Not a classic, Carry On Sergeant is still a landmark British movie that's worthy of attention. The first of the Carry On series, it set the agenda for the 30 or so films that followed. Showing promise, it brought together a number of Carry On regulars - such as Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor.
They, alongside Bob Monkhouse, play nerdy, raw, nervous, ill-at-ease privates at an army training camp, the final batch of conscripts before National Service ends. It's the job of Sergeant Grimshawe - a splendid starring role for William Hartnell (pictured, far right) - to bash this raggle-taggle mob into shape. Others all present and correct include Hattie Jacques, Dora Bryan, Bill Owen, Shirley Eaton and Eric Barker.
Monkhouse is surprisingly good as Charlie Sage, Connor is excellent as hypercondriac Horace Strong, Williams is super as smarmy billy-know-it-all James Bailey while Hawtrey is terrific as Private Golightly. And great to see Hartnell on good form, a few years before he shot to fame as the first Doctor Who.
With more of a touch of Ealing-comedy whimsy about it rather than the risque raucousness of the rest of the series, Carry On Sergeant is an encouraging first sortie, well worth watching.
Quick march!
Carry on Sergeant is a Film programme that first aired in 1958 and has been classified a PG certificate.
