Follow That Camel

Infobox Film | name = Follow That Camel
director = Gerald Thomas
producer = Peter Rogers
writer = Talbot Rothwell
starring = Phil Silvers
Kenneth Williams
Jim Dale
Charles Hawtrey
Joan Sims
Angela Douglas
Bernard Bresslaw
Anita Harris
John Bluthal
music = Eric Rogers
cinematography = Alan Hume
editing = Alfred Roome
distributor = Rank
released = 1967
runtime = 95 minutes
language = English
country = flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
budget =
preceded_by = Don't Lose Your Head
followed_by = Carry On Doctor
imdb_id = 0061680

"Follow That Camel" is the fourteenth Carry On film and was released in 1967. Like its predecessor, it does not have the words "Carry On" in its original title (although for screenings outside the United Kingdom it was known as "Carry On In The Legion"). It parodies the much-filmed 1924 book "Beau Geste", by P. C. Wren, and other Foreign Legion films.

This film was Producer Peter Rogers's attempt to break into the American market; Phil Silvers is heavily featured in a Sergeant Bilko-esque role.

Plot

His reputation brought into disrepute by Captain Bagshaw, a competitor for the affections of Lady Jane Ponsonby, Bertram Oliphant West a.k.a "Bo" decides to leave England and join the French Foreign Legion, followed by his faithful manservant Simpson. Originally mistaken for enemy combatants at Sidi Bel Abbes, the pair eventually enlist and are helped in surviving Legion life by Sergeant Nocker, although only after they discover that when he is "on patrol" he is actually at the local cafe with the female owner, ZigZig.

Meanwhile Lady Ponsonby, having learnt that Bo was really innocent, heads out to the Sahara to bring him back to England. Along the way she meets Sheikh Abdul Abulbul and ends up becoming a part of his harem and planned 13th wife.

Nocker & Bo are kidnapped by Abulbul after being lured to the home of a belly dancer. Simpson follows them to the Oasis El Nooki but is also captured. After entering Abulbul’s harem and discovering Lady Ponsonby, Bo & Simpson give themselves up while Nocker escapes (or rather is allowed to by Abulbul) back to Sidi Bel Abbes to warn Commandant Burger of Abulbul’s plans to attack Fort Zuassantneuf.

However during this time ZigZig has told the Commandant about Nocker's true destination when on patrol and therefore upon his return his story is not believed. It is only when Knocker mentions Lady Ponsonby (the Commandant was previously her fencing teacher and they met again while she was looking for Bo) that they realise he was telling the truth and the Commandant organises a force to head to the fort.

Along the way they discover Bo & Simpson staked to the ground at the now abandoned oasis. The force marches on towards the Fort but heat, lack of water and a sand castle building competition gone wrong decimates the force to a handful. The remaining members reach the Fort to find that they are too late; the attack has already occurred and the stationed garrison wiped out.

After learning that Abulbul's celebration of the successful attack includes marrying Lady Ponsonby, Bo, Burger, Nocker & Simpson rescue her from his tent, leaving Simpson behind dressed as a decoy. When Abulbul discovers the deception he chases Simpson back to the fort where, through the imaginative use of gum arabic, coconuts, gunpower and a cricket bat, the group holds off Abulbul’s army until a relief force arrives.

Back in England the group reunites at a game of cricket. Bo is in bat but when he hits the ball it explodes. The bowler is then shown to be Abulbul who proclaims “Howzat!” to which Bo, with a broken bat and burnt clothes declares “Not Out!”

Filming Locations

Location work was shot during the early months of 1967 when scenes set in the Saharan Desert were filmed at Camber Sands in East Sussex, England. Shooting had to be halted several times because there was snow on the sands!

The fort and town sets were built at Pinewood Studios. The final cricketing scenes at the stately home in England were shot on the lawn behind Pinewood House, the headquarters of Pinewood Studios. Some of the elaborate town sets were reused the year after in the production of "Carry On Up The Kyber".

Production Notes

The character named "Corktip" is a parody of "Cigarette" in the 1936 film "Under Two Flags". A movie about the French Foreign Legion in the Saharan Desert.

Phil Silvers was paid a great deal more than any other cast member provoking a great deal of animosity among the regular Carry-On team. The american comic actor was hired after Carry-On stalwart, Sid James, who was initially going to play Sgt Nocker, had a heart attack and was unable to work.

External links

*
* [http://www.thewhippitinn.com/carry_on_films/carry_on_follow_that_camel/ "Follow That Camel" at The Whippit Inn]
* [http://www.carryonline.com/carryonline/carryonfollowthatcamel.html "Follow That Camel" at Carry On Line]
* [http://www.anitaharris.co.uk"Anita Harris Offical Site']