Well, you know I always thought I was somewhat of an expert on British comedies. It turns out that I flatter myself way too much and have a lot left to learn. I was caught totally by surprise with the release of A&E’s DVD set for the series “Carry on Laughing.” I’m embarrassed to say that I had never even head of it and how I missed it, I’ll never know. It seems the series came out in 1975 and was based on an immensely popular series of “Carry On” films that started back in the 1950s, and continued to me made all the way up through the 1990s. The idea of the films was to poke fun at historical figures, and in some cases, other popular films. The series took the idea, as well as several of the members of the acting troupe, and turned it into a half hour series. It took me a couple of days to get through the episodes (there are 13 in all), and laughed my darn fool head off. The humor ranges from inspired hilarity to extreme silliness, and though the jokes don’t always work, what does work makes up for them.

I was a big fan of the British series, “Upstairs, Downstairs” and loved the “Carry On” version, “And in My Lady’s Chamber.” And who need the new Hollywood mega-epic “King Arthur”, when you can watch “Under the Round Table?”

As far as the style of humor in “Carry on Laughing”, I can only say it isn’t at all like “Monty Python.” Where the guys in “Python” went way out into left field with their humor (a field I quite enjoy I might add), “Carry on Laughing” is a bit more straight forward in its approach.

Watching this series, I was reminded of all the great British comedies I used to catch late Sunday nights on PBS. I used to try and get my friend to watch them, but most of the time they wouldn’t. Or if they did, they would sit there with a vacant stare. Unfortunately that’s the only problem with some British comedies, or I guess I should say the problem with American audiences. British humor is often quite droll, or even worse requires you to do a bit of thinking. American audiences like it loud and in their face, with everything spelled out.

I personally enjoy the subtle nuances of intelligent humor, even when it presents itself in a bawdy or somewhat silly manner. “Carry on Laughing” delivers laughs in just such a manner, and though I can’t recommend it to just anyone, I can recommend it to those who like a little thoughtfulness in their laughter.

Episodes:
The Prisoner of Spenda
The Baron Outlook
The Sobbing Cavalier
Orgy and Bess
One in the Eye for Harold
The nine Old Cobblers
Under the Round Table
The Case of the Screaming Wrinkles
And in My Lady’s Chamber
Short Knight, Long Daze
The Case of the Coughing Parrot
Who Needs Kitchener?
Lamp-Posts of the Empire

Starring: Kenneth Connor, Sid James, Joan Sims, Barbara Windsor, Jack Douglas, Peter Butterworth, and David Lodge
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: A&E
Release Date: 5/25/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Carry On Laughing a B.