Carry On, Nurse (1959)
“Listen: hospital life from the patient’s point of view… A series, it’s surefire.”
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Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review: There’s no real plot to speak of in Carry On, Nurse; instead, we’re meant simply to laugh at the exploits of the patients and their foibles, as well as those of the nurses trying to avoid the wrath of their glowering matron (Hattie Jacques). Every now and then, we’re treated to some amusingly risque statements — such as when a bumbling student nurse (Joan Sims) expresses frustration with a male patient who’s embarrassed to strip and take a bath in front of her, then looks down at his nether regions and coyly states, “Hmm… To think I called you a baby!” Other attempts at humor — such as the mere presence of a gay patient (Charles Hawtrey) who enjoys flamboyantly “conducting” while listening to music on his headphones — are much weaker. All told, Carry On, Nurse is guaranteed to be a delightfully nostalgic treat for those who enjoy the series, but a tedious snooze for those (like me) who don’t quite “get” the humor. Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
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One thought on “Carry On, Nurse (1959)”
Not must-see.
Rewatching this was an exercise in tedium. Like the films of Shirley Temple, Elvis Presley, Laurel and Hardy, etc., the Carry On series was constantly aired on tv when I was a kid (my guess is that television stations were offered package deals at an economy price) and I saw many of them. Time has not been kind to the series, apparently.
My understanding – from what I know of series star Kenneth Williams (later, friend and colleague of ‘naughty sex’ pioneer Joe Orton) – the series went progressively downhill. What may have been risque at first gave way to changing times (and changing humor). Not that long ago, I rewatched ‘Carry On, Cleo’ – which could be an example of the series at his peak (as well as inspiration for Monty Python, esp. for ‘Life of Brian’) – and even though that shows series regulars in better form, it still hasn’t held up all that well. Certain kinds of humor age very badly.
During this rewatch, I didn’t laugh once either.