WATCH YOUR STERN

1960

Director: Gerald Thomas
Writers: Alan Hackney, Vivian A Cox from the play Something About a Sailor by Earle Couttie

Cast: Kenneth Connor, Eric Barker, Leslie Phillips, Joan Sims, Noel Purcell, Hattie Jacques, Spike Milligan, Sidney James

“The team responsible for the Carry On series is up to its profitable larks again with Watch Your Stern”, wrote Variety of this Peter Rogers-produced farce. The laughs were provided by many of the regulars of the Carry On comedies despite that fact that Watch Your Stern is not part of the Carry On Canon. The film’s slick and inventive comedy screenplay was co-written by Alan Hackney (author of Private’s Progress) and Vivian A Cox and based on Earle Couttie’s Something About a Sailor.

Navy Captain Foster (ERIC BARKER) and Lt Commander Fanshawe (LESLIE PHILLIPS) discover that the plans of a top-secret torpedo have unfortunately been destroyed by accident-prone seaman Blissworth (KENNETH CONNOR). In order to deceive Admiral Sir Humphrey Pettigrew (NOEL PURCELL) and prevent him from finding out about the destruction of the plans, Blissworth has to pose as a Scottish scientist and, later, as an Admiralty designer. Both deceptions serve their purpose until the real designer, Agatha Potter (HATTIE JACQUES), turns up on the scene and Blissworth is forced to assist her. Blissworth manages to retrieve duplicate plans from a visiting American officer but the torpedo again goes wrong and Blissworth, Fanshawe and Foster are stumped.

Gerald Thomas, who directed all the Carry On comedies, handled the film with his usual no-nonsense, fast-paced approach to the bright comedy, with very entertaining results. “Acting is on a first class farcical level”, enthused Variety.

Tagged Carry On Films, Comedy, Eric Barker, Gerald Thomas, Hattie Jacques, Joan Sims, Kenneth Connor, Leslie Phillips, Noel Purcell, Sidney James, Spike Milligan