Follow That Camel

This isn't the strongest Carry On entry, it's not the strongest script but it's a solid plot ably handled.

However, in the absence of Sid James who had filming commitments elsewhere, Phil Silvers was cast & he drags it down. Every scene he's in is just the same ridiculous, self-indulgent gurning, giving no consideration to others in the scenes or to the film as a whole. He sticks out like a sore thumb to the detriment of everyone, dragging the film from a solid B to a desperate C-, coupled with his inability or unwillingness to actually learn his lines like an actual professional actor, no wonder he was disliked by other cast members.

Thank God he was only in the one film.

Falsely accused of cheating at cricket by crafty love-rival Humphrey Bagshaw, disgraced British gent 'Bo' West (Jim Dale) abandons all hope of courting lovely Lady Jane Ponsonby (Angela Douglas) and heads for Algeria with his trusty manservant Simpson (Peter Butterworth), where the pair sign up with the French Foreign Legion. On hearing of Bo's hasty decision, Bagshaw confesses all; Lady Jane leaves immediately in pursuit of West, but is captured by nasty Arab Sheikh Abdul Abulbul (Bernard Bresslaw), who intends to make her his wife. When news of Lady Jane's abduction reaches Bo at the legion fort, he and a group of fellow legionnaires undertake a rescue mission, but soon become lost in the desert.

Despite missing the words 'Carry On' from its title, Follow that Camel is still considered to be part of the popular British comedy series, featuring as it does many of the familiar Carry On cast: Kenneth Williams, Peter Butterworth, Bernard Bresslaw, Charles Hawtree, Joan Sims and Jim Dale are all present and correct. Sid James, however, is nowhere to be seen…

With Carry On favourite James unable to appear in Follow That Camel due to prior commitments, the movie's producers, in a bid to secure a U.S. distributor, took the opportunity to cast American comedian Phil Silvers as disreputable legionnaire Sergeant Knocker. Drafting in Silvers was a bad move: not only did the lucrative stateside deal not happen, but the Sgt. Bilko star stuck out like a camel behind a palm tree, his comedic style completely at odds with the distinctly British humour. The result is one of the weaker 'Carry On' movies, the plot meandering as aimlessly as its lost legionnaires, the weak gags unable to quench this particular viewer's thirst for quality innuendo and silly slapstick.

The Carry On films represent a particular type of English humour. They are slapstick rather than intellectual, but often show a degree of humanity and pathos lacking in American slapstick. For years it has been customary to condemn Carry On as being low-brow and low-budget. They certainly were low budget, particularly compared with their American equivalents, but they compare favourably with the American movies.

It was a mistake to introduce Phil Silvers into this film. He gives the impression over overacting, whereas the British actors are merely camp. His style of humour is crass rather than subtle. Some have said that he dominated the film. He does not. He detracts from it.

This is an enjoyable movie, though undemanding.

Another of the historical/costume Carry On's see's Phil Silvers join the Carry On team as a guest star. This was the first time one cast members name had been allowed to headline over the others and this was undoutbly done to increase the series appeal in America. However this is rumoured to have caused friction amongst the regular cast members which is possibly one reason for Kenneth Williams even more over the top than usual performance trying to out do Silvers.

The plot line follows Beau (Jim Dale) and his Butler (Petter Butterworth) join the foreign legion in the 1800's their they meet the conniving Seargent Knocker (Silvers). Seargent Knocker is pretty much just Seargent Bilko in the 1800's which is fine by me as Silvers creation of Bilko is a great character and funny even now over fifty years after the series was broadcast. However the problem being at times this does feel like the Phil Silvers show rather than a carry on. The rest of the cast do OK but it has to be said other than Dale and Breslaw they are either not on their usual high form (Williams and Hawtry as the commanding officers) or underused (an excellent Joan Simms who only appears for less than 10mins in total).

Follow that Camel is a funny film but not as funny as the best of the series Silvers adds star power but it hasn't got enough killer lines. There's not one joke that makes you remember this film like the best Carry On's for instance the daffodil in Nurse, Infamy infamy.... in Cleo or the diner scene in Khyber.

Out of 10 I'm giving it a generous 7 as I'm a big Bilko and Carry On fan. 7/10

Falsely accused of foul play during a cricket match, Bo West decides the only way to find his honour again is to join the foreign legion and, with his butler, sets off to join up. On their way they meet Sgt Nocker – sleeping in a bordello just a few hours before he pretends to have been on a dangerous mission. Using this information, West and Simpson get an easy ride – however everything changes when all three of them are captured by Sheikh Abdul Abulbul. Things become more urgent when Bo discovers that his lover, Jane Ponsonby has traveled to the region to find him and has herself been captured by Abulbul.

Quite rightly, this film is on this database without its 'carry on' rider, as this was not an official Carry On film but rather one that bore enough similarity to the series to allow it to be shanghaied into the group. While it doesn't stand out as being the best of the series it is still pretty enjoyable. The plot spoofs Beau Guest very loosely and it delivers the usual smutty puns and Carry On style laughs even if the material is not as sharp as it should have been. The main reason I liked the film as much as I did was down to one main factor – Phil Silvers.

Silvers dominates the film and he gets the majority of the laughs with what is essentially a foreign legion version of his own Bilko. If anything his presence unbalances the film as the rest of the cast, talented as they are, are all in his shadow. Dale is amusing in his usual stuttering role as the slightly daffy English ponce and he is ably supported by Butterworth in a small role. Williams plays his role very well, while Hawtrey does his usual effeminate performance to good effect. Douglas is OK but Sims has far to little to do. Bresslaw, as always, has the 'ethnic' role and he has quite a few good lines along the way but the film does lack the all round cast that quite a few of the Carry On films have. The support features a tent full of gorgeous women who, rather frighteningly, include the presence of one Anita Harris – so much for wholesome!

Overall this is not one of the better Carry On films but it is still amusing and quite enjoyable, mainly due to the Bilko-esque delivery from Phil Silvers who pretty much dominates the film, certainly stealing every scene he is in. The material is not the sharpest and I missed the presence of some of the other Carry On regulars but generally this had enough in the way of laughs to justify watching if you're a Carry On fan.