Carry On Cabby

Carry On Cabby, written by Talbot Rothwell (his first Carry On script) and directed by Gerald Thomas, is a hilarious comedy that takes the audience on a bumpy ride through the rivalry between two competing taxi services—one traditional, one rebellious and glamorous.

The seventh film in the iconic Carry On series, Cabby takes a refreshing departure from the usual antics of the franchise. Whereas the previous entries often focused on new recruits trying to impress their exasperated superiors, this film shifts focus to the marriage of its protagonists, highlighting the tensions that arise when work takes precedence over personal relationships.

The story, originally planned as a non-Carry On film titled Call Me A Cab, revolves around Charlie Hawkins (Sid James), the owner of Speedee Taxis, a thriving cab company in a suburban town. While the business flourishes, Charlie’s wife Peggy (Hattie Jacques) is constantly sidelined by his devotion to his work, culminating in her spending their fifteenth wedding anniversary alone. This snub, the final straw in a long line of straws, drives Peggy to take matters into her own hands. In partnership with Flo (the wife of one of Charlie’s drivers – played by Esma Cannon in her final screen appearance), Peggy opens a rival company—Glamcabs.

Glamcabs is no ordinary taxi service. It’s staffed by a team of attractive women dressed in provocative uniforms and driving brand new Ford Cortina Mk1s, offering a mix of beauty and efficiency that quickly steals business from Charlie's established company. Charlie, oblivious to the fact that Peggy is behind the operation (even though it's all funded by her using his money), responds with a campaign of sabotage leading to a full scale feud.

The situation escalates when Charlie enlists one of his drivers, Ted Watson (Kenneth Connor), to infiltrate the Glamcabs operation by disguising him as one of the glamorous drivers. However, Glamcabs has a spy of its own in the form of Sally Green (the canteen manager at Speedee Taxis played by Liz Fraser), who informs Peggy of Charlie's plan, allowing her and her team to thwart his invasion.

In a final twist, when Peggy and Sally are hijacked by crooks while transporting the week's takings, it’s Charlie—along with his Speedee Taxis network—who comes to the rescue, restoring both the company’s fortunes and domestic harmony with military precision. The final hijacking sequence is a great example of how Carry On films mix absurdity with action, as Charlie and his drivers save the day.

Carry On Cabby is both a funny and light-hearted exploration of gender roles, and despite the rivalry between husband and wife, the film never loses its warmth. Charlie’s eventual recognition of Peggy’s value - both as a businesswoman and as his wife - creates a satisfying and uplifting conclusion to the comedy.

Sid James, in the role of Charlie Hawkins, creates a memorable character that would become a staple of the Carry On series. Playing the part straight, James brings a layer of realism to Charlie’s character, which allows the comedy to come from the situations he finds himself in rather than exaggerated antics. James went on to play a cab driver in the BBC series Taxi! later that year.

Hattie Jacques, as Peggy, shines in a role that demands both strength and vulnerability. As a woman who is both frustrated by her husband’s behaviour and empowered by her decision to start Glamcabs, Peggy is a character with depth and determination although she eventually comes to regret her decision and the impact it’s having on Charlie. Jacques plays Peggy with grace and a touch of exasperation, making her character’s transformation from neglected housewife to self-assured businesswoman, both believable and entertaining.

One noticeable absence from the film is Kenneth Williams who declined to take part. His role, Allbright, was rewritten into a somewhat smaller part for Norman Chappell. Carry On regular Charles Hawtrey, as the clumsy and naïve PintPot, delivers some of the film's most memorable lines and physical comedy. His endearing lack of competence is exemplified in his classic line, “Ooh, I could punish myself!” Also appearing in the film is Jim Dale who would later become a Carry On regular, Amanda Barrie who starred as Cleopatra in Carry On Cleo and Bill Owen (Last of the Summer Wine).

Carry On Cabby is a classic entry in the Carry On series, offering plenty of laughs and a charming cast of characters. With its mix of slapstick humour, witty dialogue, and playful social commentary, Carry On Cabby, probably the best of the early black and white Carry Ons, remains a delightful comedy that fans of British humour will thoroughly enjoy.