Carry On Cabby/Carry On Spying

Rating:
Summary: Classic Carry On's
Review: Carry On Cabby was not origanally intended to be part of the series. Orgianally scheduled to be called Call Me a Cab it was then re-named Carry On Taxi and then finally went under the name Carry On Cabby. This could hardly be anything but a Carry On film even though theres no Kenneth Williams or Joan Sims. Still the regulars that are present manage to lift this gentle comedy and there are some wonderful performances here with Hattie Jaques claiming that this was her favourite Carry On. Hattie Jaques certainly puts in a spirited performance as do the rest of the cast which includes Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Liz Frazer and Amanda Barrie. The owner of Speedee Taxis (Sid James) is something of a workaholic much to the dismay of his neglected wife, Peggy (Hattie Jaques). So Peggy decides to stand up and make her husband take notice and hastily forms the exotic Glamcabs and in doing so, practically steals al of her husbands regular clients. So he sends in one of his own drivers "undercover" to find out what its all about. Predicatable yes but is consistently amusing and stands as one of the better films in this era.

Carry On Spying marked the debut appearance in a Carry On Film of the bubbly Barbara Windsor who would become a sex symbol in the series. This amusing paraody of the James Bond films is another classic in the series. Desmond Simpkins (Kenneth Williams) along with his three extra-special agents by his side (Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins, Charles Hawtrey) all plot to take on the malevolent powers of STENCH, namely Dr. Crow, Milchmann and The Fat Man, members of the Society for the Extinction of non-conforming Humans. Clues to the exact location of STENCH HQ lead the quartret of spies into the heart of Harry Lime country in Vienna, the Casbah and finally the corridors of the Orient Express.
Fun and adventures all the way with the gangs reaching new heights of invention and parody in this one. The cast are all excellent, especially Barbara Windsor who sparkles in every scene. A comic gem!