Carry On Screaming (1966, Harry H. Corbett, Kenneth Williams)

The Carry On team’s foray into the world of horror films remains one of their finest send-ups, with loving references to a slew of classic horror films combined with the usual mix of excruciating puns. Albert Potter (Jim Dale) is necking with his girlfriend Doris Mann (Angela Douglas) when she is mysteriously abducted, the latest in a line of strange kidnappings.

Scotland Yard’s finest, Det Sgt Bung (Harry H Corbett) and his incompetent sidekick Constable Slobotham (Peter Butterworth) are on the case and the trail leads to the house of Dr Watt (Kenneth Williams) and his sister Valeria (a very vampish Fenella Fielding). Could the good doctor be abducting young women and turning them into life-like mannequins for shop windows?

Thomas, who directed all the Carry On films, and the cast have a ball – they even manage to throw in a werewolf sequence when Bung and Potter accidentally drink the wrong potion, and there’s a nice homage as the theme tune to Steptoe and Son plays as Bung mounts his horse and clip-clops down the street. And, of course, Williams’ immortal line as he meets his end in a vat of boiling oil, ‘Frying tonight!’

Fenella Fielding
With a voice like fine grade sandpaper dipped in honey, Fenella Fielding shoehorned herself into a figure hugging red velvet dress and turned into the vampish Valeria for Carry On Screaming. There were countless wonderful moments, such as when she asked Harry H Corbett’s police sergeant if she could smoke, but best of all was when she passionately snogged the half werewolf half Frankenstein creature declaring breathlessly: ‘Oh Odd Bod, if only you weren’t so damned attractive.’

production details
UK / Rank / 87 minutes / 1966

Director: Gerald Thomas
Writers: Talbot Rothwell,

cast
Harry H. Corbett as Sidney Bung
Kenneth Williams as Orlando Watt
Jim Dale as Albert Potter
Charles Hawtrey as Dan Dann
Fenella Fielding as Valeria Watt
Joan Sims as Emily Bung
Angela Douglas as Doris Mann
Bernard Bresslaw as Sockett
Peter Butterworth as Detective Constable Slobotham
Jon Pertwee as Doctor Fettle
Michael Ward as Mr. Vivian
Tom Clegg as Oddbod
Billy Cornelius as Oddbod Junior
Norman Mitchell as Cabby
Frank Thornton as Mr. Jones
Frank Forsyth as Desk Sergeant
Marianne Stone as Mrs. Parker