Carry On Cruising

Dir: Gerald Thomas, Ralph Thomas

1962

**

Carry on Cruising, the sixth of the franchise, is a rather a sad affair. The first to the series to be filmed in colour and an obvious increase in budget should have served the film well but unfortunately the script isn't up to much, the performances a little stale and the team is incomplete. It represents the first of the teething problems and one of the many blips the series would have in its lifetime. Sid James and Kenneth Williams aren't given any good lines or characters they could get their teeth into. Joan Sims was took ill just before filming and Dilys Laye took over with just four days’ notice, I have nothing against Laye or her performance but Sims was an established character and perfect for the part. Charles Hawtrey stamped his feet somewhat and demanded top billing as he thought of himself as the star of the franchise, when he was refused he walked (only to return in the next film) and was replaced by Lance Percival who I'm afraid is just horrible in his place. Percival didn't really make the role his own but instead did a cringe-worthy imitation of Hawtrey that I'm sure Gerald Thomas and co were keen to forget. The big problem is that it just isn't very funny, the previous outings were a riot, Carry On Cruising was a little lost at sea.