- Carry On Sergeant
Infobox Film | name = Carry on Sergeant
caption = "Carry On Sergeant" promotional poster
director =Gerald Thomas
producer =Peter Rogers
writer =Norman Hudis
starring =William Hartnell Kenneth Williams Kenneth Connor
Charles HawtreyBob Monkhouse Hattie Jacques
music = Bruce Montgomery
cinematography = Peter Hennessy
editing =
distributor =Anglo-Amalgamated
released =1 August 1958
runtime = 84 min.
country = flagicon|United KingdomUnited Kingdom
language = English
budget = £73,000
preceded_by = None
followed_by = "Carry On Nurse "
imdb_id = 0051453"Carry On Sergeant" is the first "Carry On" film. Its first public screening was on
1 August 1958 at Screen One,London . Actors in this film who went on to be part of the regular team in the series wereKenneth Williams , Charles Hawtrey,Hattie Jacques ,Kenneth Connor andTerry Scott . The film also starredWilliam Hartnell ,Bob Monkhouse ,Shirley Eaton , Bill Owen,Eric Barker ,Dora Bryan ,Norman Rossington andTerence Longdon .The film was based on a play "The Bull Boys" by
R. F. Delderfield . Norman Hudis adapted this into a script withJohn Antrobus contributing additional material."Carry on Sergeant" is a normal expression for an army officer to use. The title was used to cash in on the popularity of the
1957 film "Carry On Admiral", which was written byVal Guest . At the time, the success of "Carry On Sergeant" prompted applause and audience laughter in serious settings where the phrase was used, including amongst audiences of the film "The Devil's Disciple " (1959). [Ross, Robert. "The Carry On Companion", B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. ISBN 0-7134-7967-1 p 16]"Carry on Sergeant" had not been conceived as the start of a movie series; only after the film's surprising success did the producer
Peter Rogers and directorGerald Thomas set about planning a further project. After reusing the "Carry On" prefix and some cast members in their next project "Carry On Nurse " (1959) and having success with that film, a "Carry On" series of films evolved. [Ross, Robert. "The Carry On Companion", B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. ISBN 0-7134-7967-1 p 17]Plot summary
The film revolves around Sergeant Grimshawe, responsible for training
National Service recruits at Heathercrest National Service Depot. Grimshawe is due to retire after the current intake has completed their ten weeks training and is desperate to leave his job as a success. A rival sergeant (Terry Scott ) bets him 50 pounds that the latest lot won't be champions (This was actually Scott's fee for the part).Grimshawe, a gruff but well-meaning soldier, tries his best, but has grave doubts about the abilities of the new intake, who include newly-wed Monkhouse, intellectual Williams, hypochondriac Connor and effeminate Hawtrey. The film follows the group as a whole and several of the trainees individually as they progress from almost certain failure to surprising success after they learn of the bet and decide that they will be the champion
platoon .The film ends on a happy note as the now-qualified recruits bundle into a truck and wave goodbye to a smiling Hartnell, now dressed in civvies and retiring from the Army.
The film reflects the social structure of the time, with class divisions being very much in evidence. Grimshawe assumes one conscript is bound for officers' training because of his upper class bearing. It also highlights the difference between career soldiers and conscripts, and the differing backgrounds from which they are drawn. The characters can be seen as stereotypes, (
Terry Scott 's Paddy O'Brien being the Irishman,Gerald Campion the fat man), but the calibre of the principal actors makes them believable individuals.As the first film of the "Carry On" series, this set the tone for what was to follow, with emphasis on character to the fore. A few double-entendres were present, even at this early stage. The scriptwriting services of Hudis were retained for the next five films, and producer
Peter Rogers and DirectorGerald Thomas stayed with the series until the end (1993 's "Carry On Columbus").Hattie Jacques appears as a formidable but sympathetic army medical officer, who examines Connor many times, but can't find anything wrong with him. This is the pattern of many 'Matron' types Hattie would play throughout her Carry-on career.Business data
*Budget – £73,000 (estimated)
*Gross – £500,000 (UK)
*Filming dates –24 March 1958 –2 May 1958 Filming locations
Interiors:
* Stage B,Pinewood Studios , BuckinghamshireExteriors:
* Army camp: Queen Elizabeth II Army Barracks, Whateley Road, Stoughton near Guildford, Surrey
* Wedding scene: St Mary's Church of England, Church Hill,Harefield , Middlesex
* Church scenes:Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire Royal Mail
On 10 June 2008, the
Royal Mail issued a new first stamp that featured "Carry On Sergeant", as part of a series to celebrate "Carry On" andHammer horror films.cite news|url=http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/06/original-doctor.html|title=Original Doctor Who Immortalized on Brit Stamp|last=Lewinski|first=John Scott|date=2008-06-08|work=The Underwire|publisher=CondéNet|accessdate=2008-06-08] cite web|url=http://www.royalmail.com/portal/stamps/content1?catId=32300674&mediaId=76000716|title=Classic Carry On and Hammer Films|work=Royal Mail|publisher=Royal Mail Group|accessdate=2008-06-08]Notes
External links
*
* [http://www.thewhippitinn.com/carry_on_films/carry_on_sergeant/"Carry On Sergeant" at The Whippit Inn]
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