Griff Lees
Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
bkoganbing
The Carry On series was known for its risqué and somewhat lewd and bawdy humor, more and more as the series went on. But in Carry On Girls where the subject is a beauty contest there's definitely more of it here than the rest of the series. Definitely Carry On Girls is Sid James's finest and most leering best.James owns a small hotel with Joan Sims that is not doing all that well. He comes up with a capital idea, hold a beauty contest at his hotel. Both make money and publicity and indulge in his favorite pasttime. He sells the mayor of the town Kenneth Connor on the idea though the stodgy Connor has his reservations.What's also around the local feminist June Whitfield who just on principle doesn't care for James's sexist ways. But the idea of exploitation of female bodies sets her off and she looks to sabotage the event. Between her sabotage and Sid James's eternal quest for any kind of publicity you have the makings of a funny film.That final scene at the beauty pageant is one for the books in the Carry On series. If you like nubile young female bodies and have a bawdy sense of humor, Carry On Girls is your film.
TheLittleSongbird
The Carry On series does have worse entries such as England, Emanuelle and Columbus, but with Screaming, Cleo and Up the Khyber the series has better too. Carry on Girls doesn't fit in either best or worst categories, instead it is content with a spot in the low-ish middle category. While the costumes and sets are good, the editing isn't particularly, some scenes look as though they have been edited on a bacon slicer. The story is also rather unfocused with an attempt to combine gentle social satire and smut and sauciness, and it keeps jumping to and fro with uneven results. Also I did miss Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey. However, the direction isn't too bad, neither is the music, while Talbot Rothwell's script is fluid and has some good moments that make up for the uneven focus in story. And the cast do give it their all, Sid James and June Witfield are a lively pair of adversaries and Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims and Patsy Rowlands are splendid as well. Overall, a very uneven film but not one without its moments. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Jackson Booth-Millard
I will admit I didn't pay full attention to everything going on in this film, but to be honest, I don't think it would have mattered. Basically local councillor Sidney Fiddler (Sid James) persuades the incompetent Mayor Frederick Bumble (Kenneth Connor) of Firecombe to hold a beauty contest, to improve the town's image. They face opposition from women's liberationist Augusta Prodworthy (June Whitfield) trying to sabotage the contest, but they do have publicity agent Peter Potter (Bernard Bresslaw) and Palace Hotel owner Connie Philpotts (Joan Sims). Soon enough the young, beautiful wannabe models show up, including Hope Springs (Barbara Windsor), Paula Perkins (Valerie Leon), Dawn Brakes (Goldfinger's Margaret Nolan), Debra (Sally Geeson) and Ida Downs (EastEnders' Wendy Richard). When the girls have cat fights, it does draw away regular residents, but after quite a while of some plodding not that funny innuendos and William (Jack Douglas) having over-active twitches, it does finally reach the competition, and it's just afterwards I couldn't be bothered. Also starring Patsy Rowlands as Mildred Bumble, Peter Butterworth as Admiral, Joan Hickson as Mrs. Dukes, David Lodge as Police inspector, Angela Grant as Miss Bangor, Arnold Ridley as Councillor Pratt, Robin Askwith as Larry, Patricia Franklin as Rosemary, Jimmy Logan as Cecil Gaybody and Dad's Army's Bill Pertwee as Fire brigade chief, Charles Hawtrey had obviously quit the Carry Ons, but where's Kenneth Williams? I suppose seeing Babs and young, beautiful looking Pauline Fowler in bikinis, but for comedy value, this fails miserably, and the overuse of the swanny whistle just gets on your nerves. Pretty poor!
m_pratt
This film is good but not the best carry on. The film lacks Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey, without Kenny and Charles this film just doesn't seem to work. The only reason this film became a success was because Sid and Bernie where i it. If they where not in this film it could be down to the level of Carry on Behind. Hattie Jacques is also missing from this film. With three of the regulars missing this film doesn't meet usual carry on standard. The action takes place at a run down rain sodden resort somewhere down in the south of England a place called Fircombe. The plot of the film is about a beauty contest that is held to try and liven up the town and bring more tourists in. The beauty contest fails and everything goes to pot. The film ends with Sid and Babs driving off on a motorbike. Joan Sims does not have a massive amount of screen time.Peter Butterworth plays the dirty old man of the town funny but not really him. Robin Askwith ( from Bless this house ) makes his only carry on appearance. This marked 25 years of the series but was not a great fitting tribute to 25 years. Overall the film is satisfactory but not a brilliant film. 7/10
