Own the rights?
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Fine entry in the series, 26 February 2000 Author: Erich Mees (desscribe1@aol.com) from Dunwoody, GA, USA
One of the more consistently amusing "Carry On" movies, "Carry On Spying" drops the gang squarely in the world of James Bond a world they immediately proceed to turn on its ear.Noteworthy as the "Carry On" debut of series regular Barbara Windsor, playing a secret agent trainee who makes great use of her perky sexuality (a typical attribute of Windsor's characters) and her intelligence.The other series regulars (Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, etc.) are at the top of their game. Among the supporting players, Judith Furse is a standout as the intimidating evil mastermind Dr. Crow. Playing the role straight-faced, Furse's sinister, man-like villainess would fit right into a genuine Bond film.Highly recommended to fans of the series, and a good starting point for those who've never seen a "Carry On" before.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: This Was A Surprise!, 18 June 2004 Author: richard.fuller1
After "Carry On Cabby", I expected "Carry On Spying" to descend into the campy sixties, but truthfully, this one was entertaining. Without regulars Sid James, Hattie Jacques (I suspect she was offered the villianess role) and Kenneth Conner, I expected this one to focus entirely on Williams buffoonery.He was more of a nitwit here than a snotty know-it-all, but he was given the spotlight this time.So this was Barbara Windsor! She truly was entertaining and not just because of her physique. She's not boring to watch or listen to.Obviously Bernard Cribbins was filling in the Kenneth Conner spot, and quite honestly, Cribbins (whom I only know from the Doctor Who movies with Peter Cushing) he wasn't as Jim Carrey-esque as Conner has been in the previous films.What an entertaining series this is, watching the transition from "Carry On Sergeant" to "Carry On Spying" thus far. I do look forward to what I have left to see of these films. After this, it is on to "Carry On Cleo"!
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: CARRY ON SPYING (Gerald Thomas, 1964) ***, 9 February 2008 Author: MARIO GAUCI (marrod@melita.com) from Naxxar, Malta
This is yet another popular (and good) entry in the "Carry On" series. Like JACK, CLEO and SCREAMING, it's a parody of a current film or fad – in its case the box-office sensation that were the James Bond extravaganzas (in fact, it was the first of innumerable spoofs/imitations of that long-running franchise). Kenneth Williams (complete with funny accent) is more or less at his best here; accompanying him are Barbara Windsor (this proved to be her series debut), Bernard Cribbins, Charles Hawtrey, Dilys Laye (as a femme fatale), Jim Dale (playing the gang's long-suffering contact man) and Eric Barker (as, what else, their superior).While it cleverly features an androgynous villain (played by Judith Furse and voiced by John Bluthal), the film also lampoons earlier classic British thrillers – such as Hitchcock's 1930s efforts and THE THIRD MAN (1949). The action takes place in a variety of locales from a Viennese café to an Algerian harem; typical espionage elements are the gang's donning of various disguises to follow or elude enemy agents and the perilous train journey. By the way, the villains' headquarters are amusingly accessed via a public convenience – which also pays off with an inspired surreal ending. In a direct nod to the Bond model, we get silly acronyms for the various organizations involved (such as S.T.E.N.C.H., S.M.U.T., S.N.O.G., etc).
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Funny take on of the Bond movies, 31 May 2006 Author: Chris Gaskin from Derby, England
Carry On Spying was the one where the Carry On team mocked the James Bond movies and also Barbara Windsor's Carry On debut.After a top secret formula is stolen by organisation STENCH, a group of agents are sent to investigate, resulting in many chaotic and funny situations. The investigation takes them over the world and back to their workplace...As well as Babs Windsor, this also stars the excellent Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Jim Dale who are joined by Bernard Cribbins and Eric Barker. Not so many of the regular team in this one.Have a good laugh at Carry On Spying. Brilliant and very funny.Rating: 3 stars out of 5.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The great Barbara Windsor, 16 September 2008 Author: petersj-2 from Australia
This is one of the funnier efforts by the team. Its obviously a send up of other movies of the genre and is shot in glorious black and white which sometimes I prefer. Black and white seems to suit the carry on movies. Life may indeed be in colour but these movies were never a depiction of life. The campery of Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey is as funny as ever. There are those two wonderfully reliable old British actors Eric Barker and the fabulous Richard Wattis as his assistant. It would be hard to find better actors to play the chief and his off sider. I loved the performance of Judith Furse.. hilariously butch.Bernard Cribbins is a great talent and he brings so much more to the series than the annoying Kenneth Connor did. This might have been the first with the great Barbara Windsor and what a spectacular career she had. She actually steals the film and I found myself roaring with laughter. Its a very good carry on but above all the introduction of one of Britains finest stars Magnificent Barbara Windsor. Barbara Windsor was much more than the sexy little bomb shell that added so much to these films and many others. She was a brilliant comedienne and I hope she gets the recognition she richly deserved. Her timing is brilliant.Yes its all very corny but all great comedy is corny. Its rather fun seeing their idea of modern technology,those mobile phones are fun. Wonder what they would think of what we use today. I love the cheap effects of the movie such as the car wash, rather not explain but its hilarious. Its great fun seeing one of Australias most loved exports, John Bluthall in the early stages of a great career.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Like the first Carry On films – simple and light fun, 4 January 2007 Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK
When the evil forces of STENCH strike at a British research laboratory they get away with a top secret chemical formula. With the British agents spread thin across the world, The Chief has very few options open to him to follow up the lead into the mysterious Milchmann who led the attack. The Chief scraps the bottom of the barrel and comes up with Simkins – probably one of his worst agents. Assigning Simkins with a handful of trainee agents – Crump, Honeybutt and Bind – the ragtag band set off to meet up with Agent Carstairs in Vienna.Despite being made in the mid-sixties this Carry On film has more in common with those made early in the series (Teacher and Sergeant) more than it does with those made around the same time as it (Jack, Cruising, Cowboy). It is not just the black and white that made me think this but also the fact that the humour seems fresher and slicker than the heavy innuendo and crudity of the later films. Others have said this has more in common with Ealing than Carry On – they are wrong, but I can see what they mean because the light spy spoof is very much an early Carry On. The material isn't great though but it does produce easy and obvious comedy and those looking to just to fill a wet Sunday afternoon.The cast make a big difference even though not all the regulars are present. Williams and Hawtrey are the most fun as both play up their camp characters to good effect – they both get the best lines as well. Windsor is pretty good as she isn't just used as an object. Cribbins was pretty dull I thought but Dale was good value in a small role. Additional support from Barker, Laye and a few others all helps. Overall a Carry On like they first made them; not brilliant but light fun.
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: More Ealing than Carry On, more Harry Lime than Bond, 23 May 2000 Author: Andrew Smith from London, England
Although not "Carry On" at it's best, this is a very entertaining addition to the series. Although touted as a Bond spoof this has much more in common with British spy movies of the 40's - "The Third Man" is often referenced. Only at the end do we get the Bond-esque action, and this is where it all goes wrong. The climatic sequence is not only very silly (even by Carry On standards) but also lazy. Barbara Windsor makes her series debut here and is a joy to watch. Williams does his "silly man" character from the Hancock shows rather than the usual "Snide" persona, and Bernard Cribbins is as loveable as always. If you want a James Bond spoof or a classic Carry On, don't come here. If you want a silly comedy in the Ealing Studios vein then this might well be your cup of tea.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Carry On Spying, 4 January 2007 Author: Jackson Booth-Millard from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
It is rather unusual to see the Carry On team trying to spoof the James Bond type films, but they almost do it well. Basically a team of spies assembled by the British government, including The Chief (Eric Barker) are sent to retrieve a chemical formula stolen by STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans). This team include Desmond Simkins (Kenneth Williams), Daphne Honeybutt (Barbara Windsor in her first Carry On film, and she's not in as many as the others), Harold Crump (Bernard Cribbins), Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey) and Carstairs (Jim Dale). There are some great misunderstanding jokes, some sexy moments with Windsor and ultimately, it is a good spy spoof, but where's Joan Sims? Good!
A pretty good Carry minus the best Sid James, 19 July 2009 Author: w22nuschler from United States
Only a few regular appear in this film. Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Barbara Windsor, Jim Dale & Dilys Laye appear. Bernard Cribbins joins the first three as agents working on the right side. Jim Dale plays their contact when they arrive. Dilys Laye plays the part of the femme fatal. Kenneth Williams accent is rather annoying in this film. He has a tendency to overdue his role some times and he definitely takes it too far here. Dilys Laye is sadly underused here. I love her part in Cruising. They all get captured by the enemy in the end. There is a very well done escape that is the best part of the entire film. I still give this a seven even though none of my favorites have a big part in this outing.
Add another review
