JohnHowardReid
Although he has gained almost legendary fame, the highwayman, Dick Turpin (1706-1739), was not actually a romantic figure at all. Just a common thief, without scruples or mercy, who thoroughly deserved to be hanged – and was! However, this film has no relationship to the historical Dick Turpin at all. In fact, it is actually an amusing spoof of Walt Disney's 1963 version of Doctor Syn (starring Patrick McGoohan as the bogus vicar and George Cole as his sexton) – a fact that was not lost on the Disney Organization who managed to delay the movie's U.S.A. release for nearly six months. Sid James has a right royal time in both his characterizations (Dick and the vicar) and is enthusiastically assisted by the petite Barbara Windsor. Kenneth Williams is also in his element as the incompetent captain of the Bow Street Runners, and here he is ably assisted in idiocy by Jack Douglas who had small roles in a few earlier entries, but, given the opportunity, really rises to the occasion in this one. Joan Sims is also on hand with a company of delightful "birds"! All told, this colorful spoof is not half as amusing as Don't Lose Your Head. Too much time is wasted with James in his "serious" identity and Hattie Jacques is a bore – not her fault, it's a boring, superfluous and totally obvious role. Nevertheless, this film is still an absolutely must-see entry for Carry On fans.
Jackson Booth-Millard
The Carry On films rely almost entirely on innuendo with character names and titles, and this is one is I suppose memorable for it. Set in the 19th Century, this spoofs the story of highwayman Dick Turpin and his terrorising of the countryside around Upper Dencher robbing people in their carriages of all their riches, and clothes. 'Big Dick' Turpin (Sid James, in his final film of the series, before his death), aka Reverend Flasher, along with his assistants like Harriet (Barbara Windsor), is the only highwayman unable to be captured. Sir Roger Daley (Bernard Bresslaw) assigns Captain Desmond Fancey (Kenneth Williams) and Sergeant Jock Strapp (Jack Douglas) to put an end to Turpin's escapades. Captain Fancey doesn't for one minute believe Reverand Flasher, helping them, could be Turpin, so of course he, the Sergeant and the Constable (Kenneth Connor) aren't getting anywhere. Also starring Hattie Jacques as Martha Hoggett, Joan Sims as Madame Desirée, Peter Butterworth as Tom 'Doc' Scholl, Patsy Rowlands as Mrs. Giles and Bill Maynard as Bodkin. Some of the dialogue was funny, but not much of the sight gags were that funny, but at least the cast are still pretty reliable. Okay!
w22nuschler
Sid James plays Dick Turbin in his final appearance in the Carry On films. He plays a bandit whose robs people in England in the the year 1750. Kenneth Williams is in charge of catching him. Bernard Bresselaw plays Sir Roger Daley and he basically is Kenneth's boss and keeps the pressure on him to capture Sid. Sid James also plays Reverend Flasher. Kenneth talks with him about his plan to stake out The Old Cock Inn, where the crooks usually hang out. This movie has too many dirty references to a man's privates for my taste. I enjoy the earlier films more because they were more tame. I did not care for the portrayal of the Reverend. It's not funny to make dirty jokes in a church or anywhere else for that matter. Carry on Columbus had a real stupid scene with church members in black Klan outfits. I still enjoyed Sid James as a bandit and he was sorely missed after this.
paul-johnson107
Well what a good Carry On Film for Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Hattie Jacques to retire from the series on.The Carry On team produced some great historical comedies but this was the one for me personally. Sid James was made for the part of Dick Turpin/Reverend Flasher. Usual cast together for one last time, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor, Bernard Bresslaw. the whole gang.What a good idea to do a historical comedy set around Dick Turpin, one of England's most notorious highwaymen of the 16th century. The Carry on Gang have done the series proud. In his last carry on appearance Sid James still manages to steal the film as his character. LAST OF THE GREAT CARRY ONS! The series began to decline after this one, one reason NO SID James!
AD
