Carry On sPYING (1964)
 Carry
On favourite Barbara Windsor makes her debut in this
outrageous parody of the James Bond movies.
There are gadgets
galore, and disguises are compulsory if the heroes are to win the
day from The Fat Man!
A top-secret chemical formula has been stolen by STENCH (the
Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans), and so
Agent Desmond Simpkins (Kenneth Williams) and James Bind of BOSH - aided
and abetted by the comely Agent Honeybutt and Agent Crump - chase
villains across the world.
The team of four glide through each scenario with a beautiful
lack of elegance, dodging bullets and drugged drinks until
suspicion is aroused when a 'reserved for British agents' place
card appears on their table.
It is a celebration of the absurd
dogged attitude of the British: gullible, likeable, humbling and
inexperienced but always certain to pull through in the end.
 Bernard
Cribbins, in his last Carry On appearance for
almost 30 years, returns as loveable bumbler Agent Crump and
successfully chats up Honeybutt (Barbara Windsor) while also
indulging in inspired bits of horseplay with the lads.
Carry On Spying is what the great Carry Ons are all about:
jam-packed with spirited performances from everyone involved; a
subtle musical score; less than subtle jokes, moments of real
tension and a script of grease-lightning wit and fun that leaves
the audience gasping. Vintage.
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