Up the Chastity Belt

Forget about the trendy racist/sexist claims from bob the moo. Everyone and everything is stylized in the movie and it could just as easy be accused of being "kingist" "pigist" "jousterist" etc etc. There is nothing wrong with movie except that it lacks material and is a little boring. Howerd fans will enjoy seeing it. Others will have their curiosity satisfied. Some might find it right on the margin of being a waste of time. It is not as good as Up Pompeii.

The basic plot involves King Richard going off to the crusades, his brother John going to find him, and a servant who helps out the family budget with a chastity belt business, which comes in handy during the search for Richard.

Despite the title, the film would not have any trouble with the censors on the basis of sex or nudity.

This film does not have as funny a theme song, but most of the jokes are funnier. Howerd plays Lurkalot, a serf, who bears a striking likeness to Richard the Lionheart, and goes off to fight in the crusades. Eartha Kitt puts in a performance as Scheherazade, and there is a surprise about the reality of the Crusades.

I think this film is better than Frankie howerds first outing as Lurkio in "Up pompeii". as classic as that film was this one beats it in my opinion. It is rather slow in parts but with excellent character performances by Rita Webb and Hugh paddick and of course Frankie camping it up as Lurkalot ("because I do!") the film is saved as a British classic. lots of setbound filming gives it a special magical feel. This film was cut down from an amazing 3 hour original and Frankie himself wasn't happy with the end result but it has become a classic. Lurkalot, the medieval surf, tries to save his master in a series of funny events only to find out he is in fact the twin brother of King john himself of England (played by..you guessed it! Frankie!) Eartha Kitt makes a purrrfect appearance and the best scene is stolen by Hugh paddick as the campest robin Hood to grace our screens ever, but when Rita webb turns up as maid Marion ("your reputation has spread far and wide...and thats not the only thing by the look of it!") the laughs really begin (as they say) see it once at least its a corny classic!

The Queen of England gives birth to twins. In order to protect the blood line one is kept and the other hidden in a pig style and is raised to think it's mother is the pig. Lurkalot is the one raised by pigs who doesn't know his past. He makes a good living as a servant, selling chastity belts on the side. When his master's castle is lost to Sir Braggart de Bombast, Lurkalot must fight to protect his daughter, eventually travelling to the missions to bring back his master. On the mission he uncovers that his twin is Richard the Lionheart and he is of Royal stock and must bring them both back.

The story to this doesn't really matter as it is simply an excuse to hang a pile of crude jokes on. In fact most of the film seems to keep adding things just to keep the film going. The jokes are ok - but it relies on innuendo and crudity too much, whole scenes are devoted to jokes involving the Kama Sutra! I know that this is a film of it's time but there are far too many jokes that smack of not just sexism but also racist overtones.

Howerd is good here - he seems to enjoy the material a lot more than in the terrible Up the Front. True most of the jokes aren't funny but he does seem at ease with the material - but it's never anywhere near his best work. The rest of the cast is made up from the basement of British TV and have the horrible task of acting out this story as straightmen. The only other good role in the film is a cameo by a young Eartha Kitt - she is really sexy here and really beautiful, unfortunately she is only the catalyst for more dirty jokes.

Overall this is a disappointment - it's not as bad as some of his other films but it's a country mile from Howerd at his best. Quite good but not Howerd's best and it's humour has dated really badly.

I love this film! Whilst 'Up Pompeii' was good, this is far better with more laughs and has the best Robin Hood ever committed to film!

The cast seem to be having a blast and this really comes across on screen. Frankie Howerd and the aforementioned Hugh Paddick in particular shine. A shame Hugh Paddick didn't do more films.

Some will say it looks cheaply made, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest, it's cheapness is outweighed by the laughs in offer.

One of the best British comedies of the 1970's and highly recommended to those who enjoy a good belly laugh, and I suppose aren't easily offended.