The lowdown: The 'Carry on' team sent up a lot of film genres in its early years, including westerns and spy films, so it
was inevitable that the horror genre would get the irreverent 'Carry on' treatment. 'Carry on Screaming' stars Harry H. 
Corbett as Detective Sergeant Bung, in his only appearance in the series. He investigates a series of crimes in which
young women are mysteriously disappearing. Likenesses of them just as mysteriously turn up in the form of shop 
mannequins... Bung's investigation leads him to a sinister house that is home to Doctor Watt (Kenneth Williams) and
his sister Valeria (Fenella Fielding). Bung also obtains assistance from forensic scientist Doctor Fettle (Jon Pertwee),
who regenerates an amputated finger with surprising results.

Jon Pertwee is again brilliant as the police scientist Doctor Fettle, proving yet again what a wonderful character he was,
and of course how great he was at stealing scenes. His performance was the highlight of this film for me, and it is a pity
that his 'Carry on' appearances were always so brief. This was to be Jon's last 'Carry on' film until 1992, with 'Carry on
Columbus'.

The verdict: If you enjoy horror films of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly low-budget ones such as the famous 'Hammer
Horror' series, you should enjoy 'Screaming'. It sends up a variety of horror films, including Dracula, Frankenstein and
Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The humour is quite good as well, although the absence of Sid James was very noticeable,
and the House of Wax-style women-being-turned-into-mannequins idea was also used by the writers of 'Get Smart'.


    Quote:
  Fettle: (looking in book): 'Homo Gargantuoso... Homo... Ah yes... well... 
    That's the wrong Homo.'   (Turns page.)   'Ah, Homo Gargantuoso.'
  Video Clips:
Homo Gargantuoso  (2.7mb)
Oddbod Junior  (3.0mb)


 
 
 
 
 

 


<< Back to the Jon Pertwee page