Carry On Matron is a 1972 British comedy film, the 23rd release in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). It was released in May 1972. It was directed by Gerald Thomas and features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Connor. This was the last Carry On film for Terry Scott after appearing in seven films, and for Kenneth Cope after appearing in two.
Along with the next film in the series (Carry On Abroad, released later in 1972), it features the highest number of the regular Carry On team. The only regular members missing are Peter Butterworth – who was due to play Freddy but was unable because of other work engagements – and Jim Dale. Butterworth returned in a major role in Abroad, and Dale would return belatedly for Carry On Columbus in 1992.
Contents
Plot
Sid Carter is the cunning head of a criminal gang that includes the longhaired drip Ernie Bragg, the cheeky Freddy, and Sid's honest son, Cyril. Cyril does not want a life of crime, but is emotionally blackmailed by his father into going along with his scheme to rob Finisham Maternity Hospital of its stock of contraceptive pills and sell them abroad. Cyril reluctantly disguises himself as a new female nurse in order to case the hospital. Assumed to be one of the new student nurses who have just arrived, he is assigned to share a room with the shapely blonde nurse Susan Ball. Unfortunately for Cyril, he also catches the eye of the hospital lothario, Dr Prodd.
Sir Bernard Cutting, the hypochondriac registrar of the hospital, is convinced he's undergoing a sex change. When he consults the nutty Dr F. A. Goode, Goode dishes out psychiatric mumbo-jumbo, stating that Cutting merely wants to prove his manhood, and Cutting decides he is in love with Matron. Matron, on the other hand, has more than enough to contend with on the wards, with the gluttonous patient Mrs Tidey who seems more interested in eating than producing a baby, and her long-suffering British Rail worker husband who continually hangs around the waiting room.
When Cyril goes back to Prodd's room to get a map of the hospital, Prodd attempts to get intimate, only to be knocked across the room. Prodd and Cyril are called out on an emergency when lovely film star Jane Darling goes into labour, but as Cyril knocks Prodd out in the ambulance, he is forced to deal with the actress's triplets being born. Jane Darling is delighted with Cyril and hails "the nurse" a heroine for her efforts, bringing fame to the hospital. Susan uncovers Cyril's disguise, but as she is in love with him, does not reveal the truth.
The much put-upon Sister desperately tries to keep the ward in order, while Cutting's secretary, Miss Banks keeps her employer in check, but nothing can cool his pent-up desire to prove himself as a man, and it's Matron who's in his sights. The criminal gang don disguises—Sid dresses as the foreign "Dr Zhivago" and Ernie as a heavily expectant mum—but the crime is thwarted by the mothers-to-be. The medical hierarchy's threat to call the police is halted when Sid reveals the heroine of the day is a man, and the hospital realise they would suffer nationwide humiliation if anyone found out. Cyril weds his shapely nurse Susan, and Matron finally gets her doctor.
Crew
Screenplay – Talbot Rothwell
Music – Eric Rogers
Production manager – Jack Swinburne
Art director – Lionel Couch
Editor – Alfred Roome
Director of photography – Ernest Steward
Camera operator – James Bawden
Continuity – Joy Mercer
Assistant director – Bert Batt
Sound recordists – Danny Daniel & Ken Barker
Make-up – Geoffrey Rodway
Hairdresser – Stella Rivers
Costume designer – Courtenay Elliott
Assistant art director – William Alexander
Set dresser – Peter Lamont
Dubbing editor – Peter Best
Titles – GSE Ltd
Processor – Rank Film Laboratories
Assistant editor – Jack Gardner
Wardrobe mistresses – Vi Murray & Maggie Lewin
Producer – Peter Rogers
Director – Gerald Thomas
Filming and locations
Filming dates – 11 October-26 November 1971
Interiors:
Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
Exteriors:
Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, Berkshire
The White House, Denham, Buckinghamshire
St Mary's Church, Denham, Buckinghamshire
Reception
In a 2018 retrospective on the series, the British Film Institute named Carry On Matron as one of the series' five best films, alongside Carry On Cleo (1964), Carry On Screaming! (1966), Carry On Up the Khyber (1968), and Carry On Camping (1969).