Undescribable Perfection

So much average

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

CARRY ON DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD was made at the peak of the popularity of the Carry On films, where they could afford to splash out on lavish sets, costumes and locations in movies set in various historical eras. It's a pretty typical entry in the film series, and not the most appealing one I've seen; by now, at least half of the jokes were feeling quite stale, to me, and not a patch on the CARRY ONs of seven, eight years before.That being said, there's still much to enjoy here, and aficionados of the films will be in their element. A delightfully weaselly Kenneth Williams camps it up as Citizen Camembert, Robespierre's right-hand man whose job it is to outwit the Black Fingernail, a masked folk hero who keeps on freeing aristocrats from the guillotine.Sid James bags the role of the Fingernail and appears to be in his element, with plenty of his trademark dirty laughter and energy to spare. He's supported by a virtually wasted Jim Dale, whose role seems to be entirely redundant, and Joan Sims in one of those nagging wife type roles she always seemed to occupy in later years. The best cast members are Charles Hawtrey as the fey Duc de Pommfrit and Peter Butterworth as the befuddled Citizen Bidet.The gags set in and around the guillotine are by far my favourite parts of this movie, although there's a rousing and elaborate sword-fight at the climax to get your teeth into. CARRY ON DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD also contains one of my favourite gags of all time: Hawtrey is brought a letter just as he's about to be beheaded, and he tells the messenger to drop it into the basket where he'll "read it later". Class stuff.

This probably ranks as one of the better carry ons certainly in the top 10 but not quite in the top 5. Its from the period when the team were making the historical/costume carry ons that yielded so many of the classic carry on's Cleo, Cowboy and of course Up The Khyber. This time its the turn of the Black Fingernail (Sid James) to ride to the rescue of the French Aristocracy able assisted by Lord Darcy Pugh (Jim Dale) opposed by Citizens Bidet (Petter Butterworth) and Cananbert (Kenneth Williams).James is on top form and clearly relishes the chance to play the swash buckling hero much as he did in Cowboy he steals the show in this one as Williams isn't in the fine form he was in other historical carry ons such as Cleo and Kyhber. Dale provides able support as does Butterworth who began to become a more regular cast member through this period. Jaqueline Biset looks sumptuous as the love interest but some of the best lines go to the supporting characters of Joan Simms and Charles Hawtry.If you love Carry On's you'll adore this if not this one probably wont be the one to convert you. Overall a good carry on not up there with Cleo and Up the Khyber etc but well worthy of a 7.5 out of 10.

I've only watched 8 of the long-running and hugely popular "Carry On" films; their overall quality is quite patchy, but the most consistently entertaining so far have been CARRY ON...UP THE KHYBER (1968) and CARRY ON HENRY (1971). This one was actually in the same vein as the latter i.e. a period romp and, in fact, I find their brand of bawdy humor works best in this environment - not only because it allows for a contrast between modern times and the era being lampooned (including, in this case, parlor entertainment that features a minstrel tune whose chorus is lifted from The Beatles' "She Loves You"!) but also because it gives the low-budget films a semblance of grandeur not possible with their outings having contemporary settings.I decided to check this film before others in the series (happily, my local DVD rental outlet carries a handful of them) because I'm currently going through a bit of a swashbuckling phase as part of my Christmas marathon. Anyway, it's an extremely typical offering (despite dropping the "Carry On" from the title, though it did get renamed CARRY ON PIMPERNEL for the U.S.) that obviously deals with the French Revolution, which is being thwarted by a Scarlet Pimpernel-type figure who calls himself "The Black Fingernail" and leaves as his calling card a drawing with the "Up Yours!" gesture: the overall effect is hit-or-miss and the pace rather sluggish for what should essentially be a zippy adventure - but the host of practiced regulars from the series are in good form, thus ensuring the occasional hilarious moment or quip (usually for this gang, these would be double entendres and even include asides to the audience!).

SPOILERS AFOOT AND APLENTYThis was the first quote in the film, quoted by Citizen Camemberet, the Chief of Secret Police during the French Revolution of 1789. Kenneth Williams is in a rather over-the-top persona for his character as he watches the Lords and Ladies of France lose their heads [literally!] by the dreaded blade of Madame La Guliotine. Tallying up the total of beheaded aristos for the day is his idiotic little runt of an accomplice, Citizen Bidet [Peter Butterworth].Meanwhile, in England, the "toast of society", Sir Rodney Ffing [Two F's!] and Lord Darcy Pue [Jim Dale] are living the life of luxury, provided by horse riding, hunting, fishing ... and women! However, they are both bored stiff with living life of Riley ["same girls, same chaps, same balls!]. Their servant [Michael Ward] informs them of the crisis in France, so the Lords decide to "lend a hand". Sid James, in his usual character type, changes his voice tones from a nasal "posh" accent to his normal voice and dirty laugh and goes to Paris risk-willingly, with Jim Dale only too happy to follow and assist.Citizen Robspierre [Peter Gilmore] is far from happy with "The Big Cheese" Camemberet. He is disgusted with "The Black Fingernail's" [a.k.a "That Ffing!"] success in helping the aristocracy escape. Camemberet is facing his biggest challenge yet, the Duc de Pommfrit [Charles Hawtrey] in his usual character self ["Oh hello!"], who's head is due to roll the next day: "Don't worry, by this time tomorrow, the Duc de Pommfrit will definitley have had his chips!".The time comes for Pommfrit's execution, but he will not go up to the guliotine because he is too engrosed in a particular book. Bidet is sent to fetch him, at which stage Peter Butterworth is given probably his best "Carry On" retort, directed at him of course [!]when he and Charles indulge in some Cockney criticism: Duc: "Everyone knows your father was a basket maker!", Bidet: "That's where your wrong, nobody knows who my father was, not even my mother!".The Black Fingernail, in the guise of an insurance salesman, manages to delibaratley break the behaeding apparatus, behead the executioner and free the Duc. When the guillotine breaks, the next great quote comes: Camemberet: "Sorry to keep you waiting your Grace", Duc: "This would never have happened under a ROYALIST government!", Camemberet: "There's no need to be personal!". Camemberet is then threatened with the loss of his own head, if the Fingernail's doesn't come off first.From the only clues that was left, a piece of paper portaying two fingers in the contemptive way and a false-teeth contained locket, it must be assumed that the Fingernail is an English aristo. Camemberet, Bidet and the aforementioned's "bit-of-fluff" Desiree [Joan Sims] decide to head off to England to get clues. Hence the chance for another priceless quote when Bidet is eyeing-up the busty Desiree [Desiree: "Cammy, will you please tell this underling to take his eyes off me"/ Bidet: "Underling! We'll have no more of that talk, vie equality, vie fraternity, vie liberty/ Desiree: "I'm all for the eqaulity and the fraternity, but I'm not having the liberties!"], that being Joan's best ever "Carry On" retort.Meanwhile, en route back to England, Sid enters a tavern, and the room of a busty French waif [the late Dany Robin]. A chance for a bit of verbal love-making is produced before the police break in after the Fingernail has jumped out the window and away into the night. They suspect Jacqueline [the girl] of being a collabrator and arrest her. There is also a delightful cameo by Marianne Stone as the inn-keeper who is interrogated physically by Bidet: "And let that be a lesson to you woman!".Kenneth, Joan and Peter sail across the channel and to the palace of Sir Rodney, not wanting to miss one of his balls [!]. Sid and Jim know Kenneth's game, that he is the "Big Cheese" himself and want to expose him. Joan Sims, after being attacked by the sex-mad Duc, places the distinguishing locket on her cleavage as she dances with all the men to try and "suss" the owner of the piece out. She then admits to fancying Sid and he promises to make her a lady if she gives him information about his captured love intrest. She throws herself at the unwilling Sid and is caught by Kenneth, who challenges him to a duel, which ends up a shambles.Kenneth, Joan and Peter go back to France, Kenneth and Peter still at risk of being headless and Joan not a lady. Sid, Jim and Charles follow to get Jacqueline back. They discover that Kenneth is chopping heads off the rich while living the life of luxury himself! The indulge in a grand finale, with the Brits launching an attack on Kenneth's mansion, and the defated figure has to stand and watch as all his antiques are destroyed. Sid finally rescues the girl, with the help of Joan. The house ends up collapsing with Kenneth and Peter inside and Sid, Jim, Charles, Joan and Dany Robin running for safety.We are then taken back to Madame La Gulliotine, where Kenneth and Peter are about to disobey the title's advice. Kenneth: "Thank goodness the Fingernail isn't here to see this". Then Sid lift's the executioner's mask, brings down the blade and gives his trademark dirty laugh. Sid and Dany are lord and lady at Sid' mansion with Joan being Lady de Pommfrit: Joan: "Well this is a fine way to keep aa bargain, I must say!"/ Sid: "What's the matter with you, you wanted a title and he's got one"/ Joan: "I hate to think what it is!". Sid gives his dirty laugh and the film draws to a close.Overall, "Carry On ... Don't Lose Your Head" is a masterpiece at describing English-French unrest history in a comedy sense. The film was called "Don't Lose Your Head" at first, but then re-released with "Carry On" added to it, which gave it bigger profit. A ten out of ten for this film and a must see for any "Carry On" fan. Laugh if you must, but take my advice, don't lose your head!