Carry On Spying

Bernard Cribbins - Harold Crump
Kenneth Williams - Desmond Simpkins
Eric Barker - The Chief
Charles Hawtrey - Charlie Bind
Barbara Windsor - Daphne Honeybutt
Jim Dale - Carstairs
ilys Laye - Lila

Carry On favourite Barbara Windsor makes her debut in this outrageous parody of the James Bond movies. There are gadgets galore, and disguises are compulsory if the heroes are to win the day from The Fat Man! Bernard Cribbins, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Jim Dale star.

A top-secret chemical formula has been stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans), and so Agent Desmond Simpkins (Kenneth Williams) and James Bind, aided and abetted by the comely Agent Honeybutt and Agent Crump, chase villains across the world. The team of four glide through each scenario with a beautiful lack of elegance, dodging bullets and drugged drinks until suspicion is aroused when a 'reserved for British agents' place card appears on their table. It is a celebration of the absurd dogged attitude of the British: gullible, likeable, humbling and inexperienced but always certain to pull through in the end. Bernard Cribbins, in his last Carry On appearance for almost 30 years, returns as loveable bumbler Agent Crump and successfully chats up Honeybutt (Barbara Windsor) while also indulging in inspired bits of horseplay with the lads.

Spying is what the great Carry Ons are all about: jam-packed with spirited performances from everyone involved; a subtle musical score; directorial touches that enhance the less than subtle jokes, moments of real tension and a script of grease-lightning wit and fun that leaves the audience gasping. Vintage.
Review© Robert Ross: Carry On Companion.