This movie proves once again that the English have a devastatingly sharp wit combined with great slapstick humor. It also proved to this old American that despite differences of accents and uniforms that early life in the Army was pretty much the same in both Her Majesty's service and in the US Army in the 1950s. This is my first time viewing of what I gather is a classic series in Great Britain of "Carry On" movies and I came to it quite late -and intend to look for later movies in the series. I urge Americans of any age to give themselves a treat and watch this movie.(BTW,everyone in this movie is just great in their roles -watch and see what I mean. Fans of James Bond movies also get to see Shirley Eaton (remember "Goldfinger" and the beautiful girl coated in gold?)My vote is a ringing 10.

Another early outing for the 'Carry On' franchise featuring most of the familiar gang. Although there's the usual dose of sexual innuendo - hardly to surprise in a military movie - the descent into toilet humour has yet to appear. Most of the jokes are of a military prescription, with a group of disparate conscripts drafted-in for national service. William Hartnell gives a believable turn as a sergeant hoping to pass-out his best-drilled company of soldiers prior to imminent retirement, only to find himself confronted by the misfits from hell.The two Kenneths are in full flight, Williams as the campy hauteur that he plays to perfection, whilst Connor gags-up as a lovelorn hypochondriac. Bob Monkhouse features as a man conscripted on his wedding day. There's good old Hattie Jacques as authoritarian medic, and also - unusually - Dora Bryan working in the NAAFI. Some of the humour will be lost on a modern audience because of the passage of time since its release, especially the military jokes, as most people today have no experience of the armed forces beyond the abstract medium of news bulletins. However, the continuing appeal of 'Dad's Army' suggests that there is still an interest in vintage military bullshine.It's definitely one of the funnier 'Carry On's'.The franchise was pretty much a busted flush by 1965.

I have seen several Carry ons such as "Carry on Camping" and I must say I found them rather under whelming. The comedy was very forced, "contrived" would be under stating it. "Carry on Camping" worked too hard for laughs and all of them vulgar. Now don't get me wrong I love vulgarity and earthy humour but the later films sometimes worked too hard. They often look rather tired and old. Now Carry on Sergeant was the first and this is a different story all together. I was really surprised and delighted. It was beautiful. The other writers have covered the plot really well but all I would add that the movie has a lovely sentimentality that surprised me. The ending is genuinely moving and I defy anyone not to shed a tear.While it is very funny, it is warm and understated. The characters are actually well developed and the situations are not as contrived. The female characters are more developed and less irritating and forced. Dora Bryan, the West End Dolly Levi, is brilliant.The film moves along at a gentle pace and I found it to be nostalgic and utterly charming. The acting is top notch. The first time I saw it I was very young but I can recall laughing every time I saw the great Charles Hawtrey. What a wonderfully gifted actor and no one can play camp as well as him. Theses were sad days. You could be camp but you could never be gay. Ay least some things are better.

As a bunch of new recruits comes in a drill sergeant bets his comrades that he will produce the top platoon before he retires in ten weeks time. Unfortunately for him he ends up saddled with a grand bunch of losers who are probably drive him in sane well before he ever retires.This is the first of the Carry On films, the long running series of low brow British comedies that poke fun at everyone and everything. Most of the jokes are secondary to the plot, or rather the plot is simply an excuse to move the cast from one gag set up to the next, and really isn't important.I had never knowingly watched a Carry On film until tonight. I'm not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing. Certainly the cast is game, its lead by William Hartnell as the Sergeant of the title. Hartnell is best known as the first Dr Who, and he made a career out of playing this sort of part. He is joined by a stalwart cast of British comedians,who are all expert at what they do, which is produce a great many laughs (I have no idea who any of them are even though all of their faces are very familiar from other films and TV shows.) I'm torn about the film. Taken as a series of set pieces this is a screamingly funny movie. The jokes are the sort that are not only laugh out loud funny, but will make you laugh so hard that you'll go light headed. On the basis of the jokes its easy to understand why this film spawned 31 films, several TV specials and stage shows. Unfortunately as a movie, with a plot this film is the pits. Its awful. None of it really hangs together as the numerous character plot lines cross and recross to very little effect. It almost sinks the movie since the good stuff clashes badly with the bad stuff.Still I haven't laughed this hard in a good while, which makes rating this movie difficult.If you're a fan of British comedy its worth a look. Its also worth a look if you like military humor or don't mind a comedy that has a a bad plot line, but very funny jokes. Rent it or borrow it, but don't buy it (at least until you've seen it an know if you like it).