Carry On Abroad

Infobox Film
name = Carry on Abroad


image_size = 82px
caption = Carry On Abroad DVD
director = Gerald Thomas
producer = Peter Rogers
writer = Talbot Rothwell
narrator =
starring = Sid James
Kenneth Williams
Charles Hawtrey
Joan Sims
Peter Butterworth
Kenneth Connor
Bernard Bresslaw
Barbara Windsor
Hattie Jacques
June Whitfield
Jimmy Logan
Ray Brooks
Gail Grainger
Carol Hawkins
Sally Geeson

music = Eric Rogers
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Rank Organisation
released = 1972
runtime = 88 mins
country = flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
language = English
budget = Probably About £100,000 - £200,000
preceded_by = Carry On Matron
followed_by = Carry On Girls
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0069847

"Carry On Abroad" is the twenty fourth Carry On film, released in 1972. It was the last Carry On film featuring Charles Hawtrey in the cast.

Plot Summary

The film opens with frequent holidaymaker and pub landlord Vic Flange (Sid James) openly flirting with the sassy Sadie Tomkins (Barbara Windsor) as his battleaxe wife Cora (Joan Sims) looks on with disdain. Suddenly their clumsy friend Harry (Jack Douglas) enters the pub and chats to Cora. Jack asks Vic about his holiday to Elsbels (a pun on the slang expression "Hell's Bells"). Vic tells him he is going on a 'Wundatours' package trip to the Spanish resort of Elsbels. Cora says she's not going because she hates flying. After hearing Vic is going to Elsbels, Harry let's slip that Sadie is going as well, and she and Vic act as though it is a coincidence. Cora, however, sees through the lie. After last orders, she confronts her husband and he acts innocent. After a heated fight Cora announces she will escort Vic to Elsbels, much to his chagrin.

The next day, the crawling Stuart Farquhar (Kenneth Williams), the representitive of Wundatours, gathers the holidaymakers at the coach. The sultry Moira Plunkett (Gail Grainger) accompanies him, clearly attracted to him. The other holidaymakers include the prudish Evelyn Blunt (June Whitfield), and her long-suffering husband (Kenneth Connor). Sadie arrives and attracts the attention of brash Scotsman Bert Conway, and the drunken mummy's boy (Charles Hawtrey), Eustace Tuttle. At first all seems to be going according to plan and they set off to Elsbels.

Problems become apparent when the group arrives at Mssr. Pepe's (Peter Butterworth) hotel, which is not even finished. For some unknown reason, the builders have abandoned the Palace Hotel without completing the extra five storeys to the hotel. Pepe and his foul-mouthed dragon of a wife, Floella (Hattie Jacques) have no food or staff, and Pepe is forced to masquerade as the porter, the manager and the doorman. He is also unable to pronounce Mr Farquhar's name and refers to him as "Mr Facky-Arse". As well as being unfinished, the hotel also seems to host a manner of mischief-makers. For instance, Miss Plunkett turns on her taps only to find they produce sand; drawers have no bottoms and plugs explode once switched on. Nevertheless, Stuart is determined to ensure that everyone has a good time.

Dinner at the hotel is less than palatable. Vic and Cora are seated with the Blunts, and Vic decides to use this opportunity to mock Mrs Blunt's prim attitude. When he offers wine, she replies she "tried it once and didn't like it". He offers a cigarette, only to find the answer is "I tried it once and didn't like it." Vic remarks that this is strange, and Mrs Blunt says her daughter is just the same. Vic answers "Your only child I presume," and lets loose his trademark "filthy laugh". Stanley Blunt is reduced to fits of laughter. Dinner is interuppted by a swarm of mosquitos that drive the guests to despair.

The next day is no better. Vic's renewed attempts to romance Sadie are thwarted by Cora and by Sadie's new love interest Bert Conway. Stanley Blunt is becoming enamoured with Cora, who is not happy with this. When the group are taken on an excursion, Stanley ensures his wife is left behind so that he can spend time with Cora. Upon arriving in the squalid town square, Vic tries some of the local "Liquera por l'amoura" love potion. He is reduced to a lecherous drunk and is able to see through women's clothing. Meanwhile, Eustace has offended Madame Fifi, owner of the local strip tease bar, by playing leapfrog with her girls. Outraged, Eustace attacks the club with a machete, prompting Bert and Vic to save him. Upon finding out where her husband is, Cora also lays siege to Madame Fifi, and it quickly dissolves into the whole tour group being involved in a public riot. They are arrested and spend the night in the cells.

The next day, Stuart attempts to make amends with the police, then insults him and demands to see the chief of police. It turns out the man he has just offended is the chief of police. Vic tries his luck. He asks what they are charged with and what they can do. The Chief of Police tells them they are charged with assault upon the girls of Madame Fifi, resulting in a serious loss of her business. Vic insults Madame Fifi, referring to her as "a cheekin' old boiler who runs the local broken down baudy house." The Chief of Police icily informs him that Madame Fifi is his sister. When all hope is lost, Miss Plunkett seduces the policeman and secures their freedom.

Mssr Pepe organises a leaving party to cheer everyone up. They desolately attend the dreary party, and each add their own bottle of the Liquera por l'amoura to the punch. Even Mr and Mrs Blunt have abandoned their frigid ways and are now a happy and loved-up couple who have revived their sex life. Pepe has not touched the punch and therefore is the only one to know that the hotel is crumbling before their eyes due to a hevay storm. Pepe attempts to warn everyone but they mistake his cries for help for sexual innuendos. When everyone retires to bed for wild sex, Pepe realises everyone must leave before they are buried under the ruin. He runs throughout the hotel screaming "Abandon Hotel!", and the hotel collapses.

Luckily, everyone has survived. Vic and Cora are now a happy couple, as are Bert and Sadie and Mr and Mrs Blunt. Stuart now works in Vic's pub. The film ends with the tour group reuniting in Vic's pub for a spot of fun and dance...and all of them have come armed with Liquera por l'amoura.

External links

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* [http://www.thewhippitinn.com/carry_on_films/carry_on_abroad/"Carry On Abroad" at The Whippit Inn]