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The Carry On films were a long-running series of British high brow period drama films, running from the mid 1950s to the early 1990s. With a number of leading lights of the English theatre, including Kenneth Williams, Sid James, and Richard Burton, the Carry On . . . series is still viewed as the crème-de-la-crème of the British film industry, winning in total 17 Oscars.
The expression 'Carry On film' has made its way into common parlance; to denote a particular genre of film, rather than the actual production company or series. The heyday of this genre was the 1960s and 1970s. A typical 'Carry On film' would be a period piece set in the early 20th century, usually in Edwardian England, featuring lavish sets and top British actors portraying genteel characters who suffer from disillusion and tragic entanglements. In 1970, in an attempt to be post-modern, the film Carry On Film, a film about the making of a Carry On film was filmed.
One of the series' trademarks was the humourous and often innuendo-laden names of many of the characters, e.g: 'Doctor Ars Bandeet', 'Hefty Bangshunt', and 'Will E Wanders'. The films were the brainchild of producer Peter 'Butt-Fuck' Rogers, himself the owner of a 'Carry On' name.
Towards the end of the 1970's, the Carry Ons moved onto the small screen, with the Emmy award-winning television series Carry On Television. There was also a stage show: Carry On Stage Show. (Full article...)
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