Carry On Constable

Sid James - Sergeant Frank Wilkins
Kenneth Williams - Constable Stanley Benson
Eric Barker - Inspector Mills
Kenneth Connor - Constable Charlie Constable
Charles Hawtrey - Special Constable Timothy Gorse
Hattie Jacques - Sergeant Laura Moon
Leslie Phillips - Constable Tom Potter
Joan Sims - Policewoman Gloria Passworthy
Shirley Eaton - Sally Barry
Cyril Chamberlain - Thurston
Joan Hickson - Mrs. May
Irene Handl - Distraught woman

The Carry On teams homage to Dixon of Dock Green hits the floor running while the likes of Williams, Hawtrey and Connor are happily set in their familiar characterisations. The film's basic premise is vintage Norman Hudis, dealing with the urgent need for replacement police staff to plug the gap caused by absentees down with flu. Sid James is the main man who stands as the pillar of authority around whom the bumbling incompetents bumble. Sgt Frank Wilkins (James) becomes the amazed authority figure because of his love for the job and his need to cover the sheer bull-headed incompetence of his superior (Eric Barker). Together with his only real ally, the coyly loving and similarly minded Sgt Laura Moon (Hattie Jacques), they welcome three new recruits in the shape of Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Leslie Phillips. Into this bubbling cocktail of madness and mayhem stumbles experienced but camply unsuitable Constable Gorse (Charles Hawtrey).

Although James stands firmly at the centre of this film, it is the playful and dubious misadventures of Williams, Connor, Hawtrey and Phillips that signal most of the fun. Williams is back to his high-and-mighty, superior self, mocking old fashioned policing methods and dedicating his life to spotting the criminal by mere observation, while Connor twitches in the background, living his life through astrology, jittering around in his zodiac pyjamas and frequently rubbing his rabbit's foot. The redemption of the four bumblers comes with a tense operation in a deserted house in search of a dreaded criminal gang. Our intrepid coppers stagger around the building and eventually save the day, see Sid promoted to Inspector, find permanent positions at the station and bring Hattie's love for Sgt James out in the open.
Review© Robert Ross: Carry On Companion.