Carry On Girls is a 1973 British comedy film, the 25th release in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). The film features regulars Sid James, Barbara Windsor, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Bernard Bresslaw and Peter Butterworth. This Carry On featured neither Kenneth Williams nor Charles Hawtrey; Williams was unavailable because of stage commitments, and Hawtrey was dropped from the series.
Patsy Rowlands makes her seventh appearance in the series. Robin Askwith makes his only appearance in the series. Jack Douglas makes his third appearance, this time upgraded to a main role. This is the final of six Carry On films for Valerie Leon and Jimmy Logan makes the second of his two Carry On appearances. The film was followed by Carry On Dick in 1974.
Plot
The seaside town of Fircombe is facing a crisis—it is always raining, and there is nothing for tourists to do. Councillor Sidney Fiddler suggests holding a beauty contest. The mayor, Frederick Bumble, is taken with the idea, but feminist councillor Augusta Prodworthy is outraged and storms out of the meeting. The motion was carried out in Augusta’s absence, and Sidney contacted publicist Peter Potter to help with the organisation.
Sidney’s girlfriend, Connie Philpotts, runs a local hotel, and soon her residents—including the eccentric Mrs Dukes and the randy old Admiral – are outnumbered by putative models, including diminutive biker Hope Springs and tall, buxom Dawn Brakes. A catfight orchestrated by Hope after thinking Dawn has stolen her bikini provides a better newspaper copy than bringing a donkey off the beach, which, despite the bucket and spade of hotel porter William, ruins the plush carpets. Augusta’s son, press photographer Larry, is hired to document the donkey stunt and snaps the catfight with the Mayor losing his trousers, then gulps his way through a nude photo shoot with Dawn. The Mayor’s wife, Mildred, joins Prodworthy’s bra-burning movement and plots the downfall of the Miss Fircombe contest on the pier. Peter Potter reluctantly becomes a man in a frock for another publicity gimmick for the television show Women’s Things, presented by Cecil Gaybody and produced by Debra. Prodworthy and butch feminist Rosemary call in the police to investigate the male pageant contestant but Peter’s previously prim girlfriend, Paula, has a makeover and turns out to be very buxom and glamorous and steps into the breach as the mysterious girl.
Prodworthy’s gang launches Operation Spoilsport, sabotaging the final contest with water, mud, and itching powder. With an angry mob after his blood, Sidney makes his escape on a go-kart, finds Connie has taken all the money, and then speeds away with Hope on her motorcycle.
Certification
The film marked a slightly more risqué treatment of the topic with more nudity and openly sexual jokes than previous films. Discreet cuts by the BBFC (mainly to saucy dialogue and the hotel fight sequence between bikini-clad contestants played by Barbara Windsor and Margaret Nolan) enabled the film to gain the more commercially acceptable A certificate (open to families) than the more restrictive AA certificate, barring entry to the under-fourteens.
Cast
Sid James as Sidney Fiddler
Barbara Windsor as Hope Springs (real name Muriel Bloggs)
Joan Sims as Connie Philpotts
Kenneth Connor as Mayor Frederick Bumble
Bernard Bresslaw as Peter Potter
Peter Butterworth as Admiral
June Whitfield as Augusta Prodworthy
Jack Douglas as William
Patsy Rowlands as Mildred Bumble
Patricia Franklin as Rosemary
Valerie Leon as Paula Perkins
Robin Askwith as Larry
Margaret Nolan as Dawn Brakes
Angela Grant as Miss Bangor
Joan Hickson as Mrs Dukes
Sally Geeson as Debra
Jimmy Logan as Cecil Gaybody
Wendy Richard as Ida Downes
David Lodge as Police Inspector
Arnold Ridley as Alderman Pratt
Bill Pertwee as Fire chief
Marianne Stone as Miss Drew
Brenda Cowling as Matron
Zena Clifton as Susan Brooks
Laraine Humphrys as Eileen Denby
Pauline Peart as Gloria Winch
Caroline Whitaker as Mary Parker
Barbara Wise as Julia Oates
Carol Wyler as Maureen Darcy
Mavis Fyson as Frances Cake
Brian Osborne as “Half a quid” citizen
Billy Cornelius as Constable (uncredited)
Edward Palmer as Elderly resident (uncredited)
Michael Nightingale as City gent (uncredited)
Hugh Futcher as “There’s Fiddler” citizen (uncredited)
Elsie Winsor as Cloakroom attendant (uncredited)
Nick Hobbs as Stunt double (uncredited)
Ron Tarr as Bearded man in audience (uncredited)
