Up Pompeii

…as a record of what made people laugh in the 70’s, Up Pompeii is worth exhuming for nostalgia; it’s a snapshot of how a very male cheeky-chappie music-hall ethos ruled TV and cinema in the pre-Python era…

Movie spin-off from the popular TV series with Howerd repeating his role as the hapless slave involved in farcial goings-on. Packed with double entendres, the script gives full rein to Howerd's brand of mockery, with frequent breaking of the fourth wall, made when he was the most popular UK comic. The cheerfully cheap looking set is hardly expanded from the original while the plot is similarly loose. Howerd provokes the ire of Roman officer Percival who pursues him throughout the movie, including when his owners, Horden and Murray, throw a lascivious orgy, filled with naked flesh. Fraser has organised the assassination of fey Emperor Nero (Cargill) which Howerd proceeds to disrupt. It all ends with the volcano killing everybody! The decorous female cast is definitely a plus, with Smith as Erotica a standout in more ways than one. The beauteous Ege has little to do, but looks so good it hardly matters. Made when many British TV shows were turned into features, this is still a fun watch.

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