Up Pompeii!

[TJ]

Amazingly, we appear never to have had a thread about this show. I know it's widely knocked these days (although it was genuinely being hailed as a forgotten classic about fifteen years ago), but I have no shame in saying that I love "Up Pompeii!". I wasn't as keen on "Whoops Baghdad" or "Then Churchill Said To Me", but I do think the much-maligned feature films are better than most people give them credit for.

Any other fans out there? And has anyone ever actually seen anything of the forgotten 'fourth' series, "A Touch Of The Casanovas"?

[Bert Thung]

I got my first erection seeing Madeline Smith's tits in the film version.

[Gavin]

I got my first erection seeing Madeline Smith's tits in the film version.

They still work for me.

[TJ]

Oh don't. We'll be back off on the whole 'seventies comedy masquerading as instructional soft porn for adolescents' tangent again, and the thread will become flooded with mentions of Keep It Up Downstairs, Not Now Comrade, and Connie Booth getting changed in Fawlty Towers.

[Bert Thung]

Sorry, that sounds like "I laughed at the Blue Peter Garden being vandalised" type lie, but it is the truth I had an urge to confess.

Anyhow, Up Pompeii. I think the film version may be the most successful thing Ned Sherrin has done post TW3.

[Gavin]

I normally dislike any show which features excessive talking-to-the-camera bits (or Wonder Years-type voiceovers).  Frankie Howerd I love though. And expecially Up Pompeii!

See TJ, I didn't even make a titter joke!

[TJ]

Sorry, that sounds like "I laughed at the Blue Peter Garden being vandalised" type lie, but it is the truth I had an urge to confess.

See also my Fawlty Towers confession...

[TotalNightmare]

It was the Blackadder before Blackadder.

(Often quoted generic comedy theory no. 34267 - im not the first and wont be the last)

[uncle_rico]

Ah come on,you can't talk about the film without mentioning her tits,IT'S IMPOSSIBLE! Watched this over and over again as a kid. Frankie Howard was the master of breaking the fourth wall. And I used to dance to the theme tune in a monkey mask for my sisters amusment for some perverse reason.

Strangely enough,I've only seen one of the TV episodes. I think it was to do with some Roman history season on BBC 2 a few years back. BBC seem to have forgetten it exists. I wonder if it's to do with Political correctness

[Morrisfan82]

When was it BBC2 busted out that big repeat run? About the turn of the 90's? I remember really getting into Up Pompeii! when they ran those.

To this day I find it impossible not to smirk when I hear or read the word 'prologue'.

[Purple Tentacle]

Hardly a day goes by when I don't have "Lurcio!.... Scrubber!.....  Lurcio!!......Scrubber!!" reverbing round my head

And Patrick Cargill... best Roman Emperor ever. (And the best Number Two as well).

Is Up Pompeii The Film the best sitcom-to-film transfer ever? (Not an immensely competitive category, admittedly....)

[TJ]

Astonishing that they aren't out on DVD yet, really. Do they ever show up on torrent sites?

[uncle_rico]

"Well...it was in my face,so I bit it."

[uncle_rico]

What was the name of that World War II comedy Frankie Howard did in the early 90's? It was a pilot I think,but it wasn't shown untill the late 90's because of the Gulf War.

I remember thinking it wasn't bad.

[Catalogue Trousers]

uncle_rico (echoing the sentiments of many) wrote:

Ah come on,you can't talk about the film without mentioning her tits,IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

Damn right. Although I was introduced to Miss Smith's porcelain doll looks and - ah - fulsome charms before I first saw the film.

Anyway - Up Pompeii? Love it to bits. Howerd definitely is a genius of comic timing and expression - check out the "would you like us to dip your bread in our gravy?" sequence from the film version. His facial reactions are pure joy.

Or just his occasional bursts of frantic movement and energy - the "change ends, half-time!" moment from the love potion episode sticking in the mind somewhat...

Didn't he also do a series called The Howerd Confessions? Sort of like the Up... films on a weekly basis, with different supposed Howerd ancestors turning up in History? The one I recall had him among the French Resistance in WWII, faced with a foxy freedom fighter played by Kate O'Mara in a very unbuttoned blouse..."tell me - what do you think of when I say, 'Bristol'...?"

Obvious, but marvellous!

[Ignatius_S]

Is Up Pompeii The Film the best sitcom-to-film transfer ever? (Not an immensely competitive category, admittedly....)

Hard pressed to think of a better one - personally I preferred the film to the TV programme though. Cracking cast too.

Didn't he also do a series called The Howerd Confessions?

Think that each episode had a theme rather than a different period setting, but could be totally wrong.

BTW a few weeks ago, Newsnight had a tour of Frankie Howerd's home as it's going to be open to the public this summer.

[The Mumbler]

When was it BBC2 busted out that big repeat run? About the turn of the 90's? I remember really getting into Up Pompeii! when they ran those.

They ran both series back-to-back on Thursday nights in early 1991.

[Jemble Fred]

What was the name of that World War II comedy Frankie Howard did in the early 90's? It was a pilot I think,but it wasn't shown untill the late 90's because of the Gulf War.

I remember thinking it wasn't bad.

That was the above-mentioned Then CHurchill Said To Me. It wasn't bad, but the best thing about it was the theme music.

It's odd that no-one in the Blackadder camp (to my knowledge) has ever mentioned Up Pompeii as the slightest influence – especially when you consider that we see the Lurcio family in both Medieval and WWI times.

But then I suppose it's rare enough to ever hear anyone from the Blackadder camp say anything more than 'We got on each other's tits and no, there won't be any more', so perhaps it's not that surprising.

[uncle_rico]

I don't know if anyone has noticed(or indeed bothered),but The News of the World are giving this away tomorrow.

I don't know about you lot,but I'm buying it.

[Catalogue Trousers]

Erm, is that the film version or a TV episode or two, Uncle Rico?

Edited to add:

Just seen the ad - the film version, eh? Nice. Luckily, I've already got that on video, so I think that I'll give it a miss and keep some money from the Murdoch wallet. Right on!

But - to those who haven't got it - buy the rag tomorrow and treat yerself to a fine comedy...

[Jemble Fred]

Nice bit about this show in David Croft's book, which I'm leafing through at the mo. He spends a lot of time saying how much he disliked Howerd, before admitting that, with the cameras rolling, he was an undeniable genius.

[rupert pupkin]

I got my first erection seeing Madeline Smith's tits in the film version.

According to imdb she had a 32B bust until she was 21 when it suddenly 'blossomed' up to a 34DD. Marvellous.

[Catalogue Trousers]

The thing is, at the risk of briefly derailing this, the accounts of Miss Smith's busty substances are many and contradictory - and from the lady herself.

At one point, she's claiming that Hammer wanted her to be more "full-figured" for her role in The Vampire Lovers, whereupon she went on a diet centred around milk, yoghurt, general dairy products, and became bustier as a result...

...whereas at another, she's claiming that she was flat-chested and a late developer, only becoming interested in men at the age of 21, at which point "my body responded by growing these enormous bosoms" in a near "hey presto!" manner.

Which is true, I don't know - but she did brighten up my adolescent days considerably whenever her films were shown on telly. The younger Miss Smith remains a fond memory of mine to this day.

Anyway. Up Pompeii...

[rupert pupkin]

The thing is, at the risk of briefly derailing this, the accounts of Miss Smith's busty substances are many and contradictory - and from the lady herself.

They're real and they're spectacular!

[Catalogue Trousers]

Amen to that!

Anyhoo - all of this has led me to decide to dig out the film version and watch it again tonight with a couple of large vodkas. I'll be back to talk about it later - after all, as TJ pointed out, this isn't (lovely as they may be) the "Maddy Smith's Gazongas" thread.

Although, a quick memory observation off-hand - was this film the first recorded sighting of the Roman Legionary marching "sinister, sinister, sinister dexter sinister" gag?...

[Catalogue Trousers]

Have just finished the re-viewing, as stated earlier. Phew.

This is - I reckon - the best of the TV sitcom spin-off flms, most definitely (a very small accolade, to be sure, but it is).

The 15 certificate (I assume that it was an AA in its day?) does allow for a (rather tame) orgy and an awful lot of bare breasts (as opposed to the original television version's many instances of cleavage but that was all), but it's not all about the amount of flesh on display.

Sid Colin's script (from "an idea by Talbot Rothwell") is packed to the gunwales with awful puns ("I know, I'm a miserable pleader..."), post-modern, fourth-wall breaking humour ("oh no, I already did that gag, didn't I?..."), marvellous throwaway wit ("good word, 'rational'...I wish I knew what I meant"), and of course relentless innuendo ("madam, water wings are not permitted in the bath").

The performances are by and large marvellous: Frankie as Lurcio is simply genius - affable, long-suffering, forever hopeful for the main chance but never, ever getting it; Michael Hordern is superb as Ludicrus Sextus - self-important, lecherous, and seemingly happily ad-libbing to great effect ("my bill for the uplifting of fallen women"); and the rest of the cast, from Lance Percival through to Veronica Clifford (one of the very few cast members to appear in all three "Up..." films, and staggeringly, ah, endowed to put it mildly - she also played Myrtle Snap in the Fry/Laurie "Jeeves & Wooster") are also of high class. More cult kudos for both Derek Griffiths (in a silent part) and George "Inigo Pipkin" Woodbridge, as well. In fact, sadly, if I had to pick out one bad performance in the film, then it would be Madeline Smith's. A lot of her delivery of dialogue is stilted to the nth power, for all of the fact that her facial and body language (quiet there) acting is marvellous.

Also: the destruction of Pompeii by Gerry Anderson's very own Century 21 special effects people (and a lot of it remarkably well-done to tis day)! An epilogue which - long before Blackadder and at about the same time as Michael Moorcock's "Eternal Champion" stuff - shows us all of the main characters as effectively avatars re-appearing in the modern day! A thumping brilliant oompah theme song, delivered superbly by Howerd himself and building to a gloriously joyous, raucous chorus! Maddie Smith's Gazongas!

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!!!

If you don't have a copy of this film, then please do yourself a favour and buy a copy of the News Of The World tomorrow. You can throw the paper away at once, and never buy another copy: but get the DVD of this film. Watch, love, and marvel at the comedy genius of Frankie Howerd.

Salute!

[uncle_rico]

Wasn't that "miserable pleader" gag nicked from Carry On Cleo?

[Catalogue Trousers]

Quite possibly - good old Talbot wasn't above recycling a good gag (he scripted "...Cleo" as well, obviously). Still works marvellously, though!

[Clerk]

If anyone wants a cheapy dvd of up pompeii then its best to buy todays `news of the world` as they are giving it away free - well free in the sense that you have to buy the paper.Shame really as I bought the the dvd with `up pompeii` and `up the chastity belt` on only last year and just wish they would release ` up the front` so I could have all three of the movies.

[another Mr. Lizard]

Is Up Pompeii The Film the best sitcom-to-film transfer ever? (Not an immensely competitive category, admittedly....)

Hard pressed to think of a better one

I quite like the Hammer studio's 'Man About The House', although that's probably got a lot to do with Paula Wilcox, plus the fact that Spike Milligan does a very entertaining cameo.

Don't get me started on sitcom spin-offs. I may be teaching a film studies evening class at the end of the year on the theme 'an alternative history of British cinema' (covering similar territory to Matthew Sweet's 'Shepperton Babylon') and might well include a section on this sort of thing.

I met Maddy Smith briefly a couple of years ago - she still looks gorgeous and is delightful company.

I saw Frankie Howerd live in 1991, on my 29th birthday in fact. The previous two weeks had been the lowest point of my life (I won't go into detail) and his live show was a definite contributor to lifting me out of a major depression. One of the friends who saw the show with me had been a prop man in West End theatres during the early 70s and had previously worked with Mr. Howerd, which was a sufficient excuse to get us backstage after the performance. Francis was utterly exhausted and could barely get his words out, which rather impressed me as it gave the impression he'd put everything he'd got into the evening's show.