Carry On At Your Convenience

Carry On at Your Convenience, released in 1971, is the 22nd film of the Carry On series and was the first box office failure of the series. The failure has been attributed to the film's attempt at exploring the political themes of the trade union movement, crucially portraying the union activists as buffoons. This apparently alienated the traditional working-class audience of the series. The film, known as Carry On Round the Bend outside the United Kingdom, did not return full production costs until 1976 after several international and television sales.[1] The film features regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques and Bernard Bresslaw. It features Kenneth Cope in the first of his two Carry On appearances.

Origin of the title
The film revolves around a company where toilet equipment is manufactured. At the time of filming, public toilets in England were still called "public conveniences" on signposts. The phrase "Carry on at your convenience" is one typically used by the examiner during a driving test, instructing the candidate to resume driving after a part of the test involving stopping the car.

[edit] Plot
In lavatory factory W.C. Boggs & Son, the traditionalist owner W.C. Boggs (Kenneth Williams) is having no end of trouble. Bolshie union representative Vic Spanner (Kenneth Cope) continually stirs up trouble in the works, to the irritation of his co-workers and management. He calls a strike for almost any minor incident – or because he wants time off to attend a local football match. Sid Plummer (Sid James) is the factory foreman bridging the gap between workers and management, shrewdly keeping the place going amid the unrest.

Prissy lavatory designer Charles Coote (Charles Hawtrey) has included a bidet in his latest range of designs, but W.C. objects to the manufacture of such "distasteful" items. W.C. won't change his stance even after his son, Lewis (Lew) Boggs (Richard O'Callaghan), secures a large order from abroad for the bidets. It is a deal that could save the struggling firm, which W.C. has to admit is in debt to the banks.

Vic's dim stooge Bernie Hulke (Bernard Bresslaw) provides bumbling assistance in both his union machinations and his attempts to woo Sid's daughter, factory canteen worker Myrtle (Jacki Piper). She is torn between Vic and Lew Boggs, who is something of a playboy but insists he loves her.

Sid's wife is Beattie (Hattie Jacques), a lazy housewife who does little but fuss over her pet budgie, Joey, which refuses to talk despite her concerted efforts. Their neighbour is brassy and lascivious factory worker Chloe Moore (Joan Sims). Chloe contends with the endless strikes and with her crude, travelling salesman husband Fred (Bill Maynard), who neglects her and leaves her dissatisfied. Chloe and Sid enjoy a flirtatious relationship and are sorely tempted to stray. Unusually for Sid James, his character is a faithful husband, albeit a cheeky and sorely tempted one.

Sid and Beattie find that Joey can correctly predict winners of horseraces – he tweets when the horse's name is read out. Sid bets on Joey's tips and makes several large wins – including a vital £1,000 loaned to W.C. when the banks refuse a bridging loan – before Sid is barred by his bookie.

The strikers finally return to work, but it is only to attend the annual works outing, a coach trip to Brighton. A good time is had by all with barriers coming down between workers and management, thanks largely to that great social lubricant, alcohol. W.C. becomes intoxicated and spends the day – and it seems the night – with his faithful, adoring secretary, Miss Hortense Withering (Patsy Rowlands). Lew Boggs manages to win Myrtle from Vic Spanner, giving his rival a beating, and the couple elope. After arriving home late after the outing and with Fred away, Chloe invites Sid in for a cup of tea. They fight their desires and ultimately decide not to have the tea fearing that neighbours might see Sid enter Chloe's home and get the wrong idea.

At the picket lines the next day, Vic gets his comeuppance – partly at the hands of his mother (literally, as she spanks him in public) – and the workers and management all pull together to produce the big order to save the firm.

[edit] Cast and Crew

 * Sid James as Sid Plummer
 * Kenneth Williams as WC Boggs
 * Charles Hawtrey as Charles Coote
 * Hattie Jacques as Beattie Plummer
 * Joan Sims as Chloe Moore
 * Bernard Bresslaw as Bernie Hulke
 * Kenneth Cope as Vic Spanner
 * Jacki Piper as Myrtle Plummer
 * Richard O'Callaghan as Lewis Boggs
 * Patsy Rowlands as Hortence Withering
 * Davy Kaye as Benny
 * Bill Maynard as Fred Moore
 * Renee Houston as Agatha Spanner
 * Marianne Stone as Maud
 * Margaret Nolan as Popsy
 * Geoffrey Hughes as Willie
 * Hugh Futcher as Ernie
 * Simon Cain as Barman
 * Amelia Bayntun as Mrs Spragg
 * Leon Greene as Chef
 * Harry Towb as Film doctor
 * Shirley Stelfox as Bunny waitress
 * Peter Burton as Hotel manager
 * Julian Holloway as Roger
 * Anouska Hempel as New canteen girl
 * Jan Rossini as Hoopla girl
 * Philip Stone as Mr Bulstrode
 * Screenplay - Talbot Rothwell
 * Music - Eric Rogers
 * Production Manager - Jack Swinburne
 * Art Director - Lionel Couch
 * Editor - Alfred Roome
 * Director of Photography - Ernest Steward
 * Camera Operator - James Bawden
 * Make-up - Geoffrey Rodway
 * Continuity - Rita Davidson
 * Assistant Director - David Bracknell
 * Sound Recordists - Danny Daniel & Ken Barker
 * Hairdresser - Stella Rivers
 * Costume Designer - Courtenay Elliott
 * Set Dresser - Peter Howitt
 * Assistant Art Director - William Alexander
 * Dubbing Editor - Brian Holland
 * Titles - GSE Ltd
 * Processor - Rank Film Laboratories
 * Toilets - Royal Doulton Sanitary Potteries
 * Assistant Editor - Jack Gardner
 * Producer - Peter Rogers
 * Director - Gerald Thomas

[edit] Filming and locations
Interiors: Exteriors:
 * Filming dates – 22 March-7 May 1971
 * Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
 * Brighton - Palace Pier. The West Pier in Brighton was used two years later for Carry On Girls.

[edit] Behind the scenes
After Sid James' character was criticized for leering at some girls in Carry On Henry (1971), here his character was changed to the put-upon family man similar to the character he portrayed in the TV sitcom Bless This House.[1] In the next film Carry On Matron (1972) his character was preoccupied with thieving, but made odd suggestive comments to nurses (including one played by Jacki Piper, who played his daughter in this film). Sid's girl-chasing persona was fully reinstated for subsequent films.