Carry On Cabby

Carry On Cabby
Original UK quad poster
Directed by	Gerald Thomas
Produced by	Peter Rogers
Written by	Talbot Rothwell
Starring	Sid James Hattie Jacques Kenneth Connor Charles Hawtrey Esma Cannon Liz Fraser
Music by	Eric Rogers
Cinematography	Alan Hume
Edited by	Archie Ludski
Production company	Peter Rogers Productions
Distributed by	Anglo-Amalgamated/ Warner-Pathé Distributors
Release dates	June 1963 (1963-06)
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£149,986

Carry On Cabby is the seventh in the series of Carry On films to be made. Released in 1963, it was the first to be written by Talbot Rothwell (although the first screenplay "Tolly" submitted to Peter Rogers was developed as Carry On Jack) from a story by Dick Hills and Sid Green (script writers for Morecambe and Wise). Regulars Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey are all present. Liz Fraser makes her third appearance (although she'd have to wait 13 years for her next Carry On) and Esma Cannon makes her fourth and final appearance. This was the first film in the series to feature Carry On regular Jim Dale. The previous film in the series, Carry On Cruising, was filmed in colour, but this movie was the penultimate in the series to be shot in black and white. Carry On Cabby was originally planned as a non-Carry On film, called Call Me A Cab (after a stage play) but midway through it became part of the Carry On series.

Plot

Charlie Hawkins (Sid James) is the workaholic owner of thriving taxi company Speedee Taxis, but his wife Peggy (Hattie Jacques) feels neglected by him. When Charlie misses their fifteenth wedding anniversary, because he's out cabbing, she decides to punish him. Telling Charlie that she's going to 'get a job', she establishes a rival company, GlamCabs. The cars are brand new Ford Cortina Mk1's and driven by attractive girls in provocative uniforms. Flo, the wife of one of Charlie's drivers, gets the post of office manager.

Charlie continues to coach his mainly inept (and largely ex-army) drivers, including accident-prone Terry "Pintpot" Tankard (Charles Hawtrey), whilst Peggy refuses to tell Charlie what her new 'job' is. Charlie feigns a lack of interest, but he's dying to know. As Charlie unsuccessfully struggles to cope with his wife's absences, and realises just what she had to endure, Peggy's company becomes a thriving success due to the large number of male taxi passengers preferring to ogle her sexy drivers during journeys. Speedee rapidly starts losing money and faces bankruptcy. Peggy feels terrible for what she has done. Charlie and his drivers attempt to sabotage the rival company, but they are chased off.

In desperation, Charlie suggests a merger with his rivals, but is furious to discover who the real owner is and storms off.

A month later, Peggy is living at the office and Charlie has turned to drink, allowing his company to collapse around him. Peggy and Sally are hijacked by bank robbers. Peggy manages to use the taxi radio to subtly reveal their situation and location. Charlie intercepts the broadcast and rallies the other Speedee drivers in pursuit. The robbers are cornered and captured.

Peggy and Charlie are reconciled, especially over the fact that she is expecting a baby.

Cast and crew

• Sid James as Charlie Hawkins
• Hattie Jacques as Peggy Hawkins
• Charles Hawtrey as Terry "Pintpot" Tankard
• Kenneth Connor as Ted Watson
• Esma Cannon as Flo Sims
• Liz Fraser as Sally
• Bill Owen as Smiley Sims
• Milo O'Shea as Len
• Jim Dale as Expectant father
• Judith Furse as Battleaxe
• Renée Houston as Molly
• Ambrosine Phillpotts as Aristocratic lady
• Amanda Barrie as Anthea
• Carole Shelley as Dumb driver
• Cyril Chamberlain as Sarge
• Norman Chappell as Allbright
• Peter Gilmore as Dancy
• Michael Ward as Man in tweeds
• Noel Dyson as District nurse
• Norman Mitchell as Bespectacled businessman
• Michael Nightingale as Businessman
• Ian Wilson as Clerk
• Peter Byrne as Bridegroom
• Darryl Kavann as Punchy
• Don McCorkindale as Tubby
• Charles Stanley as Geoff
• Marion Collins as Bride
• Peter Jesson as Car salesman
• Frank Forsyth as Chauffeur
• Marian Horton as Glamcab driver
• Valerie Van Ost as Glamcab driver

• Screenplay – Talbot Rothwell
• Idea – SC Green & RM Hills
• Music – Eric Rogers
• Associate Producer – Frank Bevis
• Art Director – Jack Stephens
• Editor – Archie Ludski
• Director of Photography – Alan Hume
• Camera Operator – Godfrey Godar
• Unit Manager – Donald Toms
• Assistant Director – Peter Bolton
• Sound Editor – Arthur Ridout
• Sound Recordists – Bill Daniels & Gordon K McCallum
• Hairdressing – Biddy Chrystal
• Make-up Artists – Geoffrey Rodway & Jim Hydes
• Continuity – Penny Daniels
• Costume Designer – Joan Ellacott
• Producer – Peter Rogers
• Director – Gerald Thomas

Filming and locations

• Filming dates: 25 March – 7 May 1963

Interiors:

• Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Exteriors:

• The streets of Windsor

Railway connected film locations are always of interest and the sequence where 'Pintpot' is driving a cab (PEG 1) round and round a roundabout was filmed at the junction of Goswell Road and Arthur Road with the railway arches of Windsor & Eton Central station visible in the background. This area has changed considerably with the building of King Edward Court and Ward Royal. Some filming was also undertaken in the street (Farm Yard) opposite Windsor and Eton Riverside station.

The filming of Carry On Cabby is portrayed in the BBC drama Hattie, a dramatisation of the life of Hattie Jacques.

See also

• Taxi! – contemporary TV series with Sid James in a similar role to Carry On Cabby

External links

• Carry On Cabby at IMDb
• Carry On Cabby at British Comedy Guide
• Carry On Cabby at The Whippit Inn