Sid and Bernie are two typical sixties men on the make - their girlfriends Joan and Anthea being the ones that want to make it with. However, a couple of things keep getting in the way, namely Joan's mum and Anthea's constitution. But when the boys see a movie about naturism, they cook up a plan to get their two unsuspecting girlfriends away to a more 'relaxed' place. Once the inhibitions (and the clothes) have been shed, it's just a matter of time....
Shot at Pinewood Studios and the surrounding towns, 'Camping' is yet another success story, owing as much to the script of Talbot Rothwell as the skills of director Gerald Thomas, producer Peter Rogers, and the cast. This is one of the more memorable of the series, due to certain scenes such as Barbara Windsor's bra flying off during a more vigorous exercise routine. But this is more than just a one scene, one star movie.
You have people like Terry Scott, who longs for a holiday abroad, but instead has the same two weeks camping with wife Betty Marsden. Dressed in khaki and strapped to a tandem, you can just tell that he's delighted to be going. They meet up with Charles Hawtrey, who has lost his tent, and this prompts more baying laughter from Marsden (obviously this is why she was cast in the role, as she is unfortunately the weakest of the cast).
You have Peter Butterworth as the owner of the (sadly non-nudist) campsite, the appropriately named Joshua Fiddler, who is out to make money from every possible source. You have Kenneth Williams as the headmaster of Chayste Place, the girls school that's anything but chaste, because not even Hattie Jacques as Matron can keep Barbara Windsor and the rest of the girls in order.
The rest of the movie revolves around Sid and Bernie trying new ways to get their poles up, and avoid being caught ogling the girls by their ladies. Pretty standard stuff for the team, but very, very well delivered.
British director responsible for every film in the Carry On series. Started as an assistant editor before debuting with the childrens' film Circus Friends. Thriller Timelock followed, but the success of 1958’s bawdy Carry On Sergeant launched one of the most successful series in British cinema. Thomas directed 30 Carry On films up until 1978’s Carry On Emmanuelle, returning in 1992 to deliver his final film, Carry On Columbus. Other films include the Carry On-esque Nurse on Wheels and The Big Job, plus the big screen version of Bless this House.
