Leofwine_draca CARRY ON ENGLAND is the last of the CARRY ON films which feels like a proper film in the series - I can't count CARRY ON EMMANNUELLE or CARRY ON COLUMBUS because somehow they don't feel part of the canon (and in terms of their quality, they certainly aren't worth it anyway). Some of the series regulars are present and correct here, but key figures like Sid James (who had died) and Kenneth Williams (who was busy) are missing, and sorely missed at that.The story is set at military academy where Kenneth Connor's new captain is attempting to whip his soldiers into shape. Unfortunately they have other ideas, and as the soldiers are mixed sex, plenty of hijinks ensue. The problem with this film is that it's completely unfunny. The humour is lowbrow beyond belief - witness poor Connor being forced to act as if he is "following through" - and the sex content ramped up with excessive nudity, which feels forced. The writers and director were clearly trying to cash in on the success of the CONFESSIONS films but by making their film more like them, they betray the traditional spirit of CARRY ON.You really feel for Connor here, who tries his hardest but fails to bring the material to life. He's still the best thing in it. Peter Butterworth and Joan Sims also appear, but their screen time is mercilessly brief. Windsor Davies and Mervyn Hayes show up but seem to be merely riffing on their roles from IT AIN'T HALF HOT MUM, and newcomers like Patrick Mower and Diane Langton are just poor and out of place. It was fun to see Judy Geeson though, and Jack Douglas isn't too bad. If you want to see this type of storyline done right, the best thing to do is to go back and watch CARRY ON SERGEANT, the black and white original which is ten times better.

bkoganbing At a point when a lot of armies were becoming fully integrated with women taking more active combat roles Carry On England was woefully out of date as the Carry On troupe took on the RAF in its glory days as a subject for satire. This film must have drawn a lot of feminist ire and fire when it came out because it portrayed women both as sex objects and the men and women with nothing else on their minds even as Nazi Germany was perilously close to invading the United Kingdom.Kenneth Connor bellows his way through the role of a new commanding officer taking over a group of RAF ground personnel who staff an anti aircraft gun in a remote part of the country and they've never seen hide nor hair of any Luftwaffe types. In fact this unit is coed with the boys and girls just doing what boys and girls do. The women are headed by Judy Geeson and she's just as interested in kanoodling as the men. Connor tries every wile and stratagem with a most reluctant Sergeant Major Windsor Davies to instill some discipline in the ranks to no avail.A pity that Sid James, Charles Hawtrey, and Kenneth Williams were not available apparently, but I doubt any of them could have saved this one. The series was sputtering to a conclusion with gags that were either forced, unfunny or both.And Carry On England is quite a put down to women.

w22nuschler I cannot understand why people hate this movie. At least there were a few positive reviews. This film takes place during the war in 1940. The four leads are wonderful. Kenneth Connor plays the Commanding Officer and Windsor Davies plays the very funny Sergeant Major. The two main recruits are played by Judy Geeson as Willing and Patrick Able as Able. They are also wonderful. I have seen Judy Geeson in Brannigan and Space:1999. I loved her in both. Patrick Mower also has a memorable part in a Space:1999 episode.This film basically has the C.O. coming to whip the recruits into shape. He is helped by the Sergeant Major. They play off each other well. The recruits work together to keep things the way they are and not let them have the upper hand. There is one topless scene where the women stand at attention and are inspected by the C.O. That scene was not needed. The Sergeant Major is funny in the film because he is always yelling in a funny way.I give this film an 8 out 10 because it's funny and the leads are so likable. Do yourself a favor and check this out and don't listen to all the negative reviews. I have seen the two films made after this, and this film is much better than both.

m_pratt This is the worst carry on film ever made!!. Its so bad its embarrassing. There are Hardley any regulars. The regulars that are there have rubbish parts. Joan Sims is wasted as is Jack Douglas. The whole film is so bad that it has to resort to Nudity to raise a smile among the audience. The carry on films where never about nudity they where good clean fun!. This is taking it too far. The whole film is about trousers being taken off and shoutings and jokes that aren't even funny. The carry on films where now only a shadow of themselves there where only 1-4 regulars the film with Sid in had then become a thing of the past. Its lucky that most of the carry on cast left when they did. A poor film.