Carry On Up the Khyber

CinemaSerf 6/3/2023 4:56:07PM 8.4

When the "Carry On" films had a decent story to underpin their brand of humour, they were aways better - and this one is certainly one of the best. Sidney James is the British Governor of a North West Indian province who is facing a cunning revolt from the outwardly charming, but (not so) secretly devious "Khasi of Kalabar" (Kenneth Williams). If you've ever seen "The Drum" (1938) then you will know the plot - and everyone pulls together well in this comedy swipe at the Raj and and the stiff-upper-lipped members of the "Third Foot-and-Mouth Regiment". I was never the biggest fan of Roy Castle, but he is quite effective here as are the regulars - especially Joan Sims and Bernard Bresslaw as henchman "Bungdit Din". The Welsh valleys pass well enough for the Himalayas, and the jokes and action come thick and fast enough to raise plenty of smiles before an ending that will make any Scotsman cringe. Like all of this franchise, it has dated badly, but taken in the spirit it was intended, it is still an half decent collegiate effort that I quite enjoy watching now and again.