The last of the four Confessions films is about Timmy and Sid running a holiday camp, basically a summer camp for the whole family. If you've seen any or all of the previous films in this series, you'll get just what you expect: General silliness, dumb gags and nudity at the drop of a hat. There was a British show called Hi-De-Hi which was also set in a holiday camp, but that show had polish and well developed characters, while this film is just an excuse for sexual antics. That in and of itself is not bad, but the film doesn't try very hard to be anything but a sex comedy. I'm sure the film maker wasn't looking to make a masterpiece but I just found this so-so at best. Mostly for lovers of the sex comedy genre and for anyone who feels nostalgic about the film.
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crossbow010622 May 2011
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I am a fan of the whole series of movies, but this movie had a different feel to it. I would say it was more like the on the buses holiday movie but obviously more naughty. If you are a fan of the carry on series of movies or have seen the adventures of, series of movies then I would recommend seeing this movie and the others too.
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To be fair there are funny moments, namely that we watch this in the knowledge that Sid is Cherie Blair's Dad and that Askwith and Co would have frozen their parts off as it was filmed in the winter (a fact that Askwith acknowledges in the voice over).
It's like some surreal time frame now, everyone smokes fags, Askwith is unintentionally racist with "Blackbird" (their listing's not mine!) but still has time for some interracial bonding later, proving that lust conquers all. Probably quite risqué back then.
Also it's weird to watch this and realise none of the ladies are surgically enhanced! Thats quite refreshing and earn's it a an extra point. -
lazarillo8 February 2009"Timmy Lea" (Robin Askwith) and his philandering brother-in-law (Anthony Booth) from "Confessions of a Window Cleaner" (and two other "Confessions" movies I haven't seen) are working together once again, this time running a holiday camp called "Camp Funfrall". Their jobs are on the line, however, when the camp gets a new uptight owner. The brother-in-law tries to redeem them by sponsoring a beauty contest for the unusually large amount of nubile lovelies that patronize the camp, but his efforts are jeopardized by Timmy's customary habit of falling into various madcap sexual situations, which always seems to result in him running naked around the camp (to the point where he is dubbed "the Camp Streaker"). And to make matters even worse, Timmy's goofy parents and sister also show up to add to the zaniness.
Compared to "Confessions of a Window Cleaner" this British sex comedy has a little less emphasis on sex and a little more on comedy. Unfortunately, the comedy isn't nearly as funny as in the earlier entry, mostly because Timmy's hilarious parents don't have nearly as large of role. The lovely Linda Hayden (who played his fiancée in the first movie) returns as a different character, a French co-worker. Hayden's French accent is none-too-convincing, but she's never clad more than scantily, and often not at all. The same is true of the other women at the camp, including a black girl (to whom Timmy makes some very politically incorrect comments that nevertheless don't dissuade her from going to bed with him), an older married woman (Penny Meredith), and two giggly teenage friends (Carol Ellis and Sue Upton) . As usual, however, Askwith himself spends more time in the buff than any of the women. (I sometimes suspect that this series, with pretty-boy, Mick Jagger-lookalike Askwith, was aimed more at a 70's British version of a "bi-curious" audience as opposed to an entirely straight one).
If you liked the first movie (like I kind of did), this is not as good, but it's not necessarily bad. If you didn't like the first one though, you'll probably find this one even worse. -
glenn-29923 August 2008I saw this film in 1977, aged 21, stoned, sitting up the back of the Odeon High Street Kensington, with some friends, smoking. And we laughed. We laughed a lot actually. Seeing it on DVD, in my lounge at home, aged 52, on a cold Friday night, by myself - well, surprise, surprise, it wasn't funny anymore. Not only is it of it's time but also of it's place in history. It's cheap, written without much imagination, with no real laughs and with some (by 2008 standards) cringe inducing racism and sexism. But for all that, like Carry On and Doctor films, it is remarkably easy to watch and has a fascinating British charm all of it's own. I suppose the appeal, at it's basic level - is simple. It says that even if you're ignorant, thick and ugly, you only have to smile and sexy women will fall all over you, even to the extent of lining up, five at a time, to hide in your wardrobe. If only real life were like that.
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Leofwine_draca23 February 2016I admit a certain affection for the CONFESSIONS... series of '70s sex comedy, which perfectly captured working class attitudes during that decade, much as the later CARRY ONs did. CONFESSIONS OF A WINDOW CLEANER and CONFESSIONS OF A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR are my favourites, with Askwith's professions lending themselves perfectly to a series of episodic shenanigans.
The last of the quartet is CONFESSIONS FROM A HOLIDAY CAMP, and it really is a last-ditch attempt to wring more money out of audiences. This time around, Askwith and Booth end up working at a dodgy sub-Butlins type place, where girls parade around in the bikinis a lot and end up getting into saucy encounters with a permanently befuddled Askwith.
There are some funny moments here - like the bit with Askwith in the swimming pool - but a lot of it is cringeworthy rather than amusing and the slapstick scenes are very childish. Lance Percival's portrayal of a gay guy is really awful, as are Askwith's off-colour jokes at the expense of a black woman. It's a pity the script is so poor, because there's some top totty here in the form of Liz Fraser and Penny Meredith, but they would have been better served in one of the other, better, instalments. -
This is the worst of the confessions of series. Robin Askwith shoud stop making these movies and start making new and better movies. Its a joke of a movie and i laughed all the way through, not because it was funny, because it just sucked so much. 1/10
If you like this try: Any other confessions of series -
Back in 1977 I informed my equally horny schoolmates that I was going to bus from our small town to the Big City of Christchurch to see a 'Confessions' movie. When I got back, I couldn't even remember what the women looked like to describe to the guys. That is because the movie was about as funny and/or arousing as afternoon tea with your maiden auntie. Your elderly, extremely unattractive maiden auntie, that is. The 'Confessions' movies were never top-of-the-line entertainment, but this (thankfully) final entry in the notoriously cheap, nasty smut-smeared franchise manages to be genuinely appalling, even when compared to the others. It was actually boring to me as a fourteen-year-old, and with so many naked bodies on screen, that took some doing. Nowadays 'Holiday Camp' makes a far better sociological artifact than it does a cinematic experience, and then only if you're prepared to plumb the depths.
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richardchatten1 January 2023To begin and end a film with a song by The Wurzles promises a grisly experience, and the film promptly lives down to the expectations it raises. It's so short of inspiration that all the makers can think of for a conclusion (SLIGHT SPOILER COMING:) is a custard pie fight.
It's tempting to say that the last gasp of the "Confessions' series represented British cinema at it's absolute nadir; but take it from me I've seen much worse.
Shot for a princely 220,000 quid, permitted the luxury of a six week shoot instead of the usual five since it was shot at Hayling Island in Hampshire when it was out of season, and Boy does it show.
Played as in 'Carry On Camping' under almost continuously leaden skies, the script consists of a relentless stream of brainless double entendres and unfunny malaprops, we're submitted to the embarrassment of Lance Perceval as a mincing entertainments officer, and it's all done with a visual style that reminds you just how inventive The Benny Hill Show could be.
The inevitable accusations of sexism are fairly easily countered as in the Benny Hill Show the men are caricatured far more cruelly than the women. It strains credibility that an ugly little little troll like Robin Askwith could be such a hit with the ladies, but that part, alas, I'm reliably informed was quite true. -
This is the most saucy out of the four "Confessions". You get from this one, just what you get from the others, only it's funnier and more raunchy. Again walking hazzard, Askwith and his brother in law have a new venture, working at a holiday camp, a real dive but it does have it's perks. Whoever thought there'd be an underground cafe, where through the windows you can see the underground of the family pool, and that's not all, as there's a familiar streaker roaming about, and as a Confession's fan, you don't have to be an Einstein to figure out who. And again the family pay a visit, including the bigoted Grandad, who I find a hoot. He gets pie eyed and mistakes one of those long funeral cars, carrying a coffin, as their ride to the camp, the bereaved family, with them. The grandad tries to cheer the family with sing song. There's a great raunchy scene near the end with Askwith up to his neck again in, you know, cleavage, etc, inside the ghost train building, where the family decide to take a ride. How this ends with Askwith, is just another reason I love these films. He makes up with some hotties, one a busty Brazilian who really wants to win this beauty contest, and you don't want to be at the receiving end, if she loses, as you're liable to be wearing custard pie on your face. The pie fight that erupts, so reminded me of Pacific Banana, where also in that, there was a gay guy. What's funny here, this famous pianist in the movie just keeps on playing through this fight, while below this mischievous kid, is sawing at the legs of the piano. Askwith shares some nude pool too, him and Booth again having close calls with their boss and other staff, their careers in the balance. One of them, a lanky gay guy who's onto them, has his worst fear, coming true, when a score of hotties jump him, where they may of just turned him straight. That is the tastiest and more entertaining of the four, with so many other scenes I'd love to mention. This was the last of the series which in my opinion, ended on the perfect note.
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simondeeley121 January 2023I didn't really know how many stars to give this - I gave it two because there probably are even worse things to watch than this. It's totally unfunny and unentertaining. As a comment on the then prevailing morals it might have some value, but it's so smutty and predictable that it's hard to take seriously. The Carry On films did this sort of thing so much better because the sexual innuendo was implied and often entertaining (with the exception of the last two Carry On films). In this film everything is so explicit, that together with an awful script, its just embarrassing for anybody (other than those seeking visual titillation) to watch.
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ShadeGrenade24 June 2006Having failed dismally with their driving school, Sid Noggett ( Tony Booth ) and Timmy Lea ( Robin Askwith ) head off to Funfrall Holiday Camp, a paradise where the possibilities for sex are limitless. The only thing missing is the weather. But then their fun is stymied by the arrival of new manager Whitemonk ( John Junkin ), a former prison governor. He wants to impose militaristic discipline on the staff. Noggett proposes a beauty contest.
The Lea family turn up en masse and begin causing trouble, in particular Dad ( Bill Maynard ) who gets involved in an ongoing dispute with the father of a cheeky kid ( Nicholas Owen, 'Tristan' from 'George & Mildred' ).
Timmy's numerous sexual exploits become increasingly public, leading the manager to conclude there is a mad streaker on the loose.
Against Sid's wishes, Rosie enters the beauty contest. But when the kid chucks a cream pie at a contestant, all hell breaks loose...
I used to work in a holiday camp ( as a chef ) so know how accurate a lot of this film is. Some of the things I saw would make even Timmy blush! It is the usual slap and tickle, enlivened by guest appearances from John Junkin, Colin Crompton ( from 'The Wheeltappers & Shunters Social Club' ) and Lance Percival ( whose role of 'Lionel' seems to have been written for Kenneth Williams! ).
The formula was looking a bit tired by this time; this entry closely resembles 'Holiday On The Buses', while the finale was obviously inspired by that of 'Carry On Girls' ( both 1973 ).
Liz Fraser and Linda Hayden, both of whom featured in earlier 'Confessions' pictures, return as different characters. Sue Upton ( later to be one of Benny Hill's 'Angels' ) and Caroline Ellis are particularly good as a pair of giggling Brummie girls called 'Glad' and 'Reen'. Shame about Timmy's racist remarks to 'Blackbird' ( Nicola Blackman ) though.
Top marks to the cast for throwing themselves into the piece with abandon. It could not have been easy being filmed in bikinis and swimming trunks in March.
Funniest moment? Whitemonk complaining to Sid about the streaker, while behind him a naked Timmy thrashes about in a pool.
'Confessions Of A Plumber's Mate' was planned next, but Columbia unexpectedly shut down film production in the U.K., and it went unmade, though Stanley A. Long cheekily put into production the not-dissimilar sounding 'Adventures Of A Plumber's Mate'. That too was the last of its line. British audiences were beginning to be more interested by American comedies such as 'National Lampoon's Animal House' and '10'.
I hope no-one tries to revive 'Confessions'; like the 'Carry On' films, they were of their time. Naughty but nice! -
BA_Harrison17 January 2011Confessions From a Holiday Camp, the fourth and final film to star Robin Askwith as working class lothario Timmy Lea, fails spectacularly as a comedy, the unsophisticated script resorting to embarrassing racist remarks, crass homophobic jokes, and childish slapstick in a desperate attempt to illicit giggles from its audience.
'So, if it's not all that funny, then why have you rated it so highly?' I hear you ask. The answer: the endless quality British crumpet, of course. The plot, which sees Timmy organising a beauty contest at Camp Funfrall, allows for plenty of bare breasts, some shapely female derrieres, and more bush than Hampton Court Maze. Not only does the lovely Linda Hayden, star of the first Confessions film, return to play foxy French holiday host Brigitte, but we also get sexy brunette Caroline Ellis as yummy Brummie Gladys, Kim Hardy as the camp's tasty announcer, Nicola Blackman as Blackbird, the camp's curvacous Caribbean queen (and, sadly, the brunt of the racist jokes), and busty Janet Edis as a horny MILF.
Unfortunately, there's also rather a lot of Robin Askwith's hairy ass on display, but you can't win 'em all I suppose. -
sylvia-cox18 April 2006This film really was pretty awful; some of the characters made me cringe! very poor acting, directing, etc., Could learn a thing or two from the 'Carry on' films. It was no better than any of the other 'Confessions'films; I only watched it to the end to read the credits - there were some well known faces; what happened to the little boy actor, I wonder. Was his name Robert Booth? I noticed that the Railway station had 'Hayling' on it; perhaps it was Hayling Island? Does anyone know which camp it was filmed at? I used to go to Coronation and Sunshine on the Island; those were the days! I wonder if PM watched his father-in-law! The likeness is quite uncanny. Yuk!!!
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sorry, haven't seen it but I doubt I will just because of the content and the prior reviews. But just tracking down a comment on youtube ... Caroline Ellis was "Joy" on the Bugaloos kids TV show, very popular in US early morning Saturday shows in the 70's... she was cute then ... guess she was tired of looking like she was only going to act in parts for the kiddie shows ... supposedly she has full nudity in this film, front and back, according to another. Kind of like Jessica Biel when she did that stupid photo shoot to get out of her contract on Seventh Heaven - but she got a good publicist that was able to keep it from ruining her career ... But that is probably STILL not worth a reason to rent this movie. Sorry about that. LOL.
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jboothmillard5 August 2023Confessions of a Window Cleaner, and its two sequels Pop Performer and Driving Instructor were all complete rubbish, smuttier versions of the Carry On films, I had no doubt that the fourth and final film in the franchise was going to be as bad, directed by Norman Cohen (Dad's Army: The Movie). Basically, Funfrall Holiday Camp is opening in March when it is cold. Optimistic but clumsy Timothy "Timmy" Lea (Robin Askwith) narrates his day-to-day activities. He and his brother-in-law Sidney "Sid" Noggett (Anthony Booth, Cherie Blair's father) work at the holiday camp as entertainment officers but are very lazy. Ex-prison officer William Whitemonk (John Junkin) is the strict no-nonsense new manager. Whitemonk is unimpressed by most of the upcoming activities for guests until Sid suggests there will be a beauty contest. Timmy and French holiday host Brigitte Dubois (Linda Hayden) are playing pool and are almost caught having sex. Sid talks about Miss British Holiday Camp with £500 first prize and automatic entry to other beauty contests in London. Sid warns Timmy if the contest is not successful, they will be fired. Timmy tries to find contestants in camp, meeting a Married Woman (Penny Meredith) who takes an interest in him. He angers Kevin's Dad (Mike Savage) when he unintentionally causes trouble for his son Kevin (Nicholas Bond-Owen) and accidentally removes the bra of Kevin's Mum (Janet Edis). Timmy is handing out forms for the contest and talks to an American black woman, Blackbird (Nicola Blackman, with the voice of Miriam Margoyles). Timmy drives a go-kart to impress a girl (Deborah Brayshaw) and her friend but crashes into a barn where Sid is having sex. Timmy's parents, Mr. Lea (Bill Maynard) and Mrs. Lea (Dandy Nichols), Sid's wife Rosie (Sheila White) and their toddler Jason (Jake Cooper) arrive at the train station to head to the camp. They look for a car that has been arranged for them, but take the wrong, getting a black car along with grieving relatives going to a funeral. After arriving, Timmy's father winds up taking part in the camp's Mealtime Marathon. Blackbird goes to Timmy's office where they have sex, their noisy lovemaking keeps Sid awake in the opposite room. Timmy is next visited by Gladys aka "Glad" (Caroline Ellis) who wants to discuss the contest. They are interrupted when Timmy's mother brings him clean clothes. While Glad is hiding in the closet, Sid comes round, mistaking the mother's visit for being another woman wanting sex. Glad comes out of the closet to seduce him, and Bender catches Sid peeking through the window. Timmy's father falls asleep on the beach and causes quarrelling with Kevin's Dad and Bender. The biweekly progress report and self-evaluation session see positive results from interest in the upcoming contest. Whitemonk suggests a baking contest. Timmy goes to the sauna but gets locked in with a woman whose husband won't let her enter the contest claiming she is fat. Whitemonk and Brigitte see what they think is a streaker during the evening, not realising it is Timmy. The sun comes out and Timmy is blowing up inflatables for the pool. Brigitte finds Timmy and they make love while the airpipe has been left on and bursts an inflatable. Whitemonk is with Sid in the restaurant, which has a glass portal with a view into the camp's swimming pool. Timmy and Brigitte fall into the pool naked, with Sid trying desperately to distract Whitemonk from seeing them. But Whitemonk sees a naked man in the pool. Timmy grabs a towel and walks into the Funfrall Radio studio. The announcer (Kim Hardy) and Timmy have sex whilst the intercom is switched on and their lovemaking is broadcast over the camp tannoy for everyone to hear. Sid is angry with Timmy and wants him to find the judging panel. Sid is upset when Rosie says she is entering the contest. Timmy and Sid cause chaos trying to fix a broken sink, again angering Kevin's Dad. Bender is water-skiing and Brigitte suggests Timmy should try to do it; he knocks Whitemonk and Sid into the lake. Whitemonk needs his wife Antonia (Liz Fraser) picked up and he asks Timmy to do it. Timmy drives her to the funfair, and she wants to have sex. Timmy's parents go on the Ghost Train ride and catch him with Mrs. Whitemonk. They wind up outside scantily clothed with Mr. Whitemonk watching. In Timmy's room, Blackbird, the Married Woman, Mrs. Whitemonk, and Brigitte come to see him in succession, all being thrown one by one together in the cupboard. Bender confronts Timmy about being the "phantom streaker" when Whitemonk walks in to find the women all over him. The vicar (Leonard Woodrow) and the mayor (Lauri Lupino Lane) are on the judging panel for the contest. Famous all round entertainer Alberto Smarmi (David Auker) arrives to play piano. Lead entertainer Roughage (Colin Crompton) replaces the celebrity compare who has not arrived and introduces each girl who has entered. Kevin is sawing the leg off the piano and throws cake at Blackbird. Timmy is mistaken for throwing it. She throws a pie in his face, he throws one at Whitemonk, and a cake fight breaks out with everyone. Timmy and Sid try to cycle away but crash into the lake. In his narration, Timmy reminisces that they need to find careers suited to their "talents". It ends with the announcer asking for a lost boy to be collected, she says "Will his daddy come collect his little Willie". Also starring Sue Upton as Reen, Charlie Stewart as Piper, Carrie Jones as Bikini Girl, Julia Bond as Bikini Girl, Betty Hare as Mourner, Winifred Braemar as Mourner, Bertie Hare as Mourner, and Margot Field as Mrs. Dimwiddy. Askwith as the accident-prone lead is okay, Booth as his brother-in-law and Maynard as his father are mildly amusing, but British talents Davies and Fraser are wasted in supporting roles. I will say that there was one, and only one, positive thing which was the opening song, "Give Me England" by The Wurzels. The script relies on obvious and ineffective innuendos, the visual jokes involving mishaps and predictable custard pie throwing are just embarrassing, the high amount of nudity is too crude to find arousing or enjoyable, most of the time you are just left open-mouthed and almost nauseous, it is a highly dreadful, deplorable, unfunny sex comedy. Poor!
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kevin_robbins6 March 2024I recently viewed the UK comedy 🇬🇧 Confessions from a Holiday Camp (1977) on Tubi. The plot revolves around Tim Lea, now employed at a classic European summer camp, responsible for recruiting talent for an upcoming beauty pageant. His recruitment might go too far, risking the girls' withdrawal from the event over jealousy. Can Tim salvage the situation and successfully carry out the mission?
Directed by Norman Cohen (Burning Rubber), the film features Robin Askwith (Bless this House), Anthony Booth (Corruption), Bill Maynard (Oddball Hall), Linda Hayden (Taste the Blood of Dracula), and Sheila White (Oliver!).
This cheesy UK comedy leans heavily on excuses for splash nudity, full nudity, and numerous shots of naked butts. While a few scenes, like the pool sequence, offer some entertainment, the film often feels like a sequel to Meatballs with a focus solely on the ladies. Even the narration falls into the realm of average.
In conclusion, Confessions from a Holiday Camp boasts appealing ladies but lacks in the comedy department. I would rate it a 4.5-5/10 and recommend it only with the appropriate expectations. -
neil-4765 February 2008This is a wonderful film and it deserves full marks and I'll tell you why.
In the early moments there is a blonde girl in a blue bikini who is smearing what appears to be Vaseline onto Anthony Booth's chest. In the cast list she is noted as Julia Bond, but I know better (not that I'm going to give her real name here, of course). That young woman is a childhood friend of my wife's and, in 1974, we shared a flat with her and her then husband. She made a couple of other films, but I think this was the highest profile one. So a big "Hi!" to her if she happens to read this!
There are some excellent British actors of the time in this film - Sheila White (Here we go round the Mulberry Bush, I Claudius), John Junkin (A Hard Day's Night) and it's a bit depressing to think that they had to rely on sniggering nonsense like this to pay their mortgages. -
filmbuff197024 May 2002I liked the others but this is truly unfunny.the only scene worth watching is two old guys talking a good fight while keeping away from each other.This is more soft porn than comedy.it lacks big names in the cast this time round.The jokes are just not funny.1 out of 10