At its best, this is a gossipy tale of the life of some of Britain's most fondly remembered comic actors in and around the production of the Carry On films of the mid-60s. Unfortunately, it does often lose focus, drifting into extraneous detail, and not making a huge amount of its supposed premise. We get pages on a mogul's horses while the decision that Carry On Doctor won't be the last movie is skipped over in a paragraph. Good for the trivia, though.

As a huge fun of Carry on... movies I was looking for to read the book. It didn't disappoint - great information on life of the actors, full of anecdotes and and some photos. Very enjoyable read!

This is an interesting and insightful read showing what happened to the ‘Carry On…’ franchise of films when its studio chose to stop producing them. The Carry On movies are well known in the UK, having been created and distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated, but when one of the two men who created the studio died, the Carry On films stopped being made. The remaining owner of Anglo-Amalgamated wanted to move away from the comedies, but without the film studio to support them what would happen to the Carry On movies that producer Peter Rogers still wanted to create?

I’ve really enjoyed reading this book which I was drawn into from the very start. I’ve always enjoyed the Carry On movies, having watched them since I was a child, but I never knew the story behind what happened in 1967 when the films studio credits suddenly went from being Anglo-Amalgamated to Rank. The book begins by explaining where the majority of the famous cast of the movies were in their careers during 1966 and earlier, and I like how many well known names are included in the explanations of various theatre shows some of the actors were in at the time.

The book is separated into chapters, with a bit of a background for each actor before explaining a little background about how Anglo-Amalgamated came to be. I knew nothing about this and found it very interesting, the writing flowing easily through what was happening and giving you a real insight into the many characters, personalities and relationships the actors had. I like how we find out more about what happened with people like Charles Hawtry, the death of his mother being something that affected him greatly, and as the book heads into the late sixties we find out more about the problems Joan Sims and others had in securing the roles and recognition they deserved.

The book discusses a lot about a few specific movies at the time, beginning with Carry On Screaming, as this was the last film made by Anglo-Amalgamated, and I like the details we find out about the filming and actors here, although this only occurs with a few of the films around this period where the changeover from Anglo-Amalgamated to Rank takes place. The rejection of the original film studio to any more future Carry On movies was something I’d never known, but it’s interesting to read how this occurred and the difficulties producer Peter Rogers had with getting the studio Rank to take on the future films in the series, especially as Rank didn’t want to use the ‘Carry On’ name with any of the future films being made.

As the book moves on through the difficult years it does seem as if the author speculates a little in his observations over which films were the best, being a little overly critical (in my mind) in saying that none of the films were that good following Carry On Doctor. After the difficult period of the changeover from Anglo-Amalgamated to Rank, the book then wraps things up relatively quickly explaining what happened to some of the main actors in the years since, some of which I knew was sad, though the contrast between the producer’s and director’s lives later compared to that of the actors leaves you feeling sad for the actors, and those last few paragraphs summing up everything in a good way, that last line being an honest and powerful one.

The book has an index at the back and a selection of photos and prints from several different Carry On movies (and other films) which are worth looking at. Overall I have really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a fascinating insight into what happened in the middle of the Carry On franchise, at a time when it faced being shut down. And even though it has a bit of a sad ending, it’s a must read for anyone who loves the Carry On movies and for those interested in the UK film industry at this time too.

Having grown up watching the Carry On movies I was looking forward to reading this book. It truly is a deep dive into the world of Carry On and a well researched look into the lives of all of those involved. At times it felt so full of names, movies, and events that I was confused, but the book was generally well laid out and entertaining. Peeking behind the curtain made me appreciate the craft of the stars of the movies even more.

My thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword publishers for a copy of “ When The Carry On Stopped” for an honest review.

I thought this was a really nostalgic and entertaining read.! It was a series of films that I’d enjoyed watching as a child.
I loved the anecdotes and insights into the “ Carry On “ actor’s lives ,while they were starring in the films, and beyond
Some of the tales I’d heard before but there were plenty of new stories I wasn’t aware of.
After finishing this book I’ll definitely be revisiting the series

When The Carry On Stopped by Dave Ainsworth is a heartfelt and nostalgic look at the decline of the beloved Carry Onfilm series and the lives of those involved. Ainsworth blends humor with melancholy, offering an insightful tribute to the era and its fading stars. Though occasionally dwelling on minutiae, the book is a must-read for fans of British comedy and classic cinema.

An interesting book, crammed full of anecdotes and information, this nevertheless isn't really what it claims to be about.
Assuming we choose to ignore the misjudged Carry On Columbus (1992) which unwisely attempted to relaunch the long-running British comedy franchise, the Carry Ons, as we know them, came to an end with the equally misjudged Carry On Emmannuelle in 1978. But, despite the title, this book does not cover this at all. The action of the book begins in 1966, when the series was still close to its peak with the release of the Hammer horror spoof, Carry On Screaming! We never really get up to the end of the Carry Ons. The later films (bad, as they were) are barely mentioned while Emmannuelle isn't referred to at all.
Instead, we get some stuff about the middle period Carry On films: Phil Silver's difficulties filming Follow That Camel, for example. We get a lot about the rivalry between Sid James and Kenneth Williams. We get a fair bit about the general stinginess of the Carry On producers, about Joan Sims's personal unhappiness and Charles Hawtrey's alcoholism. We also get a lot of stuff about what the actors were up to at the time, such as Barbara Windsor and Bernard Bresslaw's involvement in the disastrous Lionel Bart musical, Twang!! There's also a fair amount which travels fairly wide of the subject in hand, including a surprising amount about horseracing.
As I say, it's not uninteresting. But it's also completely all over the place.
The title really is very misleading. If you actually want to learn about when the Carry Ons stopped, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

I was given a copy of Dave Ainsworth's When the Carry On Stopped from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Carry Ons are fast becoming part of the historical past. Although one or two stars remain, they fundamentally were of their time. This book, lovingly written by the witty Ainsworth, explores the lives of the ensemble cast in quite some detail. It's nostalgic and historic and about the tears of the clown mentality that so many of the Carry On cast suffered; only his love for them makes this a fitting tribute to one and all.

The first two chapters are excellent; they have great info and a wonderful zeitgeist of the Carry On stars in their daily lives. The following chapters focus a little too much on the receipts for the Carry On producers and why Carry On Screaming was a big moment for the series (the following films - Don't Lose Your Head and Follow That Camel were Carry On-less, sort of like being semi-naked really).

The writing is very zesty and showcases how Ainsworth is evidently a true fan of the series. He uses ! excessively to indicate to the reader that the Carry On universe, with its eccentric actors, petty squabbles, and trivia, is one of mirth and, at times, biting British wit. There could have been some slight edits along the way. It is UNFORGIVEABLE that he fails to mention Carry On Abroad, my absolute favourite, as he decides that in the mid-sixties, the series, as intelligent in its own absurd way, was dead forever after Carry on Doctor.

Still, there's a lot of joy to this book and I do recommend it for those intrigued by the Carry On world.

As a casual enjoyer of the Carry On films, I found When the Carry On Stopped to be a fascinating deep dive into a turning point for the series. It covers the transition from Anglo-Amalgamated to the Rank Organisation and the struggles that came with it, but what really stood out to me were the insights into the personal lives of the cast. Barbara Windsor's ill-fated stage venture, Sid James' health issues, and Joan Sims' struggles with fat shaming all add a human element to the behind-the-scenes drama. It's well-researched and engaging, offering a fresh perspective on a much-loved British institution. A must-read for Carry On fans and anyone interested in the realities of show business in the 1960s.

I grew up watching the Carry On films - they were a staple of my childhood and really capture British humour and the changing British landscape of the late 1950s-80s. They're very much a product of the time and no way would half the films have been allowed to be made these days.

Dave Ainsworth does a really well researched job at examining why the Carry On films were so successful and also what les to their decline. A lot of it was to do with the abysmal pay given to the actors who helped properly the franchise to such great heights but also the deaths of some of the most integral core group of actors and producers who really were the heart and soul of Carry On. I will say that I found the writing of this very dry at times with big chunks of secondary references that interrupted the flow of the storytelling. However, overall I could put up with this in order to get to the really interesting bulk of the story.

A very niche topic, but if you loved the Carry On Films this will definitely be of interest.

Now who does Just love these carry on films................When the Carry On Stopped by Dave Ainsworth was a brilliant book and a great book for new or old fans Plus a great book to have sitting on your coffee table, out on display out on show. This is a book that will bring back so many memories and will have you Laugh out loud when you look at the photo's/illustrations and read about the famous actors who were brilliant characters in every film. These films are my to go films when I feel Blue! It does not matter how many times you sit down and watch them they will always make you laugh.

The author Dave Ainsworth did all the characters within the Carry on films Proud!!!!
It was a joy to read .

I highly recommend this book. Superb!

Big Thank you to NetGalley, Pen and Sword and Dave Ainsworth for my ARC.

**4.5**

I had such a good time reading this as a big carry on film fan this brought back lots of memories from my childhood watching carry on movies with my Dad. I really enjoyed learning more about the films and actors and there were lots of facts I didn't know. My only complaint was the chapter Anglo is a Winner I found this one boring focusing too much on the other stuff they did rather than the carry ons themselves. I do get this was necessary to tell their journey but I didn't enjoy that part and found that chapter wanting to put the book down which took off a half star for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Pen and Sword and Dave Ainsworth for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When the Carry on Stopped is a peculiar book and, for me, a disappointing one. It is full of stories and anecdotes, mainly taken from the autobiographies of the protagonists, but it's repetitively written and poorly edited. The main problem is the title - When The Carry On Stopped - which derives from the fact that after Carry On Screaming in 1966, the series moved to The Rank Organisation. Rank produce 3 Carry on films in 1967 (we won't argue about the titles), which doesn't seem like any kind of stopping. In fact, there were 15 more Carry On films before the original series ended with (the best forgotten) Carry On Emmanuelle in 1978. So the title makes no sense. And Carry On.. Up the Khyber, which seemed to on TV permanently in the 1980s and which Ainsworth calls "the last truly great Carry On film" (we might argue about the "great") was made in 1968. Strange. There's so much left unexplored in the book - the unfulfilled lives and early deaths of so many of the central figures (from Sid James and Joan Sims onwards), the fact that Carry on Doctor was one of four British films in the top ten releases of 1968 along with Up the Junction, Poor Cow, and Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. Is that not worthy of comment? Instead, we are told that the models of car that the Carry on Team drove in 1967 was "more than a little illuminating", but not what that illuminates. Strange again. The tone of the writing is also uneven. Does it help to be told that four (non-Carry On) Rank films in the early 1970s "died on their collective arses"? And shouldn't that be "collective arse" anyway?

I’ll make no apology for saying, as a starter, that I like the Carry On films. As a child in the late 1950s, I went to the cinema every week. and Carry Ons and Norman Wisdom were the films I enjoyed most. Obviously it was the silliness that appealed, I was too young to understand the innuendos, but even now, I find them entertaining and have boxed sets of both. Carry Ons were of their time. I don’t agree with revisionist history that changes content or excludes material because it’s no longer deemed correct. I would far prefer the innocence of that era to the dark waters of material available online at the touch of a button.

Dave Ainsworth’s insight into the franchise is fascinating. It’s a great slice of social and film history and I enjoyed the detail he provides about each of the cast. Most made their name through these films but were poorly recompensed and this caused anger and resentment. I thought the ‘ tight as a camel’s arse in a sandstorm’ reference to Rogers meanness was unnecessary. It brings down the tone of the text and does the author no favours. The narrative is easy to read and absolutely packed with trivia. There’s a great collection of promo posters and film stills at the end, along with a comprehensive index and each chapter has notes with reference to source material. I really enjoyed this dip into the story behind pad the franchise. It’s a niche area but Mr Ainsworth has served it well with this well researched and comprehensive overview. My thanks to Pen and Sword and the author fir a review copy, close to publication date it went to the top of my tbr and I read in a single sitting.

The author's obvious affection for the Carry On performers enthuses every single page with vibrant humour and charm. His knowledge of their lives and careers is encyclopedic and he offers a poignant commentary on triumphs and tragedies and the inevitable clashes of personality amongst such talented but fragile egos. He also clearly understands the nuts and bolts of getting films into production in England at a time when cinema admissions were plummeting and financing ever more difficult to attract.
I have worked in the film industry for most of my life and met many of the artistes, producers and distributors mentioned in this book. It's nostalgic, honest, and warmly embraces those talented performers whose stars shone so brightly in the Carry On films.