Carry on at Your Convenience Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Workers at a toilet factory keep going on strike over silly things, management tries to save the company with bidets, a budgie predicts horse race winners, and everyone gets riotously drunk on a works trip to Brighton.

🍿 Carry on at Your Convenience: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Industrial Unrest at W.C. Boggs & Son

The film is set in a British factory, W.C. Boggs & Son, which manufactures lavatory ware. The company is plagued by frequent strikes called by the overly zealous and often frivolous union representative, Vic Spanner. The constant industrial action disrupts production and puts the future of the factory at risk. Foreman Sid Plummer attempts to keep the peace and production going amidst the chaos created by Vic’s adherence to union rules, often for trivial reasons.

Character Subplots and Workplace Relationships

Beyond the factory floor, the film explores the lives and relationships of the workers and management. Sid Plummer navigates a flirtatious relationship with his married co-worker and neighbour, Chloe Moore, while dealing with his lazy, budgie-obsessed wife, Beattie. Meanwhile, Sid’s daughter, Myrtle, who works in the factory canteen, finds herself caught in a love triangle between the union man, Vic Spanner, and Lewis Boggs, the factory owner’s son. The eccentric designer, Charles Coote, also adds to the workplace dynamics.

A Crucial Order and Growing Conflict

The factory faces potential closure due to financial difficulties exacerbated by the strikes. A potential lifeline arrives in the form of a large overseas order for bidets, secured by Lewis Boggs, which could save the company. However, W.C. Boggs is initially reluctant to produce bidets, deeming them distasteful. When he finally agrees, Vic Spanner finds a new reason to strike over a design modification intended to speed up production, claiming it threatens jobs.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Vic Spanner (Kenneth Cope): The bolshie union representative who constantly stirs up industrial unrest and calls strikes over minor issues.
• Sid Plummer (Sidney James): The pragmatic works foreman navigating factory troubles, his tempting neighbor, and his wife’s race-picking budgie.
• Wm. C. Boggs (Kenneth Williams): The traditionalist owner of the struggling lavatory factory facing financial difficulties and union strikes.
• Chloe Moore (Joan Sims): Sid’s married co-worker and neighbor who shares a mutual flirtation and temptation with him.
• Beattie Plummer (Hattie Jacques): Sid’s lazy housewife who spends her days fixated on her pet budgie that unexpectedly picks winning racehorses.
• Myrtle Plummer (Jacki Piper): Sid’s attractive daughter working in the factory canteen who becomes the subject of a love triangle between a union rep and the boss’s son.
• Lewis Boggs (Richard O’Callaghan): The factory owner’s son and manager who aggressively pursues Myrtle Plummer and clashes with Vic Spanner.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Agatha Spanner: “You’ve never done an honest day’s work in your life! Just like your father!” – Said by Vic Spanner’s exasperated mother, scolding him for constantly calling strikes and not earning enough money.
• Hortense Withering: “Never in all the years I’ve been with you, Mr. Boggs, have you even pinched my bottom!” – Cried out in frustration by Mr. Boggs’ loyal secretary when he considers selling the factory, highlighting her long-suppressed affection and devotion.
• W.C. Boggs: “Would you like me to proplasticate?” – Asked by Mr. Boggs in his eccentric manner while demonstrating the flexibility of a plastic toilet seat, showcasing his character’s unusual dialogue.
• Sid Plummer: “Bloody neighbours!” – Exclaimed in exasperation by Sid after he and Chloe decide not to risk having a cup of tea together late at night for fear of being seen by gossiping neighbours.

💰Box Office

• Budget: £190,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Carry on at Your Convenience Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘Carry On at Your Convenience,’ and wow, it’s exactly what you expect, but also a bit different! I mean, a whole movie about striking at a toilet factory? Only the Carry Ons could do it. I laughed at a lot of the obvious toilet jokes, even though they’re totally silly. But what I really enjoyed was seeing the familiar faces like Sid James, Kenneth Williams, and Joan Sims doing their thing. The part with the budgie picking winners was surprisingly funny! The works outing to Brighton was probably my favourite part; it felt like a classic Carry On romp with everyone letting loose. Some bits felt a bit slow or dated, but overall, I had a genuinely good time watching it. It’s a classic slice of British comedy history.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the classic ‘Carry On’ film series”
  • “Viewers interested in 1970s British comedy and social satire”
  • “Audiences who enjoy slapstick and double entendre humour”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Dated and potentially offensive humour (including sexist and politically charged content)”
  • “Alcohol consumption”
  • “Mild suggestive content”

Professional Reviews

• Reviewer Analysis: “This installment of the Carry On series attempts a topical, albeit dated, look at industrial relations through the lens of a toilet factory. While the premise allows for ample lavatorial gags, the film sometimes gets bogged down. Strong performances from the classic cast, particularly Sid James and Kenneth Williams, elevate the material, and the Brighton sequence offers moments of genuine, if chaotic, fun. A notable departure in tone, met with mixed results.
• Reviewer Analysis: “Despite its controversial anti-union stance that initially alienated some audiences, ‘Carry On at Your Convenience’ stands out for its character-driven moments and performances. Sid James steps away from his usual persona for a more nuanced role, complemented by Hattie Jacques. The film captures the era well, and while some humour hasn’t aged perfectly, the ensemble cast’s chemistry, especially during the chaotic works outing, makes it a worthwhile watch for fans.
• Reviewer Analysis: “Taking on union disputes in a toilet factory sounds like classic Carry On, but this entry proved divisive. The incessant strikes premise feels heavy-handed, and while there are laughs, they often rely on predictable innuendo and surprisingly crude moments. The film benefits from the veteran cast, who give it their all, but the script lacks the consistent wit of earlier entries. The Brighton trip provides a much-needed lift.

Audience Reactions

The chaotic and drunken works outing to Brighton was a definite highlight.: Viewers consistently praise the performances of the core cast members, especially Sid James, Kenneth Williams, and Joan Sims, and find the classic Carry On humour enjoyable despite its dated aspects.

Sid James’s budgie subplot predicting horse winners is a unique and funny moment people remember.: Many appreciate the film’s reflection of 1970s British industrial life, even if the political angle is simple or biased, and enjoy the overall nostalgic feel.

The scene where Vic Spanner’s mother spanks him in public is a memorable moment.: The blend of situational comedy, character interactions, and the seaside postcard humour resonates well with long-time fans of the series.

Overall Consensus: A divisive but often-loved entry in the Carry On series, featuring the classic cast in a story about industrial strife at a toilet factory. While some find the humour and politics dated, others appreciate the character dynamics, the memorable Brighton trip, and the quintessential British silliness.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Gerald Thomas wrote to actor Terry Scott to explain that his entire performance was cut from the final film because it finished fifty minutes over length and his scene didn’t affect the main story.”
• “The film was considered somewhat controversial upon its release due to its satirical portrayal of trade unions, which some felt alienated the series’ largely working-class audience.”
• “Despite featuring most of the core Carry On cast, the film was the first in the series to be a financial flop at the box office upon its initial release in the UK.”
• “The factory scenes were filmed on location at the Royal Doulton factory in London, adding a layer of realism to the industrial setting.”

🖥️ How to Watch Carry on at Your Convenience?

You can find ‘Carry on at Your Convenience’ available for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon. Availability on other streaming services may vary, so checking your preferred platform directly is recommended for the most current options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Carry on at Your Convenience, you might like these similar films:

• Carry On Up the Khyber (1968): Widely regarded as one of the best Carry On films, sharing the same cast, director, and trademark innuendo, albeit with a different historical setting.
• I’m All Right Jack (1959): A seminal British industrial satire that tackles similar themes of union disputes and management conflict, although with a more overtly political and less farcical tone.
• Carry On Abroad (1972): Another film from the later Carry On era featuring the core cast on an ensemble holiday/trip, focusing on similar character dynamics and seaside postcard humour.
• Holiday on the Buses (1973): A contemporary British comedy film spun off from a popular TV series, sharing a similar working-class setting, ensemble cast, and reliance on broad, sometimes crude, humour typical of the era.

🛒 Carry on at Your Convenience Related Products

• The Carry On Film Collection (DVD Box Set): Own the complete collection of classic Carry On films, including ‘Carry On at Your Convenience,’ in one comprehensive box set.
• Carry On At Your Convenience DVD: Get your own copy of this classic British comedy to watch anytime.
• Fifty Years of the Carry On Films Book: A comprehensive guide detailing the history, production, cast, and cultural impact of the Carry On series.
• Classic British Comedy Mug: A novelty mug featuring imagery or quotes inspired by classic British comedy, including the Carry On style.

🎧 Soundtrack

Carry on at Your Convenience features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Carry On Theme” – performed by Eric Rogers
• “Incidental Music” – performed by Eric Rogers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Carry On At Your Convenience – 1971 (Ken Burns Edit)

Ever wondered why this Carry On film got a bit of a mixed reaction at first but is now considered a classic? This video dives into the movie’s history and reception, and honestly, it gives you a whole new appreciation for the toilet humour!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ESZaD6PUc00

TOP 10 BEST CARRY ON FILMS (and BOTTOM TEN)

Curious where “Carry On at Your Convenience” ranks among all the Carry On classics (and not-so-classics)? This video lists the best and worst of the series, and it’s always fun to see if your favourites made the cut!

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