Carry On Don't Lose Your Head (1966)

This film might not have the words 'Carry On' in the title but it is part of the series in all but name; and one of the better ones. Set during the French revolution when the aristocracy are loosing their heads to the guillotine two English gentlemen; Sir Rodney Ffing and his friend Lord Darcy Pue decide that something must be done. They head to France and start rescuing aristos from under the nose of chief of the secret police Citizen Camembert and his sidekick Citizen Bidet. Each time they leave their calling card; a hand giving the V-sign with one black fingernail. After rescuing the Duke De Pommfrit they head to Calais and escape with the help of a local girl. She is captured and Camembert hatches a plan; he will go to England and let it be known that the girl is due to be executed; knowing that the 'Black Fingernail' is bound to try to rescue her.Like many of the historical Carry Ons this is one of the better films in the series; Sid James is great as Ffing; laughing in a way only he could; Kenneth Williams is suitably obsequious as his nemesis Camembert and Charles Hawtrey is on fine form as De Pommfrit, the giggling French aristo. The jokes are plentiful and for the most part fairly clean; it certainly lacks the smut of later outings; the only slight naughtiness is in how attention is constantly drawn to Joan Sims heaving bosom, although even this is done in a fairly innocent way. Many films in the series lacked any real plot but not this one; the retelling of the Pimpernel story is well handled; not only does it feature lots of laughs it also has some entertaining actions scenes. I'd certainly recommend watching this if you see it in the TV schedule; even if you haven't enjoyed other Carry On films there is a good chance this will give you a laugh.

Dandy fop Sir Rodney Effing has an alter ego, The Black Fingernail. A man, who along with his partner, Lord Darcy Pue, rescue French aristocrats from the clutches of the revolutionary police chief, Citizen Camembert.Carry On producer Peter Rogers had severed his links with Anglo Amalgamated and swiftly signed up with Rank Organisation. Miffed at losing their number one cash franchise, and no doubt with a touch of petulance, Anglo's brass refused Rogers permission to using the "Carry On" prefix. Thus this picture was initially released as just "Don't Lose Your Head" in 1966. Eventually common sense prevailed, and this rightly became known as the 13th franchise entry as "Carry On Don't Lose Your Head" {tho the American release of it being called "Carry On Pimpernel" makes better sense one feels}.Spoofing The Scarlet Pimpernel legacy with a ream of innuendo and double entendre's, the Carry On team deliver one of the better efforts from the series. This is in the main down to Talbot Rothwell's screenplay. Rothwell wrote the screenplay for 20 of the series efforts, he was someone who director and producer both trusted, and crucially that the cast also had faith in. Here his writing is excellent, if of course you be a fan of the saucy shenanigans that came with this particular part of British cinema that is? With characters called Citizen Camembert {refered to as the big cheese, get it?}, Duc de Pommfrit, Citizen Bidet and Sir Rodney Effing {yes that's two F's}, Rothwell lets loose with wave after wave of cheeky dialogue, all delivered with comic aplomb from the likes of Sid James, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale and the undervalued Peter Butterworth.There's also a real good production from Rogers. Armed with £200,000, Rogers assembled a fine wardrobe of period costumes and hired out Clandon Hall, Cliveden House and Waddesdon Manor to give the story its 18th Century feel. It's also a film that asks of its stalwarts to do a little bit more than just say risqué lines and act the goat. Oh it's all still gaudy and simple in premise, for sure, but some nice swordplay and derring-do from the boys shouldn't go unnoticed. It of course is just like most of the others they made, a cheeky romp, but to me it's proof positive that the "Carry On" series had some crackers mixed in with the dregs. Sit back and romp with the rompers I say. 7.5/10

Spoofing the French Revolution is the great British Carry On team, and 21 years later Blackadder did the same. Anyway, this mock of the great Scarlett Pimpernell has Sir Rodney Ffing a.k.a. The Black Fingernail (Sid James, with a great constant laugh), is the anti-hero saving people from execution, but mainly his own life as a master-of-disguise. Citizen Camembert (Kenneth Williams) and Citizen Bidet (Peter Butterworth) are the only two that can possibly stop him. This is a really good comedy film with great depiction of the period, and the other Carry On members do their great parts as well. These include Jim Dale as Lord Darcy Pue, Charles Hawtrey as Duc De Pommfrit and Joan Sims as Désirée Dubarry, but where's Barbara Windsor when you want her? Carry On films were number 39 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons. Very good!

SPOILERS AFOOT AND APLENTYThis was the first quote in the film, quoted by Citizen Camemberet, the Chief of Secret Police during the French Revolution of 1789. Kenneth Williams is in a rather over-the-top persona for his character as he watches the Lords and Ladies of France lose their heads [literally!] by the dreaded blade of Madame La Guliotine. Tallying up the total of beheaded aristos for the day is his idiotic little runt of an accomplice, Citizen Bidet [Peter Butterworth].Meanwhile, in England, the "toast of society", Sir Rodney Ffing [Two F's!] and Lord Darcy Pue [Jim Dale] are living the life of luxury, provided by horse riding, hunting, fishing ... and women! However, they are both bored stiff with living life of Riley ["same girls, same chaps, same balls!]. Their servant [Michael Ward] informs them of the crisis in France, so the Lords decide to "lend a hand". Sid James, in his usual character type, changes his voice tones from a nasal "posh" accent to his normal voice and dirty laugh and goes to Paris risk-willingly, with Jim Dale only too happy to follow and assist.Citizen Robspierre [Peter Gilmore] is far from happy with "The Big Cheese" Camemberet. He is disgusted with "The Black Fingernail's" [a.k.a "That Ffing!"] success in helping the aristocracy escape. Camemberet is facing his biggest challenge yet, the Duc de Pommfrit [Charles Hawtrey] in his usual character self ["Oh hello!"], who's head is due to roll the next day: "Don't worry, by this time tomorrow, the Duc de Pommfrit will definitley have had his chips!".The time comes for Pommfrit's execution, but he will not go up to the guliotine because he is too engrosed in a particular book. Bidet is sent to fetch him, at which stage Peter Butterworth is given probably his best "Carry On" retort, directed at him of course [!]when he and Charles indulge in some Cockney criticism: Duc: "Everyone knows your father was a basket maker!", Bidet: "That's where your wrong, nobody knows who my father was, not even my mother!".The Black Fingernail, in the guise of an insurance salesman, manages to delibaratley break the behaeding apparatus, behead the executioner and free the Duc. When the guillotine breaks, the next great quote comes: Camemberet: "Sorry to keep you waiting your Grace", Duc: "This would never have happened under a ROYALIST government!", Camemberet: "There's no need to be personal!". Camemberet is then threatened with the loss of his own head, if the Fingernail's doesn't come off first.From the only clues that was left, a piece of paper portaying two fingers in the contemptive way and a false-teeth contained locket, it must be assumed that the Fingernail is an English aristo. Camemberet, Bidet and the aforementioned's "bit-of-fluff" Desiree [Joan Sims] decide to head off to England to get clues. Hence the chance for another priceless quote when Bidet is eyeing-up the busty Desiree [Desiree: "Cammy, will you please tell this underling to take his eyes off me"/ Bidet: "Underling! We'll have no more of that talk, vie equality, vie fraternity, vie liberty/ Desiree: "I'm all for the eqaulity and the fraternity, but I'm not having the liberties!"], that being Joan's best ever "Carry On" retort.Meanwhile, en route back to England, Sid enters a tavern, and the room of a busty French waif [the late Dany Robin]. A chance for a bit of verbal love-making is produced before the police break in after the Fingernail has jumped out the window and away into the night. They suspect Jacqueline [the girl] of being a collabrator and arrest her. There is also a delightful cameo by Marianne Stone as the inn-keeper who is interrogated physically by Bidet: "And let that be a lesson to you woman!".Kenneth, Joan and Peter sail across the channel and to the palace of Sir Rodney, not wanting to miss one of his balls [!]. Sid and Jim know Kenneth's game, that he is the "Big Cheese" himself and want to expose him. Joan Sims, after being attacked by the sex-mad Duc, places the distinguishing locket on her cleavage as she dances with all the men to try and "suss" the owner of the piece out. She then admits to fancying Sid and he promises to make her a lady if she gives him information about his captured love intrest. She throws herself at the unwilling Sid and is caught by Kenneth, who challenges him to a duel, which ends up a shambles.Kenneth, Joan and Peter go back to France, Kenneth and Peter still at risk of being headless and Joan not a lady. Sid, Jim and Charles follow to get Jacqueline back. They discover that Kenneth is chopping heads off the rich while living the life of luxury himself! The indulge in a grand finale, with the Brits launching an attack on Kenneth's mansion, and the defated figure has to stand and watch as all his antiques are destroyed. Sid finally rescues the girl, with the help of Joan. The house ends up collapsing with Kenneth and Peter inside and Sid, Jim, Charles, Joan and Dany Robin running for safety.We are then taken back to Madame La Gulliotine, where Kenneth and Peter are about to disobey the title's advice. Kenneth: "Thank goodness the Fingernail isn't here to see this". Then Sid lift's the executioner's mask, brings down the blade and gives his trademark dirty laugh. Sid and Dany are lord and lady at Sid' mansion with Joan being Lady de Pommfrit: Joan: "Well this is a fine way to keep aa bargain, I must say!"/ Sid: "What's the matter with you, you wanted a title and he's got one"/ Joan: "I hate to think what it is!". Sid gives his dirty laugh and the film draws to a close.Overall, "Carry On ... Don't Lose Your Head" is a masterpiece at describing English-French unrest history in a comedy sense. The film was called "Don't Lose Your Head" at first, but then re-released with "Carry On" added to it, which gave it bigger profit. A ten out of ten for this film and a must see for any "Carry On" fan. Laugh if you must, but take my advice, don't lose your head!