6.5
Amidst the French revolution, Citizen Robespierre is beheading the aristocracy! When word gets to England, noblemen Sir Rodney Ffing and Lord Darcy Pue take it upon themselves to aid their French counterparts. Sir Rodney is a master of disguise, and becomes 'The Black Fingernail' scourge of Camembert and Bidet, leaders of the French secret police.
Sid James
Sir Rodney Ffing
Jim Dale
Lord Darcy Pue
Dany Robin
Jacqueline
Kenneth Williams
Citizen Camembert
Charles Hawtrey
Duc de Pomfrit
Joan Sims
Désirée Dubarry
Peter Gilmore
Citizen Robespierre
Marianne Stone
Landlady
Michael Ward
Henri
Leon Greene
Malabonce
David Davenport
Sergeant
Richard Shaw
Captain of Soldiers
Valerie Van Ost
Second Lady / Girl at Execution
Jennifer Clulow
First Lady
Peter Butterworth
Bidet
Monika Dietrich
Girl
Jacqueline Pearce
Third Lady
Patrick Allen
Narrator
Director
Gerald Thomas
Screenplay
Talbot Rothwell
July 26, 2023
6
I found this to be one of the cleverer "Carry On" films with Kenneth Williams on good form as the revolutionary "Citizen Camembert" aided by his sidekick "Bidet" (Peter Butterworth) making sure that all the nasty aristos turn up for their appointment with madame guillotine. The fly in their ointment soon becomes the enigmatic and chivalrous Brit "Sir Rodney Ffing" (Sid James) and his aide-de-camp "Pue" (Jim Dale) who are bent on frustrating their French nemeses and rescuing the "Duc de Pommfrit" (Charles Hawtrey) before trying their best to ensure that the famous vertical chopper gets two, more appropriate, victims. Instead of the "Scarlet Pimpernel" we have the "Black Fingernail" but otherwise, it's a fairly enjoyable parody of the Orczy story with some good one-liners, a nice dynamic between James and Butterworth and, mercifully, little of the annoying Dale to clutter up the proceedings. It looks good, the jokes are frequently quite pithy and for my money this is James at his best. Good fun.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00