroy a chemical formula stolen by an organization known as STENCH. I will admit that some of the jokes don't hold up that well. Of course, that isn't their fault. This movie might be the lowest rated film on RottenTomatoes to have a rating of 100%, even though it's only four reviews. ***

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8/10

Simple and a lot of fun

TheLittleSongbird13 June 2010

This movie is not the best of the Carry on franchise but it works very well. Yes even with one or two moments of uneven pacing and an underused Dilys Lane, the film is very entertaining, with a nice simple story and some funny dialogue and gags. Carry On Spying is nicely filmed, has a quirky score and the acting is fine(even without Sidney James). Ever the old pros, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey give it their all and are great fun, while Judith Furse stands out as well. But it is the wonderful Barbara Windsor who steals the show, she was delightful in this movie. Overall, this film is simple and thanks to the acting and dialogue especially is very entertaining as well. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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6/10

More Ealing than Carry On, more Harry Lime than Bond

albert_smith_uk23 May 2000

Although not "Carry On" at it's best, this is a very entertaining addition to the series. Although touted as a Bond spoof this has much more in common with British spy movies of the 40's - "The Third Man" is often referenced. Only at the end do we get the Bond-esque action, and this is where it all goes wrong. The climatic sequence is not only very silly (even by Carry On standards) but also lazy. Barbara Windsor makes her series debut here and is a joy to watch. Williams does his "silly man" character from the Hancock shows rather than the usual "Snide" persona, and Bernard Cribbins is as loveable as always. If you want a James Bond spoof or a classic Carry On, don't come here. If you want a silly comedy in the Ealing Studios vein then this might well be your cup of tea.

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1/10

Carrying On Inappropriately...

Xstal29 December 2023

Carrying On Inappropriately with Carry on Spying

A series of films carried on, with perpetual double entendre, loved to finger an organ, unleash melons to gorge on, baps, flaps, jugs, bazookas went ding dong.

Though it's not quite so funny today, Fanny plays with her balls in new ways, Dick's choppers been cut, Kitty's curtains are shut, the clams gone from splayed to being spayed.

What an awful sequence of films these were, revisited today, they demonstrate just how out of touch and offensive the so called humour of yesteryear was, and how a generation of inappropriate behaviour was considered acceptable.

Carrying On Inappropriately with Carry on Spying.

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9/10

James Bind, double o..ohhh

Sleepin_Dragon11 August 2015

I cannot believe at the time of writing this review this film has an average of 6.2, this is a 9 surely. Over 50 years on this remains a hilarious James Bond spoof. Banned from using characters from the James Bond franchise, Gerald Thomas creates Agent Charlie bind, 00-0. Kenneth Williams leads a team of British spies who must take on the STENCH criminals and capture the stolen formula of Professor Stark, who was blown up by the Milk man at the start. Spying stands out from the other early Carry on films by being very camp, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey are on fine form. Barbara Windsor has just finished playing Gloria in the Rag Trade, she makes a great start to her legendary Carry on career, by playing Daphne Honeybutt, although it would be 3 years before she'd return as Sandra May in Carry on Doctor. Dilys Laye is gorgeous in this film and is uncredited for singing The Magic of love, but it was actually her voice. A real feel good film, and one that will make all the family smile.

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6/10

Carry On Spying

jboothmillard4 January 2007

Warning: Spoilers

It is rather unusual to see the Carry On team trying to spoof the James Bond type films, but they almost do it well. Basically a team of spies assembled by the British government, including The Chief (Eric Barker) are sent to retrieve a chemical formula stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans). This team include Desmond Simkins (Kenneth Williams), Daphne Honeybutt (Barbara Windsor in her first Carry On film, and she's not in as many as the others), Harold Crump (Bernard Cribbins), Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey) and Carstairs (Jim Dale). There are some great misunderstanding jokes, some sexy moments with Windsor and ultimately, it is a good spy spoof, but where's Joan Sims? Good!

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3/10

Spy fun

BandSAboutMovies8 April 2020

Warning: Spoilers

The Carry On series has 31 movies from 1958-1978, with another made in 1993), 4 holiday specials, a 13-episode TV series and 3 stage plays, all in the British music hall tradition of bawdy parody. Made on the cheap, they are the second-longest British film series, eclipsed only by James Bond. So it makes sense that during this month of Bond, we finally get to a Carry On movie.

From cowboys and horror to army films, cruises and even Emmannuelle, these films hit every angle. And now, it was time for Bond.

STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans) has stolen a secret formula, which means that agents Desmond Simpkins (Kenneth Williams, who appeared in 26 of these films), Harold Crump (Bernard Cribbins), Daphne Honeybutt (Barbara Windsor) and Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey) must get it back.

There's also the evil Dr. Crow and SNOG (the Society for Neutralising Of Germs), which we all could use some more of right now. There's also BOSH (The British Operational Security Headquarters) and SMUT (The Society for the Monopoly of Universal Technology).

Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli threatened a lawsuit over the character name James Bind agent 006½, which led to the change in name to Charlie Bind and his title Agent Double 0-Ohh. He also demanded that the poster be reworked as it was too close to From Russia With Love.

The STENCH henchman The Fat Man was the voice of SPECTRE number 1 - Blofeld - in From Russia With Love and two of the henchwomen have hair that looks just like Modesty Blaise.

Interestingly, this film's cinematographer Alan Hume who would later work on the Bond movies For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and A View to a Kill.

This film - the last Carry On in black and white - was the first Bond parody to hit the screen. So many jokes in it would become parts of other films, like the name Charles Bind being used in Lindsay Shonteff's Bond ripoffs, the restaurant tape recorder being used in For Your Eyes Only and The Living Daylights outright replicated this film's plot, including an enemy agent with exploding milk bottles.

I also love that this movie was inspired by the fact that a Bond picture was filming at Pinewood Studios at the same time.

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Like the first Carry On films simple and light fun

bob the moo4 January 2007

When the evil forces of STENCH strike at a British research laboratory they get away with a top secret chemical formula. With the British agents spread thin across the world, The Chief has very few options open to him to follow up the lead into the mysterious Milchmann who led the attack. The Chief scraps the bottom of the barrel and comes up with Simkins probably one of his worst agents. Assigning Simkins with a handful of trainee agents Crump, Honeybutt and Bind the ragtag band set off to meet up with Agent Carstairs in Vienna.

Despite being made in the mid-sixties this Carry On film has more in common with those made early in the series (Teacher and Sergeant) more than it does with those made around the same time as it (Jack, Cruising, Cowboy). It is not just the black and white that made me think this but also the fact that the humour seems fresher and slicker than the heavy innuendo and crudity of the later films. Others have said this has more in common with Ealing than Carry On they are wrong, but I can see what they mean because the light spy spoof is very much an early Carry On. The material isn't great though but it does produce easy and obvious comedy and those looking to just to fill a wet Sunday afternoon.

The cast make a big difference even though not all the regulars are present. Williams and Hawtrey are the most fun as both play up their camp characters to good effect they both get the best lines as well. Windsor is pretty good as she isn't just used as an object. Cribbins was pretty dull I thought but Dale was good value in a small role. Additional support from Barker, Laye and a few others all helps. Overall a Carry On like they first made them; not brilliant but light fun.

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7/10

Carry On No.9

michaelarmer22 April 2020

Back to B&W and it makes it look poor, however it did not affect the story, A secret formula has been stolen and they need to get it back again using the most inept bunch of spies going.

Kenneth Williams is back on top of the bill, with a new member of the team Barbara Windsor second billed, Bernard Cribbins returns in his 2nd, along with Eric Barker, Cyril Chamberlain, Victor Maddern, Eric Pohlmann and Dilys Laye.

Eric Pohlmann was one of the few non British actors in the series, he was Austrian, he only did 2 Carry On's the first was Carry On Regardless, both were sinister roles, he did a lot of British Films and TV in the 50's and 60's going on to mostly German productions in the 70's, acting up until he died, in Germany in 1979 aged 66. It was also Cyril Chamberlain's last one, Cyril was a big star in British Film in the 40's and 50's, he started in 1936, by the time the Carry On's started his career was on its wane, he did 8 of the first nine, but mostly small parts, Cruising was perhaps his biggest role in Carry On's, he retired soon after this in 1966 and sadly passed away in 1974 aged 65. Another regular in the same period of British film was Richard Wattis, a character actor, this was his only Carry On, he passed away the year after Cyril in 1975 aged 62.

Other now regulars were Jim Dale and Charles Hawtrey, again a few of the 'team' were missing, No Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Joan Sims and Kenneth Connor.

This was about average for a Carry On, still a bit straight but with more daft stuff creeping in, and the start of smut with the appearance of Barbara Windsor, but it was not just her it was her dialogue, the writer must of assumed that because of her appearance and bubbly persona that she was naturally smutty? Not too bad a thing, to male audiences anyway but as far as movie making, not good. But there were some good ones that did have smut, so it does not detract too much in some cases, and there was only a little in this.

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7/10

Great carry on

franklawler-268337 January 2020

This is the 9th in the series and I have never seen spying before and I've got too say it's not too bad it's not the best but definitely not the worst some where in the middle of the whole collection it's got Kenneth Williams, Charles hawtrey, jim dale, and the beautiful Barbara Windsor in her first outing, it has funny moments enough to keep my smiling, I will award it 7/10 .

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7/10

A better than average Carry-On

Chase_Witherspoon3 December 2011

James Bond send-up with the Carry On crew delivering their familiar brand of double-entendres and corny one-liners, accompanied by regular guest Bernard Cribbins, has a quartet of inept MI5-styled spies (Windsor, Williams, Hawtrey and Cribbins) sent to recover a top secret formula off "fat man" Eric Pohlmann. Their apparently easy mission is thwarted however when they run afoul the evil Dr Crow (Furse) and her plan for world domination as an exponent of the international criminal organisation called "Stench".

Williams is more restrained that usual, and in my opinion, is the best of breed in this instalment. His nit-wit South-end accented secret agent hits every mark and is once again, nicely contrasted by Hawtrey's straight man. It's the usual farce as the quartet bound from one self-made catastrophe to the next, among the funnier moments is when Cribbins attempts to tunnel his way out of their imprisonment only to find himself still inside the cell, and when Williams steals the reel-to-reel recordings of the secret formula after its revealed to Dr Crow by Windsor under intense interrogation tactics ("oh no, I've lost one of me spools"). The twist ending is also a great laugh, courtesy once again of Williams' character's ineptitude.

If you're not accustomed to the Carry-On or indeed, bawdy British humour, then "Carry On Spying" will either prove too absurd to endure, or, give you a reason to seek-out the other thirty-odd films in the series, some not as good, but few better than this entry.

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5/10

Stale take on the Bond movies

Hayden-8605525 December 2020

This could easily have been a brilliant film with the cast, unfortunately it's not, fun in parts but a bit tired throughout. Plot wise it's rubbish, and not just Carry on cheesy rubbish but actually rubbish.

Bernard Cribbins was fun to watch here and this was Barbara Windsor's first Carry on film, but the lack of Sid James is telling and Jim Dale didn't have as much screen time as I would have liked. The villain spoofed on Blofield was a let down, as was the ending (and a lot of the middle) which didn't have enough action and resorted to relatively course jokes.

5/10: Ok film but one of the poorer Carry Ons

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8/10

Fine entry in the series

Erich-1326 February 2000

Warning: Spoilers

One of the more consistently amusing "Carry On" movies, "Carry On Spying" drops the gang squarely in the world of James Bond a world they immediately proceed to turn on its ear.

Noteworthy as the "Carry On" debut of series regular Barbara Windsor, playing a secret agent trainee who makes great use of her perky sexuality (a typical attribute of Windsor's characters) and her intelligence.

The other series regulars (Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, etc.) are at the top of their game. Among the supporting players, Judith Furse is a standout as the intimidating evil mastermind Dr. Crow. Playing the role straight-faced, Furse's sinister, man-like villainess would fit right into a genuine Bond film.

Highly recommended to fans of the series, and a good starting point for those who've never seen a "Carry On" before.

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6/10

A cosy Carry On caper

Leofwine_draca12 December 2011

It's incredible to believe that at this early stage, CARRY ON SPYING was already the ninth in the long running series. It's the last of the black and white instalments, and it's an affectionate, often obvious spoof of the James Bond spy era.

Series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Hattie Jacques and Joan Sims are all conspicuous by their absence, but Bernard Cribbins returns from CARRY ON JACK and Barbara Windsor appears in her first CARRY ON - and she's marginally less irritating than in latter entries. Kenneth Williams is the real highlight of this one, playing an extraordinarily camp character instead of the usual snobbish twit from earlier films, and he turns every line of dialogue into a highlight.

It's also grand to have Charles Hawtrey in a larger role than usual, before the presence of additional regulars reduced him to little more than cameo appearances. Jokes come in the form of the requisite mistaken identities, cross dressing and other shenanigans, with Eric Barker playing the exasperated superior with aplomb and Jim Dale bagging a more prominent role. The ending, which takes place inside a lair straight out of a Bond film, is memorably silly but the preceding bit in the train is the real highlight.

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1/10

Carry On Barfing

ArtVandelayImporterExporter4 March 2024

Did the Limeys actually think this shyt was funny at the time?

A bunch of poncey gits floating around, making lewd remarks and ogling (admittedly) hot-looking women?

Adults would need an IQ of under 50 to find the sophomoric dailogue amusing.

I could see 5 year olds laughing at the physical shenanigans.

The set design is on par with the campy Batman TV series that came later in the 60s. The acting is worse.

I think the plot is a spy caper. A spoof of the Bond films (only two of which had been made at this point, correct?) Not sure what the point was to spoofing Bond films since they were self-satire after the first instalment.

I don't know whether this is the worst movie I've ever seen (though it's a contender). But it's easily one of the most incompetent and intelligence-insulting.

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8/10

The Last 'Carry On' in Black & White

richardchatten26 November 2020

A grown man shouldn't really be discussing a 'Carry On' film, but this has always been my personal favourite; and the series soon went into a precipitous decline after the franchise was taken over by Rank in 1966.

It actually rewards knowledge of classic adventure films of the forties like 'The Maltese Falcon' and 'The Third Man', both referenced by the presence of Eric Pohlmann - since he is referred to as 'The Fat Man' and was actually in 'The Third Man (not to mention having recently voiced Blofeld in 'From Russia with Love'); and has some genuinely witty dialogue (such as "Was it - THEM?" "Well it certainly wasn't - US!!" and "So you knew my father!!"). There's even a little mild satire, such as the Russian-accented cipher clerk played by Gerton (sic) Klauber squinting at an intercepted message as he reads it aloud to the head of MI5, and the sign on their table that greets our heroes in a Viennese restaurant reading 'Reserved for Party of British Agents'.

Cameraman Alan Hume actually graduated to the James Bond series. The opening sequence beginning with Victor Maddern driving up to the north entrance of Pinewood Studios anticipates that of 'Get Smart!', while the finale at STENCH headquarters is well worth the wait. Embellished with atmospheric music from Eric Rogers, presided over by the memorably strange Dr. Crow and staffed by stern henchwomen dressed like Modesty Blaise, (SPOILER COMING:) it obligingly has a prominently displayed panel for blowing the place up like the lever in Frankenstein's laboratory at the end of 'Bride of Frankenstein'.

Richard Wattis did three days work on this; his one and only 'Carry On'. Liz Fraser had sadly just left the series, and her replacement by Barbara Windsor (although playing a genius with a photographic memory) showed the series was coarsening. But Dilys Laye compensates by providing a memorable dragon lady.

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7/10

A pretty good Carry minus the best Sid James

RogerMooreTheBestBond19 July 2009

Warning: Spoilers

Only a few regular appear in this film. Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Barbara Windsor, Jim Dale & Dilys Laye appear. Bernard Cribbins joins the first three as agents working on the right side. Jim Dale plays their contact when they arrive. Dilys Laye plays the part of the femme fatal. Kenneth Williams accent is rather annoying in this film. He has a tendency to overdue his role some times and he definitely takes it too far here. Dilys Laye is sadly underused here. I love her part in Cruising. They all get captured by the enemy in the end. There is a very well done escape that is the best part of the entire film. I still give this a seven even though none of my favorites have a big part in this outing.

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5/10

One of the first James Bond spoofs, but not necessarily one of the best

gridoon202417 March 2020

This broad spy comedy has some chuckles (the morse code, the "table reserved for British secret agents", etc.), but overall it's pretty tiresome, with a barrage of overacting. Barbara Windsor's figure is phenomenal. ** out of 4.

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A spoof of British eccentricity

alexandra-2512 June 2012

An audience may be forgiven for viewing Carry on Spying as a spoof of an eclectic range of spy films. However, in fact this is a mistaken view. Films such as The Third Man (1949), Casablanca,(1942), The Lady Vanishes (1938) and James Bond are all borrowed in order to spoof British culture; the eccentricity of the British and our view of the world, particularly during the Cold War era. Moreover, the film suggests that as Brits we are not afraid to send up ourselves and, moreover, that we have a sense of humour, thereby detracting from the'stiff upper lip' persona.

Acting wise the ' Carry On' team performed well, and were particularly adept at stereotyping British eccentrics. The message they conveyed via their respective acting roles in the film was to look on the bright side of life! The film has broad appeal to those interested in the genres of thrillers, spy, or comedy. Moreover it will appeal to film buffs of the black and white genre.

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