Carry On Loving

Carry On Loving is the twentieth in the series of Carry On films to be made, and was released in 1970. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott and Bernard Bresslaw alongside newcomers Richard O'Callaghan (in his first Carry On) and Jacki Piper (in her second). Carry On Loving featured Imogen Hassall in her only Carry on role. Compared to earlier films in the series it features more open bawdiness rather than evasive innuendo. There are fictitious locations named for their sexual innuendo, including 'Much-Snogging-On-The-Green', 'Rogerham Mansions' and 'Dunham Road'.

Plot

Various events involve a dating agency run by Sid Bliss (Sid James) and his longtime girlfriend Sophie Plummett (Hattie Jacques). Their "Wedded Bliss" agency purports to bring together lonely hearts using computer-matching technology, but couples are actually paired up by Sophie. Bliss consistently avoids marrying Sophie, enthusiastically pursuing Esme Crowfoot (Joan Sims), a seamstress and client who consistently rejects his advances.

Percival Snooper (Kenneth Williams) becomes a client to find a wife for business reasons: as a confirmed bachelor, he is inept at his job as a marriage counsellor due to lack of personal experience. James Bedsop (Charles Hawtrey) is a private detective Sophie hires to spy on Sid's after-hours activities when he supposedly "vets" the female clients, including Esme.

Timid Bertram Muffet (Richard O'Callaghan) winds up with model Sally Martin (Jacki Piper) after the agency muddles his directions to a blind date. Client Terry Philpott (Terry Scott) suffers several failures in his dealings with the agency including a disastrous meeting with prim, sheltered Jenny Grubb (Imogen Hassall). Jenny moves in with Sally, undergoes a makeover, and becomes a model. Terry later finds romance with the "new" Jenny.

Percival's association with Sophie provokes his jealous housekeeper, dowdy Miss Dempsey (Patsy Rowlands), to reveal her seductive side. Esme's estranged lover, volatile wrestler Gripper Burke (Bernard Bresslaw), returns to cause havoc in a mistaken-identity case.

Peter Butterworth appears in a 1-minute cameo as a Bluebeard-esque character jokingly referred to as Dr. Crippen. He approaches Sid Bliss to find his third wife. His first wife died eating poisoned mushrooms, the second suffered a fractured skull because "she wouldn't eat the mushrooms."

Cast

• Sid James as Sidney Bliss
• Kenneth Williams as Percival Snooper
• Charles Hawtrey as James Bedsop
• Hattie Jacques as Sophie Bliss
• Joan Sims as Esme Crowfoot
• Bernard Bresslaw as Gripper Burke
• Terry Scott as Terry Philpott
• Jacki Piper as Sally Martin
• Richard O'Callaghan as Bertrum Muffet
• Imogen Hassall as Jenny Grubb
• Patsy Rowlands as Miss Dempsey
• Peter Butterworth as Sinister client
• Bill Pertwee as Barman
• Joan Hickson as Mrs Grubb
• Julian Holloway as Adrian
• Janet Mahoney as Gay
• Ann Way as Victoria Grubb
• Bill Maynard as Mr Dreery
• Amelia Bayntun as Corset lady
• Mike Grady and Valerie Shute as The Lovers

Crew

• Producer – Peter Rogers
• Director – Gerald Thomas

Filming and Locations

• Filming dates – 6 April-15 May 1970

Interiors:

• Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Exteriors:

• The streets of Windsor, Berkshire. The corner of Park Street and Sheet Street doubled for the Wedded Bliss Agency. This was previously used for the Helping Hands Agency in Carry On Regardless a decade earlier.

Reception

The film was the 4th most popular movie at the British box office in 1971.^[1]

References

Bibliography

• Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1-908630-01-8. 
• Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0-85768-279-6. 
• Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0-09-949007-4. 
• Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1-906358-15-0. 
• Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (2007) (Reynolds & Hearn Books)
• Ross, Robert (2002). The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-8771-8. 
• Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-55183-6. 
• Rigelsford, Adrian (1996). Carry On Laughing – a celebration. London: Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-554-5. 
• Hibbin, Sally & Nina (1988). What a Carry On. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-55819-4. 
• Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-7403-0. 

External links

• Carry On Loving at the Internet Movie Database
• Carry On Loving Location Guide at The Whippit Inn