Up the Chastity Belt

This is one of those films that suffers from a predictable script. The actors all do well with the material they have been given but it's not the best to start with. Having said that there are a lot worse films out there, many of which are hyped with the Hollywood millions films like the 'Up' films never saw. The highlight for me has to be Hugh Paddick as Robin Hood basically reprising his Julian M LeStrange character from the radio show Round the Horne ("Hello I'm Julian and this is my friend Sandy"). With Frankie Howerd starring in a film produced by Ned Sherrin it was only ever going to be a very camp comedy but the result, while not wonderful, is better than average.

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.

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.

A dull spin off of Up Pompei is what we get here Howerd plays Lurk-a-Lot (Get it?) in his usual persona (titter ye not etc.) which would be fine if the jokes weren't so predictable (men charging door with battering ram door being opened, men crashing through window etc.) and plain not funny in places. Up Pompei always worked best as a half hour blast the spin off film failing to maintain the gag count through feature length. This film suffers from being the left overs of what wasn't a great idea for a film in the first place.

The usual cast from the other Up... films (Up Pompei and Up the Front) put in appearances in this as well as a guest roll from Eartha Kitt but none really stand out as that good. I'm a big fan of classic British comedy but this is far from classic, if your looking for Howerd at his best then you have to look to his original TV series or in film one of the two Carry On's in which he appeared Doctor and Up The Jungle (not to be confused with this series of films it was a Carry On where Howerd presumably replaced the unavailable Kenneth Williams in a rare film of the series in which he doesn't appear).

Of the three Up..... films this is the weakest, watch the original TV series of Up Pompei and avoid this spin off even the biggest Howerd fans will i think struggle with this 4/10

Those who remember fondly Frankie Howerd's take on Roman society in 'Up Pompeii' will probably enjoy this bizarre comedy featuring, we presume, Lurkio's descendant, the serf Lurkalot (who does).

The plot is a little contrived, it must be said, and involves twin princes, separated at birth, finding themselves at opposite ends of the social spectrum: one a king, the other a peasant. There's something about the Holy Land, the Crusades and the key to the titular chastity belt - but really the plot is only an excuse for a relentless barrage of gags.

It could be said fairly that much of the content and certainly many of the jokes would probably not be considered appropriate if this film were being made today. But of course, it is important to remember that it is not being made today - it was made quite a long time ago, and attitudes were rather different then. As the title should suggest, much of the subject matter revolves around sex, although it is generally handled fairly innocently in comparison to modern movies, and those able to sit through any of the 'Carry On' films without taking offence should have no trouble with this. For example, the entertainingly camp portrayal of a certain green-clad, forest-dwelling folk hero is positively tame compared to many of the stereotypes and caricatures regularly presented on modern British TV.

In short, those who are able to endure such terrible political incorrectness will find Howerd in fine form, with a supporting cast all hamming it up good and proper in what is essentially a pantomime on film. Definitely worth a look, if you think you dare risk letting yourself laugh at it...