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Carry on Cleo
Ah, “Carry On Cleo”! A classic British historical comedy film from 1964, part of the iconic Carry On series. Let’s delve into the world of Roman antics and witty humor, shall we?
In this film, we find ourselves during Caesar’s invasions of Britain. Mark Antony (played by Sid James) is struggling to lead his armies through miserable weather. Meanwhile, cavemen Horsa (Jim Dale) and Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor) attempt to alert Boudica to the invasion but end up captured by the Romans. Horsa is sold as a slave, and Hengist is destined to be thrown to the lions. Quite the predicament!
But wait, there’s more! Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) arrives in Rome to consult the Vestal Virgins, but an assassination attempt is made on his life. Horsa escapes, leaving Hengist to take credit for saving Caesar. Mark Antony, sent to Egypt, becomes besotted with Cleopatra (Amanda Barrie) and plots to kill Caesar. Drama, intrigue, and hilarity ensue!
And now, the pièce de résistance: the famous pun! Kenneth Williams delivers the immortal line: “Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me!” 🤣 This gem was voted the funniest one-liner in film history. Interestingly, it wasn’t even written by Talbot Rothwell (the film’s writer) but borrowed from a Take It from Here script by Frank Muir and Denis Norden.
So, there you have it! A delightful blend of historical farce, wordplay, and Kenneth Williams’ comedic genius. If you haven’t seen it yet, consider adding Carry On Cleo to your watchlist—it’s a riot!