Carry On Matron

Hilarious Medical Caper

The medical Carry On's had always been a popular phenomenon in the series. Carry On Nurse (1959) topped the U.S box office charts and ran in some cinemas for over two and a half years. Carry On Doctor (1967) was virtually an updated re-make of that classic and this became a huge hit too. Carry On Again Doctor (1969) is my own personal favourite medical Carry On and was another enormous success too.

In the 1970's ideas were beginning to wear thin so producer, Peter Rogers and director, Gerald Thomas decided a return to the hospital, which had always proved a popular staple in the series, was what the series needed to give it an injection of life needed after the failure of Carry On At Your Convienience (1971).

Carry On Matron (1971) was made when the series was nearing its peak. The storyline actually had more of (dare I say it) structure to it than previous medical titles in the series.

Sid (Sid James) and his reluctant bunch of petty crooks (Kenneth Cope, Bernard Bresslaw and Bill Maynard) plan to rob a maternity ward of fertiity pills which are worth millions abroad. They send in Kenneth Cope in drag posing as a nurse. His identity is soon discovered by Nurse Ball (Barbara Windsor) and very soon they become lovers. Its all the usual predictable gags and corny old British jokes but there is something about the cozy little world of the Carry On's that remains refreshingly timeless.

The formidable, Hattie Jaques takes the title role as Matron, who plays this more gently than the usual ferocious steretype as seen in Nurse and Doctor. She soon falls in love with Dr. Bernard Cutting (Kenneth Williams) and eventually the pair marry. The on-off affair of Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jaques emerged through various entries in the Carry On's and finally it was concluded in this entry when they finally made it to the altar. Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jaques share some classic scenes together in this entry.

Kenneth Williams is another hilariously over the top, flamboyant and pompous figure whose blatant paranoya causes much amusement in the film as he fears he may be turning into a woman and so sets out to woo Hattie Jaques in order to prove his "manhood". Classic stuff!

Joan Sims turns up in a lovely cameo here playing an over-expectant mother who spends all her time eating constantly in bed and refuses point black to induce labour. Kenneth Connor plays the impatient father to be who spends most of the film pacing up and down in the waiting room shouting orders and being his usual bundle of nerves.

Terry Scott plays the ever-randy doctor, a part that was similar to the characteur JimDale used to play in the previous two medical titles. He pursues Kenneth Cope relentlessly not realising that he is infact a man and not the nurse hes posing as.

The overly effeminate Charles Hawtrey breezes in throughout the film and is as hilarious as ever. His comic partnership with Kenneth Williams is priceless.

The rest of the cast all get their moments with Sid James playing his usual rogue-like self, Barbara Windsor being as bubbly and loveable as ever, Bernard Bresslaw again as Sid James dopey sidekick, Patsy Rolands taking a minor supporting role as Kenneth Williams secretary and Jaki Piper playing a young nurse.

Carry On Matron is consistently funny and develops well to a fun climax. The scene where the ambulance crashes through into the hospital is actually quite amusing despite its silliness. If you're a fan of this genre of comedy, you'll love it.
May 2, 2006

One of the Better Carry On's

Carry on Matron plot involves a gang of crooks, Sid James, Bill Maynard, Bernard Bresslaw & Kenneth Cope, robbing a maternity hospital of "the pill" and selling them to other less well off countries. The only way to get information on where the pill is stored is by Kenneth Cope, dressing up as a nurse and going inside the hospital. Kenneth Cope as a nurse attracts the attention of a randy doctor, played by Terry Scott, who takes a fancy to him. The plot rolls along with several running gags including one with Kenneth Connor as a train station master complaining about his much delayed baby. Hattie Jacques is the matron with the inevitable crush on the chief consultant, played by Kenneth Williams.

Joan Sims is reduced to a bit part really as Kenneth Connor's ever pregnant wife who just keeps on shovelling down food.

Barbara Windsor plays the sexy nurse who also falls for Kenneth Cope when his identity is revealed when he runs upstairs, falls as he does and she sees his trousers rolled up under his nurse's uniform. It's one of the better films in the series. September 29, 2005

Hattie Jacques Reigns

A typical, very funny Carry On film. Probably Hattie Jacques' finest hour. March 25, 2005

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