Carry On Cleo/Carry On Jack (1965)

THEY DO CARRY ON

Carry On Cleo is perhaps one of the funniest and best of the Carry On Collection. This technicolor film has all of the "Carry On" cast including guest appearances by Jim Dale and Francis DeWolf. Cleopatra never had it so good. If she did, she would have died laughing. March 5, 2008

Stupid pricing.................

Ummm........... These movies are not out of print they come from the carry on collection for the price these sellers are selling them for you could by the whole collection for that price. the series gets five stars.................. June 7, 2006

Why the sphinx in Egypt? "That's because they have no drains."

The problem with comedy is that it changes from generation to generation. What was funny forty years ago isn't necessarily as funny today. The problem with the Carry On films is that they are indicative of an era, with a brand of humour that comes across today as almost quaint and charming. Whether you like you like Carry On Cleo will depend on whether you like your humour peppered with silly one-liners and almost slapstick laughs.

Carry on Cleo is meant to be a cheap take on Cleopatra, and it's all very funny for about the first thirty minutes, but then rapidly becomes a bore, with the same old jokes recycles over and over again. The story skewers history with Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) returning to Rome after conquering Britain to encounter an uprising and trouble abroad from Cleopatra (Amanda Barry).

Mark Antony (Sid James) is sent to Egypt to murder her, but falls in love with her beauty, while two British slaves (Kenneth Connor) and (Jim Dale) are caught up in the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. Meanwhile, the plump Calpurnia (Joan Sims) constantly nags Julius, while her cackling father Seneca (Charles Hawtrey) keeps prophesizing gloom and doom for the beleaguered Roman Emperor.

Because it was made in 1964, Carry on Cleo consists of a few more sexual double-entendres than in the previous films, but by today's standards they are still very tame. There's the usual over-the-top misogyny, which now comes across as rather innocent. Carry On Cleo is also notable for the lavish production design. The producers managed to get permission to film on the leftover sets from the Elizabeth Taylor film Cleopatra the previous year. They also used some of the many costumes, so the film looks expensive.

Directed by Gerald Thomas, Carry on Cleo is probably one of the better films in the series, and the laughs come thick and fast. This film is pretty enjoyable although I found that today ninety minutes is just a bit too long for this type of humor. Mike Leonard May 06.
May 3, 2006

"I could use a good scrubber."

This DVD contains a double feature from the Carry On team: "Carry On Cleo" & "Carry On Jack." "Carry On Cleo" is one of the best films in the series--whereas "Carry On Jack" is mediocre. The costumes and sets used in "Carry On Cleo" were taken directly from the lavish Richard Burton/Elizabeth Taylor production of Cleopatra after filming was abandoned at Pinewood studios. Some of the Carry On films on DVD are poor quality, but both the picture and the sound on this double feature are good.

In "Carry On Cleo", Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) and Marc Anthony (Sid James) finish invading Britain and haul several slaves back to Rome. Caesar returns to his nagging, sour wife Calpernia (Joan Sims) and her "dirty old sage" of a father, Seneca (Charles Hawtrey in a toga). With obvious relish, Seneca predicts doom and gloom for Caesar, and the script takes tremendous liberties with Shakespeare every chance it gets. Meanwhile, the slaves--Horsa (Jim Dale) and inventor Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor)--end up with the slave auctioneers--Marcus et Spencius, and eventually Horsa and Hengist change the course of history. Amanda Barrie plays the deliciously wily--yet slightly thick--ambitious Cleopatra ("That bird that rules Egypt"). She uses her feminine charms (and various potions) to ensnare a besotted, growling Marc Antony (Sid James), and Kenneth Williams is in one of the best roles of his career as Caesar. Vestal Virgins, a slave revolt, and Seneca singing in the bath--all result in one of the best, and funniest, Carry Ons in the series.

Most of the familiar faces from the Carry On crew are absent in "Carry On Jack." Set in the 19th century, Albert Poopdecker (Bernard Cribbens in his first Carry On role) is set for an assignment on the ship HMS Venus, but he makes the mistake of stopping at Dirty [...] Tavern. Here he meets the saucy Sally (Juliet Mills), ends up wearing her nightie, and is press-ganged into the Royal Navy. Sailing with Captain Fearless (Kenneth Williams), Poopdecker runs afoul of Pirates, walks the plank, and defeats the Spanish Armada. "Carry On Jack" lacks sparkle, and the plot limps towards its conclusion. While "Carry On Jack" merits three stars, "Carry On Cleo" gets five--displacedhuman April 6, 2006

a gigantic hit and a tremendous disaster

Carry On Jack is a terrible film and never should have been released on DVD but .... Carry On Cleo is far and away the best Carry On film ever. Everything is right and the gorgeous Amanda Barrie makes the bloated Elisabeth Taylor look like a reject. Almost every time she appears she seems to be taking a milk bath. It's easy to see why Caesar and Anthony desire her. How can Leonard Maltin give this only two stars? Of course he gave Charlotte's Web three stars so he's not to be taken too seriously.

Carry On Cleo and Amanda Barrie are so great that this release gets five stars even though Carry On Jack should have long ago been buried in an unmarked grave. March 25, 2005

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