George Brain, “known to himself as The Great Brain”, has masterminded a bank robbery with his gang. With the police on their trail they stash the loot in a tree. Not a moment too soon as they are quickly apprehended and sentenced to a 15-year stretch at her majesty’s pleasure. Upon release they discover that the tree is now standing in the confines of a police station in a newly built town. Once ensconced in a neighbouring B & B their problems increase when they realise that their fellow lodger is a Police Officer. Can they retrieve the loot without raising either his suspicions or that of their landlady?
Another assured comedy from the director (Gerald Thomas), producer (Peter Rogers) and writer (Talbot Rothwell) of the Carry On movies, The Big Job is a consistently funny crime caper. From the opening bungling bank robbery, which is pulled off more by accident than design, to the numerous attempts by the gang to retrieve their loot there is plenty of fun slapstick humour performed by a cast of audience favourites.
The ever-reliable Sid James with his ever-reliable chuckle is the vain leader of the gang George Brain, but it's his partners in crime Dick Emery and Lance Percival who provide some of the best one-liners and make for an enjoyable double act. Sylvia Sims is also entertaining as George’s much put upon fiancé, Myrtle. There are a couple of amusing cameos as well, most notably from Deryck Guyler as Jim Dale’s superior officer, more interested in the musical recital he is overseeing than any criminal activity. Much to his dim-witted but enthusiastic colleague’s consternation.
This 1965 release is just what fans of the comedy films of the era would expect with a plot that allows for pretty much non-stop humour for 90 minutes, coming to a head with a funny final punchline. The Big Job could quite easily sit alongside the early Carry On’s, it even comes complete with a suitably cheeky score from another Carry On regular Eric Rogers. Definitely one to watch in a nostalgic comedy double bill alongside similarly entertaining films of the time such as Nurse On Wheels or Raising The Wind on a relaxing Sunday afternoon in front of the telly.
British director responsible for every film in the Carry On series. Started as an assistant editor before debuting with the childrens' film Circus Friends. Thriller Timelock followed, but the success of 1958’s bawdy Carry On Sergeant launched one of the most successful series in British cinema. Thomas directed 30 Carry On films up until 1978’s Carry On Emmannuelle, returning in 1992 to deliver his final film, Carry On Columbus. Other films include the Carry On-esque Nurse on Wheels and The Big Job, plus the big screen version of Bless this House.
