Carry On Cabby

Carry On Cabby is a 1963 British comedy film, the seventh in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). Released on 7 November 1963,[1] it was the first to have a screenplay written by Talbot Rothwell (although the first screenplay "Tolly" submitted to Peter Rogers was developed as Carry On Jack) from a story by Dick Hills and Sid Green (script writers for Morecambe and Wise). Regulars Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey are all present. Liz Fraser makes her third appearance (and last for more than a decade) and both Bill Owen and Esma Cannon make their final (and in both cases, fourth) appearances. This was the first film in the series to feature Carry On regular Jim Dale, and the first not to feature Kenneth Williams in the cast.

Carry On Cabby
Original UK quad poster
Directed byGerald Thomas
Produced byPeter Rogers
Screenplay byTalbot Rothwell
Story byDick Hills and Sid Green
StarringSid James
Hattie Jacques
Kenneth Connor
Charles Hawtrey
Esma Cannon
Liz Fraser
Bill Owen
Milo O'Shea
Judith Furse
Ambrosine Phillpotts
Renée Houston
Jim Dale
Music byEric Rogers
CinematographyAlan Hume
Edited byArchie Ludski
Production
company
Peter Rogers Productions
Distributed byAnglo-Amalgamated/
Warner-Pathé Distributors
Release date
  • 7 November 1963 (1963-11-07)
[1]
Running time
91 minutes[2][3]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£149,986

Carry On Cabby was originally planned as a non-Carry On film, called Call Me A Cab (after a stage play) but midway through development it became part of the Carry On series. The film is notable from others in the series for its dramatic plotline of a troubled marriage.

Plot

Charlie Hawkins (Sid James) is the workaholic owner of thriving taxi company Speedee Taxis, but his wife Peggy (Hattie Jacques) feels neglected by him. When Charlie misses their fifteenth wedding anniversary, because he is out cabbing, she decides to punish him. Telling Charlie that she is going to 'get a job', she establishes a rival company, GlamCabs. The cars are brand new Ford Cortina Mk1s and driven by attractive girls in provocative uniforms. Flo, the wife of one of Charlie's drivers, is appointed to the post of office manager.

Charlie continues to coach his mainly inept (and often ex-army) drivers, including the clumsy Terry "Pintpot" Tankard (Charles Hawtrey), whilst Peggy refuses to tell Charlie about her new job. Charlie feigns a lack of interest, but he is dying to know. As Charlie unsuccessfully struggles to cope with his wife's absences, and realises just what she had to endure, Peggy's company becomes a thriving success due to the large number of male taxi passengers preferring to ogle her sexy drivers during journeys. Speedee rapidly starts losing money and faces bankruptcy. Peggy feels terrible for what she has done. Charlie and his drivers attempt to sabotage the rival company, but they are chased off.

In desperation, Charlie suggests a merger with his rivals, but is furious to discover who the real owner is and storms off.

A month later, Peggy is living at the office and Charlie has turned to drink, allowing his company to collapse around him. Peggy and Sally (Liz Fraser) are hijacked by bank robbers. Peggy manages to use the taxi radio to subtly reveal their situation and location. Charlie intercepts the broadcast and rallies the other Speedee drivers in pursuit. The robbers are cornered and captured.

Peggy and Charlie are reconciled, especially over the fact that she is expecting a baby.

Cast

Crew
  • Screenplay – Talbot Rothwell
  • Idea – SC Green & RM Hills
  • Music – Eric Rogers
  • Associate Producer – Frank Bevis
  • Art Director – Jack Stephens
  • Editor – Archie Ludski
  • Director of Photography – Alan Hume
  • Camera Operator – Godfrey Godar
  • Unit Manager – Donald Toms
  • Assistant Director – Peter Bolton
  • Sound Editor – Arthur Ridout
  • Sound Recordists – Bill Daniels & Gordon K McCallum
  • Hairdressing – Biddy Chrystal
  • Make-up Artists – Geoffrey Rodway & Jim Hydes
  • Continuity – Penny Daniels
  • Costume Designer – Joan Ellacott
  • Producer – Peter Rogers
  • Director – Gerald Thomas

Filming and locations
  • Filming dates: 25 March – 7 May 1963

Interiors:

Exteriors:

The scene in which "Pintpot" (Charles Hawtrey) drives a cab (PEG 1) round and round a roundabout was filmed at the junction of Goswell Road and Arthur Road, Windsor, with the railway arches of Windsor & Eton Central Station visible in the background. This area has changed considerably since 1963 with the building of King Edward Court and Ward Royal. Some filming was also undertaken in Farm Yard opposite Windsor & Eton Riverside Station.

The filming of Carry On Cabby is portrayed in the BBC drama Hattie, a dramatisation of the life of Hattie Jacques.

Release

First screened to the trade (cinema distributors) on 22 August 1963, the film went on general release across the UK later the same year on 7 November.[1]

See also
  • Taxi! – contemporary TV series with Sid James in a similar role to Carry On Cabby

References
  1. "Carry On Cabby". Art & Hue. 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. Rigelsford 1996, p. 38.
  3. Ross 1998, p. 141.

Bibliography
  • Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1-908630-01-8.
  • Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0-85768-279-6.
  • Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0-09-949007-4.
  • Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1-906358-15-0.
  • Ross, Robert (1998) [1996]. The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-8439-X.
  • Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-55183-6.
  • Rigelsford, Adrian (1996). Carry On Laughing – a celebration. London: Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-554-5.
  • Hibbin, Sally & Nina (1988). What a Carry On. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-55819-4.
  • Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-7403-0.
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