Excellent but underrated film

Absolutely the worst movie.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It's agents for BOSH vs. agents for STENCH, which will give you some idea of the sophisticated wit on display in Carry-on Spying. The movie is a not particularly funny (or clever) parody of early 60's spy movies, with the best parts being Kenneth William's nasal delivery and Charles Hawtrey's brief disguise as a French bicycle racer. Less sniggering and fewer double-entendres than in later entries in the series (perhaps due to the absence of Sid James) although Barbara Windsor (Daphne Honeybutt, admittedly a great Bond-girl name) does get stripped down to her undies at one point. Lots of in-jokes for cinephiles, but generally only worth watching for fans of the Carry-on series or die-hard fans of parody.

I cannot believe at the time of writing this review this film has an average of 6.2, this is a 9 surely. Over 50 years on this remains a hilarious James Bond spoof. Banned from using characters from the James Bond franchise, Gerald Thomas creates Agent Charlie bind, 00-0. Kenneth Williams leads a team of British spies who must take on the STENCH criminals and capture the stolen formula of Professor Stark, who was blown up by the Milk man at the start. Spying stands out from the other early Carry on films by being very camp, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey are on fine form. Barbara Windsor has just finished playing Gloria in the Rag Trade, she makes a great start to her legendary Carry on career, by playing Daphne Honeybutt, although it would be 3 years before she'd return as Sandra May in Carry on Doctor. Dilys Laye is gorgeous in this film and is uncredited for singing The Magic of love, but it was actually her voice. A real feel good film, and one that will make all the family smile.

Carry On Spying is an OK movie with some funny scenes,but I didn't find it quite as entertaining as some Carry On films.I've seen many I always quite enjoyed them,especially Carry On Screaming,with was very funny,but with a great horror spoof to it as well.I enjoy Carry On films,they remind me of Monty Python,although a lot more innocent (also,not as good as Monty PAython).Although I think Carry On did a terrific job spoofing horror,I don't think they did as well in this spoofing spy movies.Agent Sompkins and his three trainees are on a mission to find a top secret formula that got stolen by a society called STENCH.

I saw one or two examples of this series when they were released and found the amusing. Now that I'm a crotchety old curmudgeon I don't find them so funny, but it may not be the fault of farces like this. It just takes more to amuse me.As it stands, this isn't too bad. A trio of newly graduated spies are sent in the care of Kenneth Williams first to Vienna (nods to "The Third Man") and then to Algiers ("The Maltese Falcon" and a couple of other allusions). Surprisingly few references to the immensely popular James Bond novels and films of the period. The spying here is more old fashioned.There are a couple of laughs in it and the gang is trying hard to please, but it's rough going with such raw material. A man walking along the street steps into an open manhole and disappears with a shriek. Ha ha.Williams uses a peculiar accent and juts his jaw more than usual, as if showing off that grin full of gleaming chiclets. I can't imagine there are many people like the giddy blond, Barbara Windsor. Four people could play a hand of bridge on her bosom, which seems to defy gravity.Not the worst of the lot by any means.