Oh dear. It had to go wrong at some point. After some good films and some
mediocre films came a handful of below average films. Had it not been for
the presence of Sid James (and the arrival in a few films of Talbot
Rothwell) the series could have arguably in fatal decline.
Carry On Regardless is an example par excellence of lazy film-making. The
film is essentially a series of sketches linked together very weakly by the
'Helping Hands' agency. Many of the sketches are funny, but as a whole the
film is unfortunately quite weak.
The main cast is still present and correct; Terence Longden, Bill Owen and
Liz Fraser can also be found in the supporting cast. Hattie Jacques is also
reduced to a role that would typecast her until and beyond her death, the
role of the stern, rounded Matron. Sid James again headlights the cast, and
is again seen first in the film. His Carry On persona is becoming more
developed, with a few more Sid cackles thrown into the action. Again, as
with his first role, Sid's character is the linchpin on which all the action
and other characters hang. Perhaps the fact he had central roles so early in
his Carry On film career is the reason he's seen as the archetypal Carry On
actor.
Of the supporting cast, both Stanley Unwin and Esma Cannon steal every scene
they are in, both together and separately. The secret of the Carry Ons was
the cast (and the supporting cast, however brief their association with the
films); all of the great Carry On actors were comic actors, not actors
trying to be funny. Cannon and Unwin are two of this kind, and can amuse
with the slightest gesture or word. In a film such as this, where there are
a lot of scenes, it's inevitable that there are a lot of cameos. In the most
part these work, with the two above and Fenella Fielding's all working
particularly well.
The film is again littered with social comments, fewer this time than
perhaps in the previous films. The most noticeable example is the 'women's
lib' attitude taken by Joan Sims and Liz Fraser, when trying to obtain jobs
meant for the men. This film is noticeable for having the first scenes
between a man and a woman based round a bed! Downhill from now on.
This is the first film to have uniformly amusing names for the main
characters; Talbot Rothwell would turn this into a (frequently blue) art in
later films. The staple Carry On elements are in place, such as slapstick,
wordplay, and cross-dressing (although this time it's Liz dressing up as a
man). Kenneth Connor again plays the unwitting sex object, much in the same
way that Benny Hill would perfect the role in his reign at Thames TV -
although frequently he was more willing that Kenneth Connor. There's also
the first evidence of the series mocking the private lives of the stars,
although in this case I think it was unintentional (as well as being before
the events); Joan Sims' 'drunk' performance is one to behold, and stands out
as a highlight of the film. Also, one line mocks Sid James; "The man with
the face like a relief map of the Himalayas."
Compared to the previous film, Constable, there is limited location filming,
which limits the scope of the film. The location filming that did take place
is mainly in the first half of the film, and is mostly based in Windsor; the
Helping Hands agency can be found in the same row of buildings as the
Doctor's surgery in Again Doctor, and the Wedded Bliss agency in Loving.
(After measuring Liz's vital stats) Joan: "I suppose she won on points."
"I'm sure you'll get staffed."
"What are you doing down there?"
"Getting up."
"Do you provide substitutes?"
"No! This is a respectable firm."
"Think of brainwashing!"
"How can they wash what isn't there?"
In addition to Joan Sims' role as a drunk, Kenneth Williams' scenes with the
chimp remain one of the series' most memorable gags. Kenneth plays the role
with deadly seriousness, despite the whole idea of taking a chimp for a walk
is entirely unlikely. Sid James also makes his first appearance in a Carry
On hospital for this film, which is almost a miniature sequel to Carry On
Nurse, with Hattie Jacques and Joan Hickson reprising their roles. The scene
is also important for beginning to develop Sid's sex mad Carry On character.
It also packs in more laughs than most of the rest of the vignettes put
together. It also pays homage to a popular series of the time with the line;
"Emergency! Ward Ten!" The 'Forth Bridge' scene is very atmospheric, but
probably goes on for too long without getting to the punchline. Eric
Pohlman, who plays the man requesting a fourth at bridge was also the voice
of Bond villain Blofeld in the early films of that series, as well as
returning to the Carry Ons in Spying.
Regardless is a mixed bag. The scenes highlighted above, coupled with the
performances, save this from being the worst film of the series. Having said
that it's still not brilliant. It's not particularly coherent, and the
scenes in the agency office do not really add much comedy. The final scenes
in the house continue the Carry On tradition of ending with a 'bun fight',
but the film has not naturally been leading to this moment as, perhaps, the
mansion house scenes in Khyber followed naturally from the rest of the film.
By Gareth Beven.