Review of Carry On Abroad (1972) by Ian P — 19 Jul 2015

Carry On Abroad truly encapsulates the feel-good spirit that made the films such an enduring success. All of the team's favourite regulars are here, as well as some welcome guest stars, making for one of the largest casts put together in a 70s Carry On film. The usual batch of players that are present and clearly on good form are Sid James, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Peter Butterworth, Charles Hawtrey, Babara Windsor, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor and Bernard Bresslaw and are joined by Scottish comedian Jimmy Logan and a host of other familiar T.V stars of the day such as June Whitfield, Ray Brooks, Carol Hawkins, Derek Francis, Patsy Rolands, Sally Geeson and John Clive.

Vic (Sid James) and Cora Flange (Joan Sims) join a pack of tourists on a package holiday deal to the Island of Elsbells. Vic's plans had already been mucked up as the holiday was intended to be a dirty weekend with his mistress, Sadie Tomkins (Babara Windsor), but all plans went down the drain after Cora (Joan Sims) decided she'd like to go on holiday to keep an eye on her straying husband. Once all the tourists arrive at their destination, they are astounded to discover that the hotel is only half built and there are no more than three staff members (Peter Buterworth, Hattie Jacques and Ray Brooks). So follows several comic mishaps that are all as predictable as ever yet remains entertaining throughout with a healthy injection of laughs to be endured. There's great fun to be had especially when the gang get arrested and end up spending a night in jail, following a fight that occurred outside a brothel. But its the ending where the film really scores best as the hotel slowly begins collapsing around their ears. Only problem is everyone is too drunk and feeling too amorous to even care. Peter Butterworth manically runs around trying to get everyone to vacate the building but his efforts are blatantly ignored. You can't help thinking of Basil Fawlty in those sequences! The film has a happy ending and the fun sequence where the gang are all reunited and decide to have a lock-in at Vic and Cora's pub is one of the best endings in a Carry On film, firmly holding onto that fine, feel-good spirit which would slowly dissolve from here on.

The cast are all on usual form, though Peter Butterworth and Hattie Jaques are, perhaps, the best players here. They make a Laurel and Hardy-like duo and Jacques in particular is inan unusual role, playing a Spanish, downtrodden and utterly demented cook. The rest of the cast certainly get their moments including Joan Sims in the hilarious umbrella sequence where she and Sid James are suddenly soaked from the roof collapsing during the storm of the last night just when they were planning a bit of "nookie". Priceless stuff! Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey hilariously mince around during the majority of the film, putting in their more familiar characterisations whilst Jimmy Logan is a welcome addition to the cast who provides sparkle in every scene he's in.

All in all, Carry On Abroad was one of the last true great Carry On's. The series was on a slippery slope now and this would also be the last to feature Charles Hawtrey - a much loved regular in the series. Carry On Abroad was one of the greatest of all the 1970's Carry On's and proved to be another big smash hit at the Box Office. Great fun. Recommended.