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Carry On Confidential
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 0
Stop Messing About
Much like Doctor Who publishing, it’s hard to believe that the world could sustain another book about the British institution that is the Carry On film series (explanation here for those readers who don’t know what I’m talking about), yet here we have one more. Fortunately, despite a rather uninspiring cover (these are not good caricatures), this is a fascinating read. The first 250 pages are taken up with the films themselves, and each one is broken down into sections, including cast and crew lists, production details (budgets, filming dates, original TV transmission etc), and a brief synopsis of the plot. After this we get the authors review whose opinions, whether you agree with them or not, are never less than interesting, and viewing notes detailing facts and stories about the films background. Then we get to the parts that truly blow me away: tables highlighting continuity cock-ups, technical issues and points of interest, complete with the minutes and seconds where they appear in the film! Is there no end to fan meticulosity?* Apparently not, because then we get more tables of where the locations were and when they appear, treated to all the titles the films were given in other countries, collectible items to look out for, where you can find the soundtrack, and all of the UK VHS, Betamax and DVD releases. The remainder of the book is taken up with chapters dedicated to the TV shows, radio shows, stage versions, the ‘lost’ Carry On‘s, merchandising and the other films by Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas. Although I read this in a few sittings, the best way to enjoy the film section is either just before or just after you have watched one, that way you can try and spot everything the author did or marvel at what you missed! I have a lot of books about the Carry On‘s and they all offer something of interest to me, whether it’s interviews, pictures or information. This book may be sorely lacking in pictures but, quite frankly, it’s the equivalent of David Howe, Mark Stammers and Stephen James Walker’s peerless Doctor Who Television Companion and Howe’s Transcendental Toybox rolled into one: exhaustively researched, incredibly detailed, written by someone with an immense passion for their subject and utterly indispensable. I hesitate to use the words “Ultimate Guide” but I don’t think I’ll ever watch another Carry On without this book next to me!