Carry On Cleo

Infobox Film
name = Carry on Cleo


caption = "Carry On Cleo" (DVD)
director = Gerald Thomas
producer = Peter Rogers
writer = Talbot Rothwell
starring = Sid James
Kenneth Williams
Charles Hawtrey
Kenneth Connor
Joan Sims
Jim Dale
Amanda Barrie
Jane Lumb
music = Eric Rogers
cinematography = Alan Hume
editing = Archie Ludski
distributor = Anglo-Amalgamated
released = 1964
runtime = 92 min.
country = flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
language = English
budget =
preceded_by = "Carry On Spying"
followed_by = "Carry On Cowboy"
imdb_id = 0057918

"Carry On Cleo" is the tenth film in the "Carry On" film series and was released in 1964. It is considered by some to be the best in the series. [ [http://www.icons.org.uk/nom/nominations/carry-on-films Carry On Films - Icons of England ] ]

Plot summary

The Romans invade the wet and miserable Britain, and, among others, enslave the cowardly inventor Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor), and the fearless warrior Horsa (Jim Dale). When an attempt is made to kill the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) at a Roman temple, Horsa kills Caesar's enemies, but Hengist gets all the credit, and is made Caesar's bodyguard. Meanwhile, Mark Antony (Sid James), Caesar's best friend, becomes besotted with the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra (Amanda Barrie), but the only way to achieve his heart's desire is to kill Caesar and Hengist...

Kenneth Williams' line as Caesar, in fear of his life before the conspirators and their drawn swords, is frequently voted among the funniest lines in British comedy. It has also been voted the funniest one-liner in a film, of all time.

However, it was not actually an original Carry On joke at all: scriptwriter Talbot Rothwell requested the use of the gag from its creators, Frank Muir and Denis Norden, who had written it for BBC radio comedy show "Take It From Here".

In one scene at Caesar's palace, when Mark Antony demands Hengist to describe his 'fight' with the conspirators, he accidentally chops the arms off a statue of the goddess, Venus, apparently creating the Venus de Milo in doing so.

At one point, in a vision of the future, we see Caesar stabbed with a dagger, and he says "Is this a dagger I see before me?". This is a quote from Shakespeare, but is actually spoken by Macbeth.

The costumes and sets used in the film were actually taken from "Cleopatra" starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

The names Hengist and Horsa were taken from the leaders of the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, which occurred after the fall of the Roman empire. The British at the time of the Romans were Celts, not Anglo-Saxons.

The film's credits make ironic reference to the scant regard paid to historical accuracy. The titles advise that the story is "from an original idea by William Shakespeare", and that "Whilst the characters and events in this story are based on actual characters and events, certain liberties have been taken with Cleopatra". [Ross, Robert. "The Carry On Companion", B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. ISBN 0-7134-7967-1 p 51]

"Carry on Cleo" was filmed between 13 and 28 July 1964

Miscellaneous Information

*The Royal Mail reproduced the original movie poster of 'Carry On Cleo' on to a stamp to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 'Carry On' movie series in June 2008, along with stamps of "Carry On Sergeant" and "Carry On Screaming".

References

External links

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* [http://www.thewhippitinn.com Carry On Films at The Whippit Inn]