Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism.

Episode 178 - Carry On Cruising (1962)

"During the War I did Arctic runs that would've made HMS Ulysses look like a trip to Brighton. Without getting a scratch! Two days on a simple cruise with you lot and look at me!"

The sixth installment in the beloved Carry On franchise, 1962's Carry On Cruising holds a special place in the series' history. Not only did it take the familiar brand of British seaside humour to the high seas, but it was also the very first Carry On film to be shot and presented in glorious Eastmancolor. This transition to a vibrant palette marked a significant step forward for the series, elevating its visual appeal and setting a new standard for the films that would follow. However, the production was not without its own undercurrents of drama, and the final product received a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike, cementing its status as a unique and much-debated entry in the Carry On canon.

All aboard the SS Happy Wanderer for what is, in theory, a relaxing cruise. Captain Crowther, played by the eternally exasperated Sid James, is hoping for one last, quiet trip before a swanky promotion. His hopes are, naturally, torpedoed within minutes. His crack team of sailors has been replaced by a collection of Britain's finest bumblers, seemingly sourced from a village fete raffle. There's Kenneth Williams as the First Officer, whose vocabulary is more expansive than the Atlantic itself, yet possesses the practical seamanship of a goldfish. Kenneth Connor is the ship's doctor, a man more interested in diagnosing a case of love-at-first-sight with a passenger than any actual ailments. And let's not forget Lance Percival as the chef, a culinary genius who discovers his arch-nemesis is the gentle rocking of the boat. What follows is less a luxury cruise and more a floating slapstick convention, now presented in dazzling colour for the very first time.

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Thanks for listening

Scott and Steven