Carry On Sergeant (1958)

Redundant and unnecessary.

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

I've heard of the Carry On series for some time but I had never seen it. I decided to start with the first movie. "Carry On Sergeant" is one of many comedies focusing on a collection of loopy new recruits on a military base and the crazy stuff that happens. It's slapstick humor but most of it is more subtle than we're used to in the 21st century. Low-key British humor, you could say. I enjoyed the movie.And of course, I have to talk about some of the cast members. If the woman playing Mary looks familiar, it's because Shirley Eaton is best known as the woman painted gold in "Goldfinger". And then there's Charles Hawtrey, who plays lovable wimp Peter. You might recognize the name even if you can't place the face. The Beatles mentioned him in "Two of Us" ("I Dig a Pigmy" by Charles Hawtrey on the deaf aids).Anyway, it's a funny movie. I suspect that they had fun filming it.

Carry on sergeant has the fame of being the first carry on film. It was released in 1958 just before national army service ended two years later. This film is how the well known film series started so it is memorable for that. the first films were black and white where colour would be in all films from 1964. the series is special because of the comedy actors who returned to each new carry on film and played different crazy roles. all the actors were well known within British cinema and performed well. Carry on sergeant is memorable for the only appearance of comedy star bob monkhouse in the film series and the appearance of william hartnell as tough sergeant before he became the first doctor who. the comedy plot is very good about a group of no hope soldiers who turn things around. enjoyable.

I started my reviews of the Carry On's at the end of their run. Most of the ones at the end went to far and counted on dirty jokes and sex to sell the story. It is refreshing to go back to the first one and see how that stuff was not needed. I don't mind seeing a girl in a sexy outfit, but we don't need filthy humor.Carry on Sergeant takes place at a training camp for new soldiers. A lot of the men don't want to be there and don't try very hard. They are the worst of the camp. We have a lot of regulars here: Kenneth Conner, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques & Terry Scott. Also William Hartnell plays the Sergeant and does a great job playing him. Shirley Eaton plays a newlywed who sneaks on the base to be close to her husband. There is a funny scene where they keep marking the progress of the group and it keeps going down each week. The guys find out the sergeant is retiring after the last day of training, so they decide to give him a great showing and they win the contest against all the other groups. This makes him very happy and they give him a lighter as a gift in the last scene. That was a really nice touch and it put a lump in my throat.This first film had a different tone than the later ones. I liked it and it really grew on me. That's not to say, I did not like the style as they went ahead. I love Sid James and he did not come in to be the main guy until the mid 60's.

I have liked this movie since I was at least eight and that's been twelve years and still I like it. As a kid I liked most of the Carry On films but now have become browned off by the majority except for Sergeant. Sergeant is a heart-warming tale featuring William Hartnell -the first Doctor Who and with excellent bit roles such as in The Yangste Incident and his last platoon. It features some of the well known Carry On faces such as Terry Scott and Kenneth Connor who is my favourite in this one as Private Strong. Excellent lines that still make me laugh and scenes that do likewise. Also starring the late great legend that was Bob Monkhouse. This is in my opinion the greatest of the Carry On movies and right up there with comedies of the time such as Doctor in the House, Wrong Arm of the Law and The League of Gentlemen.