Carry On Screaming Memorabilia and Posters – Carry On Screaming, the twelfth film in the series, released in 1966, was a delightful detour from the franchise’s usual setting. It shifted from the usual institutional parody like hospitals, schools, and police stations to a spoof of the horror genre, particularly drawing elements from Hammer horror films and Universal’s monster movies. We delve into Carry On Screaming, focusing specifically on film-related memorabilia, posters, and ephemera associated with this classic comedy.
Directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers, this film, while primarily a comedy, packed in numerous homages to classic horror films that added an extra layer of entertainment for fans of the genre. One of the standout aspects of “Carry On Screaming” is its unforgettable cast of characters. Kenneth Williams and Fenella Fielding steal the show with their hilariously melodramatic performances. Fielding’s sultry-voiced vamp was a delightfully exaggerated nod to Morticia Addams, while Williams’ hysterical reactions were comedy gold. Jim Dale and Harry H. Corbett also deliver strong performances, and Joan Sims’ humorous turn as Corbett nagging wife.
The Plot
“Carry On Screaming” starts in the mysteriously dense Hocombe Woods. A romantic escapade between Doris Mann (Angela Douglas) and Albert Potter (Jim Dale) takes a sinister turn as a monster, Oddbod (Tom Clegg), abducts Doris, leaving behind a severed finger as the only clue. A frantic Albert reports this to the local police, Detective Constable Slobotham (Peter Butterworth) and Detective Sergeant Sidney Bung (Harry H. Corbett), who have been probing similar incidents in the same vicinity.
Their investigation leads them to the unsettling Bide-A-Wee Rest Home, overseen by the charismatic Valeria (Fenella Fielding) and her eccentric, electrically energized brother, Dr. Orlando Watt (Kenneth Williams). The encounter escalates into a frightful experience as Dr. Watt’s startling disappearance and reappearance spooks the trio out of the house.
After an inconclusive interview with former Bide-A-Wee gardener Dan Dann (Charles Hawtrey) and the inadvertent creation of a second creature, Oddbod Junior (Billy Cornelius), by the police scientist (Jon Pertwee), they realize the dreadful truth – Watt and Valeria are transforming people into mannequins to sell.
While Bung develops a soft spot for Valeria, Albert stumbles upon Doris, now a mannequin, in a hat shop, yet lacks solid evidence. In a twisted plot, Valeria and Watt turn Bung into Mr. Hyde to steal the mannequin-Doris, leading Bung and Slobotham to devise a trap in the woods with Slobotham acting as the lure.
Their plan takes a turn for the worse as Bung’s wife Emily (Joan Sims) and Slobotham get captured by the Oddbods. A sequence of mishaps sees Albert, in his Hyde form, defeating the Oddbods while Dr. Watt meets his doom at the hands of a reanimated mummy, Rubbatiti. Albert and Doris eventually marry, but the story concludes with a humorous twist as Bung, unable to restore his wife Emily, now a mannequin, settles into an unexpected domestic arrangement with Valeria.
The Rise of Cottage Collectibles
Craft sites like Etsy have led to the rise of small run and mainly unofficial collectables. We love this Oddjob Model Kit.
Collecting The Cast
Other than posters, autographed stills from the film are popular and autographs . Certain stars are much harder to find. Fenella Fielding is popular and examples of signed photographs are readily available.
Kenneth Williams as Dr. Orlando Watt
Fenella Fielding as Valeria Watt
Harry H. Corbett as Detective Sergeant Sidney Bung
Jim Dale as Albert Potter
Charles Hawtrey as Dan Dann
Joan Sims as Emily Bung
Angela Douglas as Doris Mann
Bernard Bresslaw as Sockett
Peter Butterworth as Detective Constable Slobotham
Jon Pertwee as Police Scientist
Tom Clegg as Oddbod
Billy Cornelius as Oddbod Junior
The Best Carry on Film
Carry On Screaming is also remembered for its top-notch production design. The film features some of the best set designs in the Carry On series, complete with a grand Gothic mansion, a creepy laboratory, and a fog-shrouded forest. Combined with the moody cinematography, these visuals offer a surprisingly atmospheric horror setting that wonderfully contrasts with the silliness of the script.
For many fans, the beauty of “Carry On Screaming” lies in its blend of comedy and horror, a genre mashup that would later be popularized in films like “Shaun of the Dead.” The movie’s signature Carry On humor, laced with double entendres and slapstick comedy, is seamlessly interwoven with loving nods to horror classics, making for an entertaining and unique entry in the franchise.
Despite being more than five decades old, “Carry On Screaming” has managed to maintain its charm and appeal. Its success can be attributed to the timeless humor, memorable characters, and the affectionate parody of the horror genre. Even after all these years, this Carry On film continues to ‘scream’ hilarity, reminding us of the magic that British comedy once was and can still be.
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Carry on Screaming memorabilia and posters on ebay
Carry on Screaming items on Etsy
