Don't Lose Your Head

This article is about the Carry On film. For the Queen song with the same name see the album A Kind of Magic. For the INXS song, see Don't Lose Your Head (INXS song).

Don't Lose Your Head
Theatrical release poster by Renato Fratini
Directed by	Gerald Thomas
Produced by	Peter Rogers
Written by	Talbot Rothwell
Narrated by	Patrick Allen
Starring	Sid James Kenneth Williams Jim Dale Charles Hawtrey Joan Sims Dany Robin
Music by	Eric Rogers
Cinematography	Alan Hume
Editing by	Rod Keys
Distributed by	The Rank Organisation
Release date(s)	December 1966
Running time	90 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£200,000

Don't Lose Your Head (often Carry On Don't Lose Your Head) is the thirteenth Carry On film (and one of only two not to have "Carry On" in the original title). It features regular team members Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Charles Hawtrey and Joan Sims. French actress Dany Robin makes her only Carry On appearance in Don't Lose Your Head. It was released in 1966. Set in France and England in 1789 during the French revolution, it is a parody of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Plot

It is the time of the French Revolution, and two bored English noblemen, Sir Rodney Ffing (pronounced "Effing") and his best friend, Lord Darcy Pue, (played by Sid James and Jim Dale respectively) decide to have some fun and save their French counterparts from beheading by the guillotine.

Enraged revolutionary leader Citizen Camembert (Kenneth Williams) and his toadying lackey, Citizen Bidet (Peter Butterworth), scour France and England for the elusive saviour of the French nobles, who has become known as The Black Fingernail. After abducting the Fingernail's true love, Jacqueline (Dany Robin), Camembert and Bidet plot to lure the Fingernail to his death... oblivious that Desiree (Joan Sims), Camembert's flamboyant mistress, is herself in love with the hero and will do all she can to save him from the guillotine.

Cast

Sid James as Sir Rodney Ffing/The Black Fingernail Kenneth Williams as Citizen Camembert Jim Dale as Lord Darcy de Pue Charles Hawtrey as Duke de Pommefrites Joan Sims as Desiree Dubarry Peter Butterworth as Citizen Bidet Dany Robin as Jacqueline Peter Gilmore as Citizen Robespierre Marianne Stone as Landlady Michael Ward as Henri Leon Green as Malabonce Hugh Futcher as Guard Richard Shaw as Captain David Davenport as Sergeant Jennifer Clulow as 1st lady Valerie Van Ost as 2nd lady

Jacqueline Pearce as 3rd lady Nikki van der Zyl as Messenger Julian Orchard as Rake Elspeth March as Lady Binder Joan Ingram as Bald-headed Dowager Michael Nightingale as "What locket?" man Diana MacNamara as Princess Stephanie Ronnie Brody as Little man Billy Cornelius as Soldier Patrick Allen as Narrator Monica Dietrich as Girl Anna Willoughby as Girl Penny Keen as Girl June Cooper as Girl Christine Pryor as Girl Karen Young as Girl

Crew

• Screenplay - Talbot Rothwell
• Music - Eric Rogers
• Song - Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
• Performers - Michael Sammes Singers
• Production Manager - Jack Swinburne
• Director of Photography - Alan Hume
• Editor - Rod Keys
• Art Director - Lionel Couch
• Camera Operator - Jimmy Devis
• Assistant Director - Jack Causey
• Sound Editor - W Nelson
• Sound Recordists - Dudley Messenger & Ken Barker
• Continuity - Rita Davison
• Make-up - Geoffrey Rodway
• Hairdressing - Stella Rivers
• Costume Designer - Emma Selby-Walker
• Choreographer - Terry Gilbert
• Horse Master - Jeremy Taylor
• Producer - Peter Rogers
• Director - Gerald Thomas

Filming and locations

• Filming dates – 12 September-28 October 1966

Interiors:

• Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

Exteriors:

• Clandon Hall, Guildford, Surrey, England
• Claydon Park, Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England
• Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
• Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

External links

• Don't Lose Your Head at the Internet Movie Database
• Don't Lose Your Head at The Whippit Inn