Carry On Dick (1974)

Thanks for the memories!

Powerful

Highly Overrated But Still Good

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

The Carry Ons had been getting progressively ruder as the years passed, but this line of dialogue from Carry On Dick, the last film to feature the 'classic' cast, still had me doing a double take. I couldn't remember it being quite so near the knuckle. But as undeniably coarse and unsophisticated as much of the humour is, and despite an over-reliance on Sid James trademark guffaws and saucy giggles from Babs Windsor, the gang's version of the story of Dick Turpin still succeeds in being a lot of delightfully un-PC fun.If the idea of an ageing Sid James as dashing highwayman 'Big Dick' isn't silly enough for you, he's assisted by Peter Butterworth and Barbara Windsor, neither of whom would strike much terror into the the heart of even the most fearful of travellers. Tasked with catching the lovable masked rogues are Captain Desmond Fancey (Kenneth Williams) and Sergeant Jock Strapp, who have gained vital information about their quarry that might help them: Turpin has a distinguishing birthmark on his "insert suggestive sound effect here"...Broad comedy, characters with daft names, innuendo, Barbara Windsor's top flying open, Joan Sims doing her French accent—it's all there, making this Historical romp predictable fare but entertaining nonetheless.

Although he has gained almost legendary fame, the highwayman, Dick Turpin (1706-1739), was not actually a romantic figure at all. Just a common thief, without scruples or mercy, who thoroughly deserved to be hanged – and was! However, this film has no relationship to the historical Dick Turpin at all. In fact, it is actually an amusing spoof of Walt Disney's 1963 version of Doctor Syn (starring Patrick McGoohan as the bogus vicar and George Cole as his sexton) – a fact that was not lost on the Disney Organization who managed to delay the movie's U.S.A. release for nearly six months. Sid James has a right royal time in both his characterizations (Dick and the vicar) and is enthusiastically assisted by the petite Barbara Windsor. Kenneth Williams is also in his element as the incompetent captain of the Bow Street Runners, and here he is ably assisted in idiocy by Jack Douglas who had small roles in a few earlier entries, but, given the opportunity, really rises to the occasion in this one. Joan Sims is also on hand with a company of delightful "birds"! All told, this colorful spoof is not half as amusing as Don't Lose Your Head. Too much time is wasted with James in his "serious" identity and Hattie Jacques is a bore – not her fault, it's a boring, superfluous and totally obvious role. Nevertheless, this film is still an absolutely must-see entry for Carry On fans.

This carry on is a great carry on!. The actors are great. Most of the gang are here except Charles Hawtrey who got the boot after Abroad. Patsy Rowland's is underused which is a great shame as is Bill Maynard they have both got good talent. Sid Jame's is just as good as ever in his final carry on. Barbara Windsor is great as Harriet, as is Hatttie Jacques.Jack Douglas and Kenneth William's are great this film is the last true carry on film behind wasn't the same. This was good clean fun the last 3 England Behind and Emmanuelle resort to nudity to get laughs this had the talent the actors and the script its go the lot. This one and Cleo are the best Historical ones!. After this they where never the same!..

I re-watched Carry On Dick on DVD today. I usually agree that this film is a bit of a hit and miss, but i think now that is it very good, up there with Carry On Henry for historicals, not Cleo though.Sid James is looking older, but he can still pull it off. Critics may say that James was too old to be lusting after someone of Barbara Windsor's age, but the situation the characters are put in, (two highway man/women), you can believe this girl would have a relationship with the elder man because of the work they do together. So i think they work well together in this film.This is the only film i can think of in the series that starts of pretty dull then gets funnier towards the middle and end. Very good ending with Hattie Jacques on the organ, pumping for all she's worth.Kenneth Williams and Jack Douglas have good chemistry, but it's really just the same characters Williams and Peter Butterworth played in Don't Lose Your Head. The premise of the film is very similar!As for the rest of the cast, Peter Butterworth shines in the drag sequence as he ogles over Joan Sims' bosoms. Ms Sims doesn't get much to do, but she's always funny and my favourite of the team. Kenneth Connor is excellent as the ageing Constable, such a great character actor. And Hattie Jacques excells as Miss Hoggett, the nosey housekeeper. Very good in the sequence where she is listening at the door.The Carry Ons never felt the same after Talbot Rothwell left. There was something no quite right about Behind, England, Emmannuelle or Columbus. I don't think anyone could recapture his style, he was born to write Carry On humour.The team was also breaking up at this point. Obviously the style was getting tired, and in reality, Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas should have called it a day after this one. The one's that followed were good in places, but never hit the mark.