A good colour print of one of the best Carry Ons. Fenella Fielding is tastefully provocative in a super sexy parody of The Addams Family's Morticia.
This Carry On is a parody of the 1960s revival of horror by Hammer films and, in a kids version, The Addams Family. Set in a vaguely Edwardian period, Kenneth Williams has a scream as a highly camp, undead Dr Frankenstein retread, whose Neanderthal minions kidpnap young women to be processed into tailors dummies. This particular DVD is an excellent colour print, displaying the lovely Edwardian interiors, and all of the special devices Williams keeps in the crypt. His catch-phrase in this film is `frying tonight!', which he exclaims whenever he dips a fresh victim into his special vitrifying solution.
Harry H Corbett, subbing for Sid James, is a clumsy detective sergeant, trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing women; Joan Sims is his nagging wife, while Jim Dale is the boyfriend of one the victims. Apart from the Neanderthals & Williams as Frankenstein, the film also features a revived Egyptian mummy, and a Jekyll & Hyde potion, which temporarily turns both Corbett & Dale into wolfmen.
The direction of the film and the pacing of the set pieces are both very good, and there's a fine entertaining finale. However, the standout performance which really makes the film is Fenella Fielding's parody of Carolyn Jones's Morticia --- here, the sister of Williams' character. Like Jones, she brings an upper crust sensuality to the part, but, as this is Carry On, not daytime 1960s US tv, she shows far more cleavage, and is more openly vampish (both senses), in what must be the most provocative role in the entire Carry On series.
Overall, despite the hit & miss corny jukes, this is only just behind Carry On Up the Khyber in the best of Carry On list.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned