Carry On Sergeant (DVD)

...not have been any other Carry On films!

Maybe it's because there are few Carry On regulars in this the first film and that the lead roles are all taken by performers who did not remain with the series. And yet Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charlie Hawtrey and Hattie Jacques shine in their supporting roles and despite a solid and likeable lead performance from William Hartnell it is Kenneth Connor who provides the best performance.
...performances by both. These early Carry Ons definitely gave Mr Connor the opportunity to show what a fine actor he could be.

Funniest performance in my opinion comes from Charlie Hawtrey who, from the outset when he collides with Bill Owen, had me howling! Just the way he trots from one end of the barracks to the other when Hartnell shouts "on the double" reminded me what a comedy genius this gentleman really was!
... more

Sergeant is one of those films that probably gets overlooked in favour of the COs made from the mid 60s to the early 70s. In fact this probably happens to many of the black and white films and yet there are some little gems among them. Perhaps it's because the scripts written by Talbot Rothwell are just so good poor old Norman Hudis has always taken a back seat. I think this has certainly been my experience and I have to say I haven't watched Sergeant more than half a dozen times and yet it's really rather good.

But why am I so surprised that Sergeant is so good, after all it was a huge hit in the late 50s and set Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas on the road to greatness? And if it hadn't been for Sergeant there might not have been any other Carry On films!

Maybe it's because there are few Carry On regulars in this the first film and that the lead roles are all taken by performers who did not remain with the series. And yet Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charlie Hawtrey and Hattie Jacques shine in their supporting roles and despite a solid and likeable lead performance from William Hartnell it is Kenneth Connor who provides the best performance.

Poor old Horace Strong, a martyr to hypochondria, probably thinks things couldn't possibly get any worse. Then along comes the army and he not only has to contend with his hypochondria, but also an ongoing daily battle with medical officer Hattie Jacques and the unwanted amorous attentions of Dora Bryan. In the wrong hands Horace Strong could have easily become tiresome which could well have soured the whole film, but in Kenneth Connor's capable hands this almost pathetic creature becomes rather endearing and the film becomes far more enjoyable for it. Even his blossoming romance with Dora Bryan overshadows the more straight forward romantic problems of Bob
Monkhouse and Shirley Eaton despite superb performances by both. These early Carry Ons definitely gave Mr Connor the opportunity to show what a fine actor he could be.

Funniest performance in my opinion comes from Charlie Hawtrey who, from the outset when he collides with Bill Owen, had me howling! Just the way he trots from one end of the barracks to the other when Hartnell shouts "on the double" reminded me what a comedy genius this gentleman really was!

Mr Connor's line, "your just an 'eap of chits" has always been one of my favourite lines, but funniest lines definitely come from our Charlie

Eric Barker - "How many legs does a flamingo go to sleep on?
Charlie - "Er......"
Eric - "Slow! Slow!
Charlie - "Quick! Quick! Slow!"

Such a simple and relatively unfunny line made all the more enjoyable by Charlie Hawtrey's impeccable delivery! He shines also during the bayonet practice, where he takes particular pleasure in inflicting pain on his enemy, "Now then you beast.......... hand back that cup final ticket". The look on his face when Kenneth Williams tries to drag him off the dummy, "Let go, this is my turn". Sheer genius. Thank God he became a Carry On regular!

Kenneth William's shines also, his encounter with senior officer Eric Barker a particularly good example.

Eric Barker - "Your rank!"
Kenny - "That's a matter of opinion!"

In fact Eric Barker himself is not devoid of talent in this film. His
continuous flow of mathematical outbursts could grate on the nerves, but not for this fan. "Respectable girl plus sex mad youth multiplied by char-a-banc outing equals three lives ruined!"

All in all a very enjoyable film and one that certainly merits more
attention than it gets.
 

...less