Review of Carry On Camping

Video

Charles Hawtrey - "What`s a nice girl like you doing with an old cow?"
Farm girl - "I`m taking her to the bull."
Charles Hawtrey - "To the bull! Couldn`t your father do that?"
Farm girl - "No. It has to be the bull."

Ah - those memorable Carry On jokes and catch phrases, that has made this series of 31 movies a British comedy institution.

Carry On Camping is the first film of the series to find its way onto DVD, and is regarded by many as one of the top three (`Up the Khyber` and `Cleo` being the other two). It features the infamous Barbara Windsor `falling out` scene at the PT session, lead by Kenneth Williams: "Matron - take them away!"

If this DVD is a sign of things to come, then fans of the series will be very pleased. The film was made in 1969, and they have given us a nice 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer here, that is virtually totally free of scratches, specks and dust. The image is sharp, and colours are vivid. 15 chapters are supplied.

Audio

We have a Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack on this film, and a stereo track for the included "What`s a Carry On?" documentary.

Features

This disc comes with a fifty minute "What`s a Carry On?" documentary portraying the history of the series from the late fifties with `Sergeant`, through to 1992 with `Columbus`. There are interviews with most of the surviving stars, and Peter Rogers the producer, culminating in a recent reunion at Pinewood Studios for all the people involved in the series. The programme also included some of Sid James` own cine movies, and much behind the scenes information. It is the type of documentary no true Carry On fan would want to be without.

You also get in depth biographies of the key cast members, and a general DVD trailer which is NOT of the film. The menus are silent, and nicely animated with the PT Scene.

Conclusion

As a thirty one year old, I have grown up with the Carry Ons. I have every one recorded on VHS and no matter how many times I see them, the better films are still as funny and fresh as the day they were made. Sexist, rude, saucy - however you want to label them, they are gaining a fresh new audience with younger fans tired of the current political correctness. They were fun, but never vulgar.

This DVD release is a tribute to the format, and what can be achieved for older films. The picture quality is superb for a thirty year old film, and audio belts out Kenneth Williams` "Matron!" for all to hear.

The documentary is highly entertaining, and compliments the film well. This should allow the series to be as successful into the next century as they have been in this.

It`s fun - get it!!