It may or may not be the case for some of those worldly unwise types, but for me Comedy is very much back in the building. The CARRY ON COLLECTION VOL 2, sees the return of those hilarious Carry On team as they return to our screens for more jolly fun and one liners. Taking over from where the first set left off,  we get the 5, 6, 7 and 8th films in the series or CARRY ON REGARDLESS, CARRY ON CRUISING, CARRY ON CABBY and CARRY ON JACK to me and you. The set sees Imprint polish these films off in 1080p quality, add a commentary on each and then send them out to the world! Lets take each disk and rate them shall we?

CARRY ON REGARDLESS (1961)
See Sid James become the head of temp agency, Helping Hands! He has to find all many of people on his books. They must be able to do any and every task. They seem very incapable of performing these odd jobs at first but you know these temps. They will work hard to do what they are hired for. This does move away from the ‘profession’ focus of the first four but is still driven by great chemistry, clever set ups and good one liners. There are a few issues as it still feels like the first four. The 1080p transfer is an improvement on the DVD but I will be honest, not by very much. There are star turns from Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Connor and Joan Sims. With additional work from Terence Longdon and Liz Fraser who both appear on the commentary. They are more on set, operational and chatter discussions but in the main it balances well with the films style.

A handy 7 / 10

CARRY ON CRUISING (1962)
Hey diddly dee, I love a life on the sea. Sid James is the Captain of the luxury cruise liner S.S. Happy Wanderer. It is anything but mind. With a new crew, who don’t know their port from their star board and leave many a port hole open. It isn’t long before the passengers mix with the hopeless crew, to maximum hilarity! The first colour Carry On, is one of the least funny and most ‘Staged’. There is off course great chemistry and a few really delightful scenes but it lacks an edge. That is me saying, it feels unlike others, less on the nose about the British. In this case, in travelling and their (should that be our) peculiarities. This has really been improved due to the 1080p scrub up though. The film stock was costly also, so that possibly explains why. The commentary, from new additions Dilys Laye and Lance Percival finds a lot of joy in the whole but aids little else for the film historian maybe. Still I quite enjoyed it.

A sinking 5/10

CARRY ON CABBY (1963)
Speedee Taxis is running the other cab firms out of business. Workaholic owner Charlie (Sid James) has started to neglect Peggy (Hattie Jacques), his wife. When a rival cab firm, Glamcabs takes up the challenge and makes inroads, things get difficult. They have a secret weapon, beautiful women. When they find out who is behind it though, things will never be the same. The best film on the set and in my opinion, the third best film in the series behind KYBER and SCREAMING. It has the range, wit and insight of the battle of the sexes, which are universal (and funny). The 1080p has also shined the black and white stock (thank god they used that), with that depth of visuals so lush. Liz Fraser again returns to the commentary, lovely, funny, joyfully dropping points and pieces about the film and its making.

A speedy 10/10

CARRY ON JACK (1964)
The Carry On gang are taking to the high seas again but this time its in the bold, brave days of the Armada. They have to keep the British end up. It was a time when countries were judged by their strength at sea, and men by their naval heroism or naval hilarity! Right well we return to colour and then avoid almost all the usual Carry On staff. No Sid James, Hattie Jacques or Kenneth Connor. It feels different and sometimes for the worse but there is something worth seeking out here. A great turn from Cecil Parker and another from Bernard Cribbins. Also Juliet Mills is a crush of mine from youth. There are some good points in the 1080p as it has some of the perks of a better film stock but the films high points are short in coming because it feels the DOP was indifferent to it. Bernard Cribbins commentary is a delight. Feeling out the on set, script and delivery of jokes from the film, it really is a thing of steady frolics.

A lapping 7/10

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary by Liz Fraser and Terence Longdon on Carry on Regardless
• Audio Commentary by Dilys Laye and Lance Percival on Carry on Cruising
• Audio Commentary by Liz Fraser on Carry on Cabby
• Audio Commentary by Bernard Cribbins on Carry on Jack
• Theatrical Trailers
• Stills Gallery

https://viavision.com.au/shop/carry-on-film-collection-2-blu-ray/