Carry On Cabby **** (1963, Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Esma Cannon, Liz Fraser, Jim Dale) – Classic Movie Review 1,907

Sid James and Hattie Jacques are on their best form in the 1963 British comedy film Carry On Cabby, one of the most definitive entries in the series.

Director Gerald Thomas’s 1963 British comedy film Carry On Cabby was planned as a non-Carry On film called Call Me a Cab (after a stage play), which in fact is neatly the film’s last line spoken by Sidney James as Charlie Hawkins, but, at some advanced stage of production, it became the seventh Carry On movie.

Happily, it turned out to be one of the most definitive series entries, with all of the basic ingredients and most of the regulars (including Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey) except for Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims and Barbara Windsor, though of course they are much missed. It is shot in black and white by Alan Hume.

These were the Sixties when the time they were a’changin’, even for the Carry On folk. So there’s an early feminist plot, rather surprisingly. When workaholic owner Charlie (Sidney James) spends too much time running his Speedee Taxis, his neglected wife Peggy (Hattie Jacques) declares war, sets up rival Glam-cabs with lovely attractive women drivers and starts stealing most of his business. Did I mention that it is funny, too? This is Sid James and Hattie Jacques on their best form in ideal parts for them.

It is the first Carry On movie for both young Jim Dale (in a small role as an expectant father, credited as ‘small man’ and named Jeremy in the film) and Amanda Barrie (later the star of Carry On Cleo) in a small role as Anthea. And it is the first Carry On movie to have a screenplay by screenwriter Talbot Rothwell, who eventually wrote 20 of the 30 Carry On scripts, though the first screenplay he submitted to producer Peter Rogers was developed as the 1963 film Carry On Jack, which is the next Carry On film.

But it was the last feature film of Esma Cannon (as Flo Sims). Both Bill Owen (as Smiley Sims) and Esma Cannon make their fourth and final Carry On appearances. Liz Fraser makes her third appearance and oddly her last for more than a decade.

Carry On Cabby is based on a story by Dick Hills and Sid Green, celebrated TV script writers for Morecambe and Wise, and includes a non-Carry On-style dramatic plotline of a troubled marriage along with the early feminist plot.

Kenneth Connor (as Ted Watson), Charles Hawtrey (as Terry ‘Pintpot’ Tankard), Liz Fraser (as Sally) also star. And co-starring are Bill Owen (as Smiley Sims), Milo O’Shea, Judith Furse (Battleaxe), Ambrosine Phillpotts (Aristocratic Lady), Renée Houston, Cyril Chamberlain, Peter Gilmore, Michael Ward, Carole Shelley and Peter Byrne. Happy days!

It was released on 7 November 1963.

Unfortunately, Hawtrey could not drive and was given lessons by the Pinewood studio staff.

It is the first Carry On film not to feature Kenneth Williams, who turned down the role of Allbright because he alleged it was an inferior script. His part was cut down and given to Norman Chappell.

The film’s posters were sponsored by Ford Motors, which supplied the Glam-cabs (‘Britain’s newest film star – The new Consul Cortina Super – The small car with the big difference.’)

Amanda Barrie

Amanda Barrie was born Shirley Anne Broadbent on 14 September 1935. She appeared in just two of the Carry On films.

Amanda Barrie came out as bisexual in her 2002 autobiography, It’s Not a Rehearsal. On 12 September 2014, she married her long-term partner, journalist and crime writer Hilary Bonner. They live together in Somerset and London.

Hilary Bonner helped Amanda Barrie write her autobiography, and helped Gorden Kaye write his: René and Me: The Story of Gorden Kaye (1989).

Jim Dale

Jim Dale MBE was born James Smith on 15 August 1935. He appeared in 11 Carry On films, up to the 1992 revival film Carry On Columbus. But first he had a tiny role in director Gerald Thomas’s and producer Peter Rogers’s comedy Raising the Wind (1961) as a trombone player who thwarts orchestral conductor Kenneth Williams. His first main role was in Carry On Cowboy (1965).

The cast

The cast are Sid James as Charlie Hawkins, Hattie Jacques as Peggy Hawkins, Charles Hawtrey as Terry “Pintpot” Tankard, Kenneth Connor as Ted Watson, Esma Cannon as Flo Sims, Liz Fraser as Sally, Bill Owen as Smiley Sims, Milo O’Shea as Len, Jim Dale as Expectant father , Norman Chappell as Allbright, Judith Furse as Battleaxe, Renée Houston as Molly, Ambrosine Phillpotts as Aristocratic lady, Amanda Barrie as Anthea, Carole Shelley as Dumb driver, Cyril Chamberlain as Sarge, Peter Gilmore as Dancy, Michael Ward as Man in tweeds, Noel Dyson as District nurse, Michael Nightingale as Businessman, Ian Wilson as Clerk, Peter Byrne as Bridegroom, Darryl Kavann as Punchy, Peter Jesson as Car salesman, Don McCorkindale as Tubby, Charles Stanley as Geoff, Marian Collins as Bride, Frank Forsyth as Chauffeur, Norman Mitchell as Bespectacled businessman, Marian Horton as Glamcab driver, Valerie Van Ost as Glamcab driver.

Carry On Cabby is directed by Gerald Thomas, runs 91 minutes, is made by Peter Rogers Productions, is released by Anglo-Amalgamated and Warner-Pathé Distributors, is written by Talbot Rothwell, based on a story by Sidney Green [Sid Green] and Richard Hills [Dick Hills], is shot in black and white by Alan Hume, is produced by Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas, and scored by Eric Rogers.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1,907

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Kenneth Connor (as Ted Watson).