Movie Review: Carry On, Teacher - (England, 1959)


Figure 1.---'Carry-on Teacher' is an early one of the well-know British Carry On commedy series. The film was made in 1959. We were a little surprised to see that the tudents were not wearing uniforms, at least the main characters filmed in the studio. Most did, however, wear school uniform type garments. A reader writes, "I saw the film in 1960 when I was 12-years old. I thought it very funny, but did not understand all the jokes. This scene is set in the English literature class. The class is discussing 'Romeo and Juliet' which is being produced as a end of the year play. They ask the English master embarrassing questions. These I did not understand when I saw the film in 1960. The questions were about the Wedding bed and why it is so large."

The well liked headmaster of a Secondary Modern School wants a better position. The students and colleagues want him to stay so they sabotage an inspection. Practically a text book of standard music-hall humor and movie gags. This was part of a very well known series of films, all using the same Benny Hill-style music hall humor, meaning fast paced parody, farce, slapstick, and double entendres. It will be known to all British readers, but few Americans. I do not know if there was an attempt to release the series in America, but if so it was not very popular. There were 26 carry On films. They were low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They touched on all kinds of topics. This one was about schools, but there were others about the police, army, hospitals and doctors, and much more. There were also some historical topics, like Cleopatra. They began in 1958 and ran through 1978 with a 1992 revival. 'Carry on, Teacher' was an early example, the third in the series. The movie is set in fictional Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School. American readers need to know that a Secondary Modern was a seciondary schools with generally low academic standards. The best students and teachers were at Grammar Schools (academically seclective secondary schools). A secondary modern was probably chosen because it was easier to make fun of the staff and many were coeducational. The grammar schools were mostly single-gender schools. The school does not have a uniform which surprised us because we thought most British secondary schools had uniforms. There would have been a uniform at a grammar school. While there does not seem to be a uniform, many of the students wear school uniform style garments. A secondary modern took children beginning at age 11 years. The main characters only include the older students. In the wide shots you can see some of the younger students, some of whom wear peaked caps and short pants. These are probably shots taken at an actual school with extras as actual students and not actors.

Filmology

This and other Caryry On films are practically a text book of standard music-hall humor and movie gags. This was part of a very well known series of films, all using the same Benny Hill-style music hall humor, meaning fast paced parody, farce, slapstick, and double entendres. It will be known to all British readers, but few Americans. I do not know if there was an attempt to release the series in America, but if so it was not very popular. There were 26 carry On films. They were low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They touched on all kinds of topics. This one was about schools, but there were others about the police, army, hospitals and doctors, and much more. There were also some historical topics, like Cleopatra. They began in 1958 and ran through 1978 with a 1992 revival. 'Carry on, Teacher' was an early example, the third in the series.

Cast

Many of the actors appeared multiple times in different Carry On films. These were low-budget films and the actors received very low salaries for the brief shoots. The shoots were very quick, often done in a few weeks. The principal 'saboteur', Stevens, was played by Richard O'Sullivan, who was about 15 years old when 'Carry On, Teacher' was filmed. Richard had quite a few roles in British films and TV shows in the 1950s-60s. He also played the uncredited role of Audrey Hepburn's younger brother in the film, 'The Nun's Story', which was filmed the same year as 'Carry On, Teacher'.

Setting

The movie is set in the fictional Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School. American readers need to know that a Secondary Modern was a secondary schools with generally low academic standards. The best students and teachers were at Grammar Schools (academically seclective secondary schools). A secondary modern was probably chosen because it was easier to make fun of the staff and many were coeducational. The grammar schools were mostly single-gender schools. The exterior shots show a real rather dreary looking brick school in a dreary looking neighborhood. Not a tree or a blade of grass in sight. Presumably the school was chosen as a backdrop as to why the Headmaster wanted to move to a different school. The staff and teenagers in the school were actors, but the exteriors were shot at a real school. And the school yard was just as dreary as the building. There were actually a lot of schools like that in London and other British cities.

Filming

The indoors scenes were shot at famous Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire. The relatively few exteriors were shot at Drayton Secondary School, Ealing. Ealing is a London neighborhood. Drayton Secondary may not have been the precise name of the school. The term 'secondary' suggests it was a secondary modern, but perhaps the reference did not use the proper name of the school. Secondary may be an adjetive rather than a proper noun. We know there was a Drayton Manor Grammar School located in Ealing at this time. This may have been the school used. A secondary modern, however, is more in keeping with the plot of the film--a dreary school that the Head wanted to escape. The external shots included not only the building, but the students at the school. As the plot of the film was rather on the baudy side, we rather wonder if the school or educational authorities were aware of the plot when they gave permission to film the building and students. Being involved in a film probably sounded exciing to the staff and students.

Plot

The plot is loosley based on an earlier French film which focused on prize-giving day, 'Zero conduite' (1934). The well liked headmaster of a Secondary Modern School wants a better position. The students and colleagues want him to stay so they sabotage an inspection so that his new job offer will be withdrawn. They play all kinds of pranks on the the masters, convincing them that thay are building a bomb. And there are various other tricks. A British readere tells us, "The itching powder scene is hilarious." Mixed in with various mayhem incidents of the students out thinking the teachers are mny baudy shots. The later only involved the teachers. A reader tells us about one scene, "A group of students sneak in and booby trap the staff room. All the kids are especially well behaved and attentive in lessons. The teachers come into the staff room and relax. A whoopee cushion has been placed under a cushion on Joan Simms seat so as soon as she sits down a noise resembling flatulence can be heard. Kenneth Conner speaks on the phone but it has been covered in sticky glue. Charles Haughty is not standing for these serious breaches of discipline and goes to inform the head (Ted Ray), but the floor has been cut away and he promptly fall through the floor. The door has an electric charge passing through it so Ted Ray can't enter the staff room and does a dance as he is electrocuted. There is also a booby trapped curtain which when opens shows the teachers in bags of flour. To us kids when we saw the film at the time, these scenes were hilarious, especially because teachers were involved. We tried to try the idea out. My mates and I put a heavy book over the door a teacher was to come through. The book did not fall but balanced on the door! Someone also sawed through the teachers chair. It did not snap and collapse as in films, but held for 3 years and snapped long after the culprit had left the school."

Costuming

The school does not have a uniform which surprised us because we thought most British secondary schools had uniforms. There would have been a uniform at a grammar school. A British reader tells us, "Most secondary school had uniforms but some did not. It seemed to reflect on the ideological attitude of the school head. I can only recall a couple of secondary school in Blackburn where I grew up which did not have uniforms. These were schools did not have a good reputation for behavior or academic excellence." While there does not seem to be a uniform woirn by the actirs in the intetior shots, many wear school uniform style garments. I wonder if this was a budget issue. (The Carry IOn films were very low budget productions.) A secondary modern took children beginning at age 11 years. The main characters only include the older students. In the wide shots take outdoors, you can see some of the younger students, some of whom wear peaked caps and short pants. These are shots taken at an actual school (Drayton Secondary School, Ealing) with the actual students rather than paying extras, probably so they did not have to be paid. The actual students in the external shots do seem to be wearing a uniform, although it is a little difficult to tell as most of the film is done as interior shot with the actors who do not wear uniforms.







HBC






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Created: 1:05 AM 9/20/2011
Last updated: 1:21 AM 9/21/2011