Carry On Up the Khyber
Carry On Up the Khyber
| 12 February 1968 (USA)
Carry On Up the Khyber Trailers

Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond looks after the British outpost near the Khybar pass. Protected by the kilted Third Foot and Mouth regiment, you would think they were safe, but the Khazi of Kalabar has other ideas—he wants all the British dead. But his troops fear the 'skirted-devils, who are rumoured not to wear any underwear.

Reviews
naseby

In true 'Carry-On' Style, this reverberates as among the teams' best (Along with 'Carry On Cleo').Of course there's the dreadfully, yet painfully funny double entendres, it wouldn't be the same without them. Also, there's plenty of racial stereotyping which certainly wouldn't be allowed now (How long before we NEVER see another 'Carry On' on TV because of it?).The British in India, though are fully lampooned themselves, with the implication that the Indian Mutiny be NOT anything to do with pork/beef fat-greased cartridges, but instead, a plot about the 'Foot and Mouth' Brigade wearing 'namby-pamby' underpants under their kilts!This leads 'The Khasi' (Kenneth Williams - from of course, 'Jacksi') to jibe The Commissioner, Sir Sydney Ruff-Diamond (The brilliant Sid James) that the 'Devils in Skirts' are not what they purport to be as a fighting force, wearing such garments! Aided by Bungit-In (Bernie Bresslaw), The Khasi leads the said mutiny.There are plenty of the standard but funny gags, let alone with the slang-derived names. My favourite line in my subtitle above, where the Khasi has ordered 'the Fakir' (Cardew Robinson) to go! The second part of the subtitle derives from where Brother Belcher (Peter Butterworth) answers the call of the British stiff upper lip! As usual, there's also plenty of bawdiness (Well, it wouldn't be a 'Carry On' without it! 'They call me 'Busti'!).There's the famous scene at the end, where the so-called British stiff upper lip is instilled, as the British hierarchy are shelled in their mansion by the natives, dusting themselves off and discarding the carnage as just some sort of nuisance, whilst Brother Belcher can only see the reality.This is definitely a good watch, and like all decent comedies, even though you know what the lines are, the sheer delivery of the likes of Sid James, Ken Williams and the presence of the beautiful Angela Douglas, but also investing the help of Roy Castle made this a good old fashioned British romp. Although we gave English to so many countries, with our humour, I wonder if say, Americans find this funny or understand it? I'm sure Australians are more familiar with this type of humour but I'd like to know how the other English-speaking nations receive these gems! Certain other parts of British slang you never hear now, are when Bungit In informs The Khasi the native 'Burpas' (What else?) get things mixed up/around the wrong way. He tells him the Burpas are from a very old tribe, known as the 'Arsitases'. British slang at one time for the 'wrong way around' was 'Arsy-tarsi'! This is never used by anyone I know, now! 'Arse-about face' seems to have replaced this!

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PrivateBits

As far as Carry on Films go, this one is the best I've seen. Nobody really takes them seriously as quality film-making or acting so that is why I am rating it 9/10 because as far as the plot, the humour and acting goes - this is the best in the Carry On series.Not too much to say about this otherwise. Same cast as usual, same sort of characters and same conflicts and situations. This time set in the Khyber pass region of Afghanistan/Pakistan involving the British occupation and the revolting locals.Some very funny and original scenes including my personal favourite and one of the most famous Carry On scenes when the Scottish regiment frightens off the revolting locals by lifting their kilts.British humour at its best and I recommend it to any Carry On fan.

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henrymadman

The Carry On films were a long-running series of British low-budget comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. An energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres, they are seen as classic examples of how to do British humour.Twenty-nine original films and one compilation film were made between 1958 and 1978 at Pinewood Studios, with an additional film made in 1992. The films relied on a repertoire of comedy actors which changed gradually over the years. The mainstays of the series were Kenneth Williams (26 films), Joan Sims (24), Charles Hawtrey (23), Sid James (19), Kenneth Connor (17), Hattie Jacques (14) and Bernard Bresslaw (14). One of the most iconic Carry On stars was Barbara Windsor, although she appeared in only ten of the films. Comedy legend Frankie Howerd is also associated with the Carry On films, but only appeared in two of them (Doctor and Up The Jungle) The films' humour was in the British comic tradition of the music hall and seaside postcards. Many of them parodied more serious films - in the case of Carry On Cleo (1964), the Burton and Taylor film Cleopatra (1963).The mainstay of Carry On humour was innuendo and the sending-up of British institutions and customs, such as the National Health Service (Nurse, Doctor, Again Doctor, Matron), the monarchy (Henry), the Empire (Up the Khyber) and the trade unions (At Your Convenience) as well as the Hammer horror film (Screaming), camping (Camping), foreigners (Abroad), the seaside (Girls), and caravanning holidays (Behind) among others. Although the films were very often slated by the critics, they were popular.The series began with Carry On Sergeant (1958), about a group of recruits on National Service, and was sufficiently successful that others followed. A film had appeared the previous year under the title Carry On Admiral; although this was a comedy in a similar vein (with Joan Sims in the cast) it has no connection to the series. There was also an unrelated 1937 film Carry On London, starring future Carry On performer Eric Barker.The characters and comedy style of the Carry On film series later moved into shows in other media. There was a television series titled Carry On Laughing, and several Carry On Christmas specials. There were also three stage shows: Carry On London, Carry On Laughing and Wot a Carry On In Blackpool.

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m_pratt

This film is brilliant i laugh every time i watch it . The whole thing is amazing Kenneth Williams is amazing as the Khazi of Khalibar a very unusual name! Charles Hawtrey is excellent as private Widdle. Sid is Magicial as usual Joan is excellent in fact the whole cast are excellent. This is the one start with in my opinion if you have never watched a carry on before then watch carry on up the Kyhber you will not be disappointed. Its one of the best carry ons ever made this is what the series was all about. Much better then carry on England. The film is so well done that they can get away with pretending that Wales was India!!.

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