Carry On Admiral (1957)

60% User Rating

1h 19min

"With oceans of laughs!"

Two friends get drunk and decide to switch identities. One is a Parliamentary Secretary, and the other is the captain of a ship. The former's lack of sea knowledge causes several catastrophes, including torpedoing the First Lord of The Admiralty. The grass is always greener.... In this British comedy, two drunken comrades find out the truth of that saying when they decide to trade places for a while. One of the boozers is a public relations man who knows nothing about sailing, while the other is a captain for the Royal Navy. Comic mayhem ensues as the hapless "captain" tries to run his ship and follow orders.

Val GuestDirector

Cast

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David Tomlinson

Tom Baker

Peggy Cummins

Susan Lashwood

Brian Reece

Lieutenant Commander Peter Fraser

Eunice Gayson

Jane Godfrey

A.E. Matthews

Admiral Sir Maximillian Godfrey, K.C.B.

Joan Sims

Mary

Lionel Murton

Psychiatrist

Reginald Beckwith

Receptionist

Desmond Walter-Ellis

Flag Lieutenant Willy Oughton-Formby

Ronald Shiner

Salty Simpson

Peter Coke

Lieutenant Lashwood

Derek Blomfield

Sub-Lieutenant Dobson

Tom Gill

Petty Officer

Howard Williams

Sub-Lieutenant

Joan Hickson

Mother

Toke Townley

Steward

Arthur Lovegrove

Orderly

Ronald Adam

First Sea Lord

Sam Kydd

Attendant

Philip Ashley

First Officer (uncredited)

Alfie Bass

Orderly (uncredited)

Richard Duke

Crewman (uncredited)

Roy Everson

Seaman Jones (uncredited)

Harold Goodwin

Parker (uncredited)

Everley Gregg

Housekeeper (uncredited)

David Hannaford

Alfie (uncredited)

Victor Harrington

Naval Officer (uncredited)

James Hayter

Sir Henry Tomkinson (uncredited)

Walter Horsbrugh

Night Receptionist (uncredited)

Emrys Leyshon

Radio Operator (uncredited)

George Moon

Casey (uncredited)

Donald Pickering

Second Officer (uncredited)

Jimmy Ray

Bert (uncredited)

James Sharkey

Despatch Rider (uncredited)

John Timberlake

Visitor on HMS Sherwood (uncredited)

Neil Wilson

Seaman Washing Deck (uncredited)

Reviews (1)

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CinemaSerf

Rating 60%

August 27, 2023

I bet the current boss of the Royal Navy would be rather envious at the start of this film as we are taken on a brief tour of a fleet that is somewhat larger than the one the UK has now! Parliamentarian "Tom" (David Tomlinson) is on an advance recce for his boss when he encounters old pal, and ship's captain, "Peter" (Brian Reece) and thanks to a mix up from chambermaid "Mary" (Joan Sims) they start mixing gin and whisky, swapping rooms, jackets and ending up steaming for the ultimate hangover. Next morning, they find themselves quite literally in each other's shoes causing confusion and mayhem - even firing a torpedo - before "Susan" (Peggy Cummins) and "Jane" (Eunice Gayson) realise that something is amiss and decide they need to rectify things before doddery Admiral "Godfrey" (AE Matthews) initiates an whole scale review of the service - and quite possibly starts a war! It's gently comedic with a decent effort from Tomlinson steering it away from the worst excesses of farce and imbuing a degree of the post wartime spirit quite warmly. It's more of a chuckle than a guffaw, but moves along quite quickly and nicely reminds us of what used to make us laugh.