Carry On Cruising (1962)

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The first "Carry On" film in colour, this is enormous fun. Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Sid James (once again playing the straight man) are at the top of their game, although the absences of Charles Hawtrey (for the only time until he was dropped from the series in 1973), Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques are very noticeable. He has a fairly small role but the untalented Lance Percival makes for a very poor Hawtrey substitute. All I could think was how much better Hawtrey would have as Haines, the violently seasick ship's chef who can't cook. The comic potential of the character is wasted. On the bright side, Dilys Laye is more than worthy of filling Sims' shoes, particularly in the drinking scene. Esma Cannon gets more to do than in the last two films and is absolutely hilarious. The contrast between her and James is brilliant.

I have to be completely honest in saying first that I fell asleep somewhere in the middle, so I cannot give a full opinion about the film until I see it in full. Basically The SS Happy Wanderer is ready to set sail, but Captain Wellington Crowther (Sid James) has only just found out that loads of staff members have been replaced at such short notice. New members include First Officer Leonard Marjoribanks (Kenneth Williams), Doctor Arthur Binn (Kenneth Connor, cook Wilfred Haines (Lance Percival) and barman Sam Turner (Jimmy Thompson), so the Captain not only has to put up with their incompetence, but the passengers aboard turn out to have strange qualities too. Also starring Liz Fraser as Glad Trimble, Dilys Laye as Florence 'Flo' Castle, Esma Cannon as Bridget Madderley, Ronnie Stevens as Drunk Passenger, Vincent Ball as Jenkins and Cyril Chamberlain as steward Tom Tree. That's pretty much all can say about the film until I see it again in full, but I will say it has only three regulars, all male, but where are Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale, Hattie Jacques, Barbara Windsor and Joans Sims when you want them? Okay!

I love the Carry On movies but this entry is awful. Esma Cannon is there and as always has some fine moments but her character is over drawn and there is not much any one can do with a really awful script.At times the things Esma C is asked to do by the director is almost humilating. The scene when she falls into the pool made me cringe. This is set on a cruise ship so there should have been many comedic possibilities but it is a creepy boring cruise for this viewer. Pity as I looked forward to the first one in colour.What I found odd is that a cruise ship has lots of great opportunities for gags but it is all so pedestrian, it could have been set any where. The slap stick of Kenneth Connor makes you cringe. Next one was Cabby and it was in b/w and ten times better. The pace of the movie is slow and laboured.I will try it again but as a huge fan of the series I hated this one.Sid James looks as though he would rather be else where and Kenneth Williams is wasted. Kenneth Connor is awful, at times you feel so annoyed with him you want to fast forward or better still push him over board.. He gives the worse performance of all.By the way, he plays a doctor on this ship. Interesting how times changed. That doctor would be struck off for sexual harassement today. You really miss Hawtrey, Sims and Hatti Jaques. Lance Percival is awful as a cook. He is no stand in for Hawtrey and he gives a wooden unfunny performance. It simply is not funny. I loved Dilys Laye in this film. Her drunk scene is great fun. I liked the gym routine with the gym instructor.There is no warmth in the film and the slap stick is just childish and forced. This one is very contrived and the slap stick is simply embarrassing. Its looks like it was made for kids. Maybe thats why I think I liked it when I was a kid. The other Carry ons seem to have stood the test of time but not this one. It sure puts you off travel by sea. When a laugh is needed do a prat fall. Its pretty horrible. Australian audiences however will love seeing English actor Ronnie Stevens. He is the best thing in the film and plays a drunk. He came here and starred in Australia's most loved sketch show The Mavis Bramston Show. He is the best thing in the movie although there is not much for him to do. Pity he never got the break he deserved. At least Australia saw his talent. What a pity we don't see more of this great performer. Its trite and sadly boring movie.Cabby on the other hand is a delight, it was next!

Sid James and Kenneth Williams can't salvage this very weak Carry On offering. Sid plays the captain of Mediterranean cruise ship who has a completely new and thoroughly inept crew thrust upon him just when he needs a perfect cruise to earn the promotion he so thoroughly deserves. Kenneth Williams, Lance Percival and Kenneth Connor are the crew who make Sid's cruise so difficult.The inept crew bumble through some timid Carry On farce with an over reliance on falling over and a weak script to pull it all together. It doesn't have the warmth that the best films in the series have and just drifts through to its inevitable cheesy ending without any real laughs.