Very Cool!!!

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Absolutely Fantastic

When people think of British comedy films, they think of "Monty Python". It would be easy to say that the "Carry On" series was just a cheap imitation, except that it came long before "Monty Python". This is the first film in literally dozens of "Carry On" films. It's sad to say that I don't recognize any actors. Anyway, this movie tells the story of a newlywed who becomes a soldier and the strange fellow soldiers he comes across. I think the film's main fault is that it just isn't very funny.It really is a very mediocre film. It's hard to even remember that much because there's nothing too good or bad about it. I've seen tons of horrible comedies and this is nowhere near as bad, but I've seen tons of great comedies and this is nowhere near as good. I mean, the movie doesn't send any negative messages or anything. The characters and the story are just fine. It's just nothing interesting. **1/2

When this film was made it is a safe bet that nobody thought it would start a long running series of films; the Carry On films may not have been the greatest ever made, in fact some were terrible, but they are certainly a British institution. Made in 1958 'Carry on Sergeant' isn't non-stop smut like some of the later films; instead it is genuinely laugh out loud funny! The film follows the training of the unfortunately named Able Platoon; a group of National Servicemen who for the most part don't seem like army material; Pvt. Strong is a hypochondriac, Pvt. Golightly is… well he is Charles Hawtrey and Pvt. Brown has failed the course several times already. They are trained by soon-to-be-retired Sergeant Grimshawe who is determined to win the award for the best platoon. As one would expect their training does not go well; bayonet training and the assault course going particularly badly… of course by the end the platoon have come together and it is just a question as to how well they can do in their final tests. Besides their training there is a sub-plot involving one of the conscripts who was called up on his wedding day and his trying to get some time with his new bride who has followed him to the camp and got a job in the Naafi.When I sat down to watch this I thought it may have dated somewhat but actually it seemed surprisingly fresh and I laughed far more than I expected; it was certainly a lot funnier than many of the later instalments to the series. The cast included several actors who would go on to become regular members of the Carry On team including the excellent Kenneth Williams who played Pvt. Bailey; probably the most competent of the platoon, Kenneth Connor who played the hypochondriac Strong and Hattie Jacques who played the camp doctor. If you have enjoyed other early Carry On films I'd recommend this as it was surprisingly good… don't be put off by later rubbish like 'Carry on England'.

I have seen several Carry ons such as "Carry on Camping" and I must say I found them rather under whelming. The comedy was very forced, "contrived" would be under stating it. "Carry on Camping" worked too hard for laughs and all of them vulgar. Now don't get me wrong I love vulgarity and earthy humour but the later films sometimes worked too hard. They often look rather tired and old. Now Carry on Sergeant was the first and this is a different story all together. I was really surprised and delighted. It was beautiful. The other writers have covered the plot really well but all I would add that the movie has a lovely sentimentality that surprised me. The ending is genuinely moving and I defy anyone not to shed a tear.While it is very funny, it is warm and understated. The characters are actually well developed and the situations are not as contrived. The female characters are more developed and less irritating and forced. Dora Bryan, the West End Dolly Levi, is brilliant.The film moves along at a gentle pace and I found it to be nostalgic and utterly charming. The acting is top notch. The first time I saw it I was very young but I can recall laughing every time I saw the great Charles Hawtrey. What a wonderfully gifted actor and no one can play camp as well as him. Theses were sad days. You could be camp but you could never be gay. Ay least some things are better.

The success of ATV's "The Army Game" inspired the birth of "Carry on Sergeant",and,by extension,the whole "Carry On" canon.Bill Hartnell,Norman Rossington and Charles Hawtrey were headhunted from the TV ,and later Carry On" alumni such as Bernard Bresslaw cut their teeth on the very popular small screen series. The term "Carry on,Sergeant" is an old British army phrase used by officers in handing over command of the men to the NCOs who,as in every army in the world,actually run things.A captain comes into the hut and all the men spring to attention.He glances quickly around,nods approvingly and drawls "Carry on sergeant",satisfied that all is well in his little world. The success of "Carry on Sergeant" spawned "Carry on Nurse" etc ,the generic title being used for a long series of cheap,cheerful and splendidly vulgar movies that are gradually being recognised as a highwater mark in British cinema.In 1958,a significant proportion of the cinema audience was familiar with military silliness,bullying NCOs,pompous officers,skiving ORs,and had spent enough time painting grass green and coal black on bleak outposts of the Empire all over the world to be only too familiar with conscription. At the time the British army was full of reluctant warriors like Williams,O'Connor and the others. Profesionals like Bill Owen and William Hartnell wearily did their best to turn them into soldiers for 24 stupefying months before they were allowed to get on with the rest of their lives.You didn't need a film to make it seem like a farce,it was a farce.There are a lot of good moments in this movie and it is certainly capable of holding its own (oops dearie!) aside from being judged in hindsight as the precursor of a much - loved tradition of seaside postcard humour all the funnier for being disdained by those who think we should know better. "Carry on Sergeant" contains a wonderfully demented performance by the great Mr Eric Barker and a surprisingly good one from the much - maligned Mr Bob Monkhouse,but it is Mr William Hartnell that is the glue that holds it all together.He is the eternal N.C.O battling against inept recruits and barmy officers,he hardly has one funny line,but he made me laugh more than anyone else in the picture.