Carry On Jack

Carry On Jack - 1963 | 91mins | Comedy | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Gerald Thomas.
Producer: Peter Rogers.
Script: Talbot Rothwell.
Cinematography: Alan Hume.
Editing: Archie Ludski.
Art Direction: Jack Shampan.
Costume Department: Joan Ellacott.
Make-Up Department: Olga Angelinetta, Jim Hydes and Geoffrey Rodway.
Sound: Bill Daniels and Christopher Lancaster.
Original Music: Eric Rogers.

The Cast

Bernard Cribbins - Albert Poop-Decker
Kenneth Williams - Captain Fearless
Juliet Mills - Sally
Charles Hawtrey - Walter
Donald Houston - First Officer Jonathan Howett
Percy Herbert - Mr Angel
Jim Dale - Carrier
Patrick Cargill - Spanish Govenor
Cecil Parker - First Sea Lord

Plot Synopsis

Originally titled Carry On Up The Armada, censors caused a title change to Carry On Sailor, before the producers eventually settled on Carry On Jack in order to avoid any confusion with the contemporary style of Carry On Cruising. As the first historical parody from the Carry On series and the official debut of Talbot Rothwell, Jack takes its influence from the Captain Hornblower stories of C.S. Forester.

The films premise is a fresh-faced newly commissioned Midshipman, Albert Poop-Decker (Bernard Cribbins), taking his position onboard HMS Venus. Due to a dubious meeting with the glamorous temptress-cum-heroine (Juliet Mills) and a disbelieving second-in-command (Donald Houston), our hapless hero finds himself stuck with the lowly ranks on the perilous galleon. The ships skipper is the gloriously sea-sick charlatan Captain Fearless (Kenneth Williams) who guides them through a rather unfamiliar scenario of bloody deaths, blown-up ships and murderous pirates. A mutinous crew puts Poop-Decker, his Captain, his sweetheart and his best friend overboard.
Review© Robert Ross: Carry On Companion.