JohnHowardReid
The "Carry On" films are a variable lot, but this take on The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of the funniest. (In its initial script, the movie was actually entitled Carry On Chopping and it was actually released in some areas as Carry On Pimpernel). True, some might argue that the French Revolution does not lend itself to a farcical approach, and it does seem at first that the idea of introducing the guillotine as a venue for satire and knockabout comedy is in extremely bad taste. Fortunately, it soon emerges that the movie is not primarily a take-off on the French Revolution (as a smartypants newsreel commentator implies as soon as the picture starts), but is actually a send-up of the Baroness Orczy novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel and its 1935 picturisation with Leslie Howard. No more dramatic a contrast to Howard could possibly be provided than Sid James, who has one of his best roles ever as Sid Rodney Ffing (I won't spoil the joke for you by pronouncing it). The scenario is full of the most ludicrous double entendres which all the players (except Jim Dale) heartily relish. Indeed, Kenneth Williams is often tempted to have too grand a time, but he receives such hilarious support from Peter Butterworth that we will excuse him. The only aspect of the movie I didn't really like (and speaking of aspects, full marks to Joan Sims and Dany Robin) was its over-produced slapstick finale. Otherwise, Talbot Rothwell has given us a really colorful script. Producer Peter Rogers has loosened the purse strings on this one and even Gerald Thomas has risen to the occasion with direction that can only be described as remarkably proficient.
crossbow0106
This film is set during the French Revolution in 1789, where public executions were carried out efficiently and, seemingly, for entertainment. Basically, in order to stop all these rampant executions, two British noblemen, played by Sid James and Jim Dale (of course) travel to France and use various ways to thwart them. This is very amusing, in that their symbol of valiance is the "Black Fingernail", a funny send up of the "Scarlet Pimpernel". As it is a Carry On film, you're going to get one liners, slapstick, sight gags etc. You also get some pretty decent swashbuckling, that was a surprise. Also, you get a lot of speaking to the camera, also funny. Not perfect, but an amusing film. I'd recommend it, especially if you're a Carry On fan.
lizziebeth-1
In `Don't Lose Your Head' (aka `Carry On Pimpernel') the Scarlet Pimpernel myth/legend is presented by the `Carry On' gang as an hysterical parody. Real revolutions are generally bloodthirsty, and often go wrong LONG before they achieve their aims. Oh YES, the peasants were revolting! Cheering the guillotine, they stank on ice! This spoof by the double-entendre-gang stands unique among other Carry Ons, because it almost passes for serio-comedy, milking considerable drama and adventure from the story. It helps if you know a smattering of French, because the puns, especially the character names, rely on gag translations. There's also a touch of the Marx Brothers here, so SOMEONE had the right idea about its caliber! Without question, artistically this is the gem of the `Carry On' franchise.The film opens at a Paris guillotine. "What's the tally for the day so far?" asks the Secret Police's Citizen Camembert, the Big Cheese (Kenneth Williams). "Twenty-six set of aristo's", answers his toadying assistant Bidet (Peter Butterworth). " -Carry On Chopping!" cries Camembert, providing a thinly veiled alternate title.Sir Rodney Ffing (Sidney James), and his "inseparable companion,' Lord Darcy Pew (Jim Dale) are two "fashionable layabouts" who do not discriminate between "a girl" and "a chap" in order to pursue "hunting", "shooting" and "fishing,' all of which amount to much the same thing. So, both "exceeding bored" by the "same old girls...same old balls,' they decide "to lift a finger, or two" over the French Revolution. Sir Rodney becomes the `Black Fingernail,' who always leaves his calling card at his rescues of French aristocrats from Madame La Guillotine.This of course "utterly bedevils" Robespierre (Peter Gilmore), Camembert's boss and the real zealot behind the Revolution. The leader of the Royalists, the Duc de Pommfrit (Charles Hawtrey), meanwhile, hilariously refuses to get off the execution cart to go to the guillotine because he's "just on the last chapter of the latest Marquis de Sade", and "Couldn't POSSIBLY put the book down". We're even offered beheading jokes: "Your grace, there's an urgent letter for you!" " -Oh, drop it in the basket, I'll read it later" quips Pommfrit, who's definitely about "to have his chips" (a gag based on his name). When the blade gets stuck, he complains that "this would NEVER have happened under a ROYALIST government", to which Camembert snippily retorts, "-There's no need to make a political issue out of it!" (Now this really IS quite clever).When the Black Fingernail rescues Pommfrit, Robespierre threatens Camembert with the loss of his own head; so Camembert, his charge Desiree, and his trusty Bidet all pose as escaped French aristocrats in order to follow the Black Fingernail's trail back to England. Thus begins my favourite, the Calais scene, viz "Alais to Calais". At the chief exit port between France and England, Camembert encounters a border guard: "Listen, has anyone passed out within the hour?" he asks. The guard (an Eric Idle-lookalike and soundalike) replies " -Only the sergeant, but he's sleepin' it orff now". Camembert presses on: "I'm looking for a woman". Guard: " -Aw, nothin' doin' out here, chum; you wanna try LaMatre!"In England, Sir Rodney meets Desiree (a very busty Joan Sims) at the ball, greeting her with "You're a picture M'moiselle...a trifle overexposed". But Camembert has come to the ball to sniff out The Black Fingernail. "We must be circumspect", he warns Bidet. "-Oh, I was, when I was a baby!" offers his illiterate assistant.Sims' ample endowments and the locket upon them are used both as a ruse to trap the Fingernail, as well as a running gag (thankfully without becoming crass).At the ball Sir Rodney realises that "Count Henri de LaPlume de MarTonte" is really Camembert, but he and Darcy `act natural' by indulging in a somewhat gay and anachronistic polka! Still, Camembert manages to pick a pretext duel with Sir Rodney. "As the injured party, I have the choice of swords or pistols", he demands. "-Oh, we won't quarrel over that! You have the swords, I'll have the pistols" quips Sir Rodney in a gag that preempts `Raiders of the Lost Ark' by 14 yrs!With a decent plot and visually rich sets, the double-entendres are entirely at home in this spoof, providing more substance than other `Carry Ons.' It's difficult to fault either the screenplay or the cast; Peter Gilmore is an almost entirely serious(!) Robespierre, and Joan Sims, Jim Dale, and Charles Hawtrey are all in tune and excellent. Sidney James, sadly though, is too old to swash much buckle or woo Desiree, even as a ruse. Williams flares his nostrils and Butterworth puts up his dukes a few times too many, but otherwise everyone is pretty good.The screenplay delves into quite a few political issues for such a "fluff" movie. There's no attempt, for instance, to gloss over the facile hubris of the aristocracy; conversely, the emotionally blunt populace cheering at the guillotine are most like Bidet, who is revealed as a bastard child and a dull, inept peasant. The supercilious Camembert is revealed as a grubby plutocrat, contemptuous of both peasants, and even the Revolution: "I DO wish you'd stop Vive-ing all over the place!" and, "Oh, I really hate these peasants; give me the aristocracy any time!".Talbot Rothwell's modest but clever screenplay adapts the Pimpernel legend/myth to suit the `Carry On' gang like a glove. It gives each castmember something to shine with, while still milking the inherent drama. The custom (ie not overdone) double-entendres still sound fresh, and serve to justify the plot adaptations; while the surgical casting allows the actors to successfully trade on their established quirks.The one element that does fail is the story arc about the aging Black Fingernail's sudden "true love" Jacqueline (Dany Robin); their asides to camera are merely disruptive, and her Beatles-ed-up "He Loveth Me" harp scene is cringingly bad.Otherwise this is a hilarious spoof, good for laughs & quotes aplenty! 9.5/10.
