"Oh Mr Simpkins, I wish I could get my draws off as fast as you."
Carry On Spying is a 1964 British spy comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas. It is the ninth film in the Carry On series.
Spying marks Barbara Windsor's first appearance in the series. Of the series regulars, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, and Jim Dale are present. Bernard Cribbins makes the second of his three Carry On appearances (appearing in the previous entry Carry On Jack and in the final film of the series, Carry On Columbus, 28 years later). Eric Barker appears for his third entry (his final appearance would be in Carry On Emmannuelle 14 years later). Dilys Laye returns after her series debut in Carry On Cruising.
This is the last film of the series to be shot in black and white.
Synopsis[]
Simpkins and the new recruits
The Secret Service send Agent Simpkins and a group of bumbling trainees to chase S.T.E.N.C.H (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans) for a stolen chemical formula (Formula X). Using gadgets and disguises, the group mange to defeat villains The Fat Man, Dr Milchman, and Dr Crow.
Elsewhere during the mission, romance is in the air for Crump and Honeybutt!
Plot[]
A top secret chemical formula has been stolen by S.T.E.N.C.H (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans). Fearful of what would happen if that formula fell into the wrong hands, the Chief of the Secret Service reluctantly sends the only agent he has left, the bumbling and snide Agent Desmond Simpkins. He also sends his three trainees, Agent Harold Crump, Agent Daphne Honeybutt, and Agent Charlie Bind to find the formula.
Dr. Crow and Lila
The Agents travel separately and in different disguises, to Vienna, where they make contact with Carstairs at the Cafe Mozart. Then they travel on to Algiers. Upon the way, they encounter the S.T.E.N.C.H agents, the Fat Man and Milchmann (who stole the formula disguised as a milkman). Unfortunately, the agents' lack of experience results in their contact agent, Carstairs, being floored in an encounter with the Fat Man.
Daphne and Harold attempt to steal the formula back whilst disguised as dancing girls in Hakim's Fun House, where the Fat Man is relaxing. The agents also encounter the mysterious Lila, whom they are uncertain if they can trust. The three agents end up captives of S.T.E.N.C.H; Daphne is interrogated by the evil Dr Crow, head of S.T.E.N.C.H, but she fails to succumb. They escape, but are caught up in an underground automated factory process, from which they only escape when Lila pulls a gun on Dr Crow.
The demise of Milchmann!
The group is transported by lift to the surface, which is revealed to be the office of the Chief of the Secret Service; the headquarters of S.T.E.N.C.H are below the streets of London. Lila reveals to Simpkins that she is a double agent, working for S.N.O.G (the Society for Neutralising Of Germs). The S.T.E.N.C.H headquarters self-destructs, presumably taking the Secret Service with it.
Cast[]
Credited Cast[]
The cast and crew on set
- Kenneth Williams — Desmond Simkins (codename Red Admiral)
- Barbara Windsor — Daphne Honeybutt (codename Brown Cow)
- Bernard Cribbins — Harold Crump (codename Blue Bottle)
- Charles Hawtrey — Charlie Bind (codename Yellow Peril)
- Eric Barker — The Chief
- Dilys Laye — Lila
- Richard Wattis — Cobley
- Eric Pohlmann — The Fat Man
- Victor Maddern — Milchmann
- Judith Furse — Doctor Crow
- John Bluthal — Head Waiter / Doctor Crow (voice only)
- Renee Houston — Madame
- Jack Taylor — Thug
- Tom Clegg — Doorman
Production and release[]
From Russia With Love poster.
Albert R. Broccoli, the producer of the James Bond film series, objected to the character name "James Bind agent 006½" (intended for Hawtrey) and threatened legal action. Hence, producer Peter Rogers changed the name to Charlie and the agent's code number to double 0 – ooh! Poster artist Tom Chantrell also had to modify the film poster when similar complaints were voiced that the artwork was too similar to Renato Fratini's From Russia with Love poster[1].
The film pokes fun at various spy films, the James Bond series being the least of them. They include The Third Man (Eric Pohlmann, who plays The Fat Man, had a minor part in The Third Man and was the voice of SPECTRE No 1 in From Russia with Love). One or two of Crow's female assistants wear hairstyles similar to those of Modesty Blaise, whose adventures had started in the London Evening Standard the previous year.
Interior shots were filmed at Pinewood Studios. Filming began on 8 February 1964 and wrapped on 13 March 1964.
The budget for Spying was £148,000 (aprox. £3,758,712 in 2024). The film went £11,000 over budget due to several accidents including Charles Hawtrey collapsing on-set, Kenneth Williams being injured by a fall from the roof, and the need to replace an iron girder that had split. All these incidents held up production, meaning the actors had to be paid more.
Reception[]
Dutch poster
Carry On Spying received critical acclaim, with critics praising its fast pace, satirical intent, and Kenneth Williams' performance, which was largely based on his “Snide” persona from Hancock's Half Hour. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 83% based on 6 reviews[2].
Kinematograph Weekly called the film a “moneymaker” for 1964.
Alternative UK poster
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: “Straight off the Carry On assembly line, this spoof on James Bondery looses a few random and very limp satirical shafts, but is for the most part content to stick to routine: in other words, a few bright gags are buried in a waste of coy camp, female impersonation and mildly smutty jokes. Bernard Cribbins manages to be quite funny, especially when disguised as an Oriental harridan in an Algiers bordello ... twanging desultorily at a stringed instrument and emitting a piercing parody of Eastern song in quarter-tone style; as a newcomer to the team, Barbara Windsor is decidedly an asset; and Dilys Laye is charming as Lila.”[3]