Carry On Spying

Carry On Spying
Original UK quad poster
Directed by	Gerald Thomas
Produced by	Peter Rogers
Written by	Talbot Rothwell Sid Colin
Starring	Kenneth Williams Barbara Windsor Bernard Cribbins Charles Hawtrey Eric Barker Dilys Laye Jim Dale
Music by	Eric Rogers
Cinematography	Alan Hume
Edited by	Archie Ludski
Production company	Peter Rogers Productions/ Anglo-Amalgamated
Distributed by	Anglo-Amalgamated/ Warner-Pathé
Release date	June 1964 (1964-06)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£148,000

Carry On Spying is a 1964 film, the ninth in the series of Carry On films to be made.^[1] It marks Barbara Windsor's first appearance in the series.^[2] Series regulars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Jim Dale are present. Bernard Cribbins makes the second of his three Carry On appearances (although it would be 28 years before he returned in Carry On Columbus). Eric Barker appears for his third entry (his final appearance would be in Carry On Emmannuelle 14 years later). Dilys Laye returns after her debut in Carry On Cruising. Carry On Spying is the last Carry On film shot in black and white.^[3]

Plot

A top secret chemical formula has been stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans). Fearful of the formula falling into the wrong hands, the chief of the Secret Service reluctantly sends the only agent he has left, the bumbling and silly Agent Desmond Simpkins, (Kenneth Williams), and his three trainees, Agent Harold Crump, (Bernard Cribbins), Agent Daphne Honeybutt, (Barbara Windsor), and Agent Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey), to retrieve the formula.

The agents travel separately to Vienna, where each makes contact with Carstairs (Jim Dale), who assumes a different disguise each time. Next, they rendezvous at the Cafe Mozart and later travel on to Algiers. Upon the way, they encounter the STENCH agents, the Fat Man and Milchmann (who stole the formula disguised - befitting the English translation of his German name - as a milkman). Unfortunately, the agents' ineptitude results in Carstairs being floored in an encounter with the Fat Man.

Daphne and Harold attempt to steal the formula back whilst disguised as dancing girls in Hakim's Fun House, where the Fat Man is relaxing. The agents also encounter the mysterious Lila (Dilys Laye), whom they are uncertain if they can trust. With the STENCH henchmen close on their heels, the agents have no other choice but to have Daphne memorize the formula with her photographic memory, before the four of them destroy the formula papers by eating them with soup.

The four agents end up captives of STENCH. Daphne is interrogated by the evil Dr Crow (played by Judith Furse and voiced by John Bluthal), head of STENCH, but she fails to succumb until she accidentally bumps her head, causing her to reveal the formula. Simpkins, Crump and Bind escape their cell and collect Daphne and Dr Crow's tape recording of Daphne's recitation, but are caught up in an underground automated factory process, from which they escape only when Lila pulls a gun on Dr Crow, forcing her to reverse the process.

Simpkins sets the STENCH base to self-destruct before rushing into a lift with the other agents, as well as Lila and Dr Crow. As the lift ascends, Lila reveals to Simpkins that she is a double agent, working for SNOG - the Society for Neutralising Of Germs - and she has a crush on him. The lift reaches the surface, which is revealed to be the office of the chief of the Secret Service; the headquarters of STENCH are right below the streets of London. STENCH headquarters self-destructs, choking the chief's office in a thick cloud of smoke.

Cast

Crew

• Screenplay – Talbot Rothwell & Sid Colin
• Music – Eric Rogers
• Songs – "Too Late" by Alex Alstone & Geoffrey Parsons and "The Magic of Love" by Eric Rogers
• Associate Producer – Frank Bevis
• Art Director – Alex Vetchinsky
• Director of Photography – Alan Hume
• Editor – Archie Ludski
• Camera Operator – Godfrey Godar
• Assistant Director – Peter Bolton
• Unit Manager – Donald Toms
• Continuity – Penny Daniels
• Hairdressing – Biddy Chrystal
• Sound Editor – Christopher Lancaster
• Sound Recordists – CC Stevens & Bill Daniels
• Costume Designer – Yvonne Caffin
• Make-up – WT Partleton
• Producer – Peter Rogers
• Director – Gerald Thomas

Production

Albert R. Broccoli, the producer of the James Bond film series, objected to the character name "James Bind agent 006½" (intended for Charles Hawtrey) and threatened legal action. Producer Peter Rogers therefore changed the name to Charlie and the agent's code number to double 0 – ooh! Poster artist Tom Chantrell also had to modify the poster when similar complaints were voiced that the artwork was too similar to From Russia with Love.

The film pokes fun at various spy movies, James Bond being the least of them. They include The Third Man (coincidentally, Eric Pohlmann – who played The Fat Man – also had a minor part in The Third Man), and Casablanca. One or two of Crow's female assistants wear hairstyles similar to that of Modesty Blaise, whose adventures had started in the London Evening Standard the previous year.

Filming and locations

• Filming dates – 8 February-13 March 1964

Interiors:

• Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Critical reception

Carry On Spying received critical acclaim, with critics praising its fast pace, satirical intent and Kenneth Williams's performance. It currently holds a 100% 'fresh' critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 5 reviews and a 62% audience score based on 912. It is generally considered one of the finest films in the series, alongside Carry On Camping, Carry On... Up the Khyber and Carry On Matron.

Bibliography

• Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1908630018. 
• Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0857682796. 
• Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0099490074. 
• Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1906358150. 
• Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (2007) (Reynolds & Hearn Books)
• Ross, Robert (2002). The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0713487718. 
• Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0563551836. 
• Rigelsford, Adrian (1996). Carry On Laughing – a celebration. London: Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-554-5. 
• Hibbin, Sally & Nina (1988). What a Carry On. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0600558194. 
• Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0715374030. 

References

1. ↑ "Carry On Spying (1964)". BFI. 
2. ↑ "Carry On Spying". britmovie.co.uk. 
3. ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Carry On Spying (1964)". screenonline.org.uk. 

External links

• Carry On Spying on IMDb
• Carry On Spying at The Whippit Inn
• Carry On Spying in the British Film Institute's "Explore film..." database
• Carry On Spying at BFI Screenonline
• Carry On Spying at BritMovie
• Carry on Spying review at Empire