The lowdown: 'Carry on Cleo' is the tenth film in the long-running series which people generally seem to love or hate.
As the title suggests, the film is set in the days of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Roman Emperor Julius Caesar (played
by Kenneth Williams) travels to Egypt to meet Cleopatra, taking his best friend Mark Antony (Sid James) his bodyguard, 
Horsa (Jim Dale), and the inventor of the square wheel, Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor). Mark Antony falls in love with
Cleopatra, and decides that the only way they can be together is if Caesar dies. Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor) finds a
soothsayer (brilliantly portrayed by Jon Pertwee) who fortells the death of Caesar. This film is perhaps best known for
Kenneth Connor's line, 'Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!'

Once again, Jon Pertwee has a very brief cameo in this film (a trademark of his appearances in the 'Carry on' series), but
it is one of his best, and he really steals the show. If you watch this film, you will probably remember the Pertwee scenes
more than anything else.

The verdict: Regarded by many as one of the best 'Carry on' films, 'Cleo' certainly benefits from a clever and witty script,
and probably the highest production values of the series. This of course may have been due to the fact that the sets were
borrowed from the 1963 film, 'Cleopatra', starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Indeed, Burton's Mark Antony
costumed was worn by Sid James. An excellent cast and a great script does indeed make this one of the best 'Carry on'
films - and so much better than the "serious" film on the subject historical theme... Definitely one to watch if you are a fan
of the Carry On team.

  Quote:
    Soothsayer:  'There is death this night. I have seen in the fire!'
    Caesar:  'What fire?'
    Soothsayer:  'Well, gather round and 'ave a butchers!'		   Video Clips:
The soothsayer  (4.5mb)
A vision of Caesar's death  (2.0mb)


 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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