Don't Lose Your Head
| Don't Lose Your Head | |
|---|---|
 Original UK quad poster | |
| Directed by | Gerald Thomas |
| Produced by | Peter Rogers |
| Written by | Talbot Rothwell |
| Starring |
Sid James Kenneth Williams Jim Dale Charles Hawtrey Joan Sims Dany Robin |
| Narrated by | Patrick Allen |
| Music by | Eric Rogers |
| Cinematography | Alan Hume |
| Edited by | Rod Keys |
| Distributed by | Rank Organisation |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £200,000 |
Don't Lose Your Head is the thirteenth in the series of Carry On films to be made (and one of only two not to have "Carry On" in the original title). It features regular team members Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Charles Hawtrey and Joan Sims. French actress Dany Robin makes her only Carry on appearance in Don't Lose Your Head. It was released in 1966. Set in France and England in 1789 during the French Revolution, it is a parody of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Plot
It is the time of the French Revolution, and two bored English noblemen, Sir Rodney Ffing (pronounced "Effing") and his best friend Lord Darcy Pue (played by Sid James and Jim Dale respectively), decide to have some fun and save their French counterparts from beheading by the guillotine.
Enraged revolutionary leader Citizen Camembert (Kenneth Williams) and his toadying lackey, Citizen Bidet (Peter Butterworth), scour France and England for the elusive saviour of the French nobles, who has become known as The Black Fingernail. After abducting the Fingernail's true love, Jacqueline (Dany Robin), Camembert and Bidet plot to lure the Fingernail to his death... oblivious that Desiree (Joan Sims), Camembert's flamboyant mistress, is herself in love with the hero and will do all she can to save him from the guillotine.
Cast
- Sid James as Sir Rodney Ffing/The Black Fingernail
- Kenneth Williams as Citizen Camembert
- Jim Dale as Lord Darcy Pue
- Charles Hawtrey as Duke de Pommefrite
- Joan Sims as Desiree Dubarry
- Peter Butterworth as Citizen Bidet
- Dany Robin as Jacqueline
- Peter Gilmore as Maximilien Robespierre
- Marianne Stone as Landlady
- Michael Ward as Henri
- Leon Greene as Malabonce
- Hugh Futcher as Guard
- Richard Shaw as Captain
- David Davenport as Sergeant
- Jennifer Clulow as 1st lady
- Valerie Van Ost as 2nd lady
- Jacqueline Pearce as 3rd lady
- Nikki van der Zyl as Messenger (uncredited)
- Julian Orchard as Rake (uncredited)
- Elspeth March as Lady Binder (uncredited)
- Joan Ingram as Bald dowager (uncredited)
- Michael Nightingale as "What locket?" man (uncredited)
- Diana MacNamara as Princess Stephanie (uncredited)
- Ronnie Brody as Little man (uncredited)
- Billy Cornelius as Soldier (uncredited)
- Patrick Allen as Narrator (uncredited)
- Monica Dietrich as Girl (uncredited)
- Anna Willoughby as Girl (uncredited)
- Penny Keen as Girl (uncredited)
- June Cooper as Girl (uncredited)
- Christine Pryor as Girl (uncredited)
- Karen Young as Girl (uncredited)
Filming and locations
- Filming dates – 12 September-28 October 1966
Interiors:
- Marble Hall, Clandon Hall, Guildford, Surrey, England
- Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
Exteriors:
- Clandon Hall, Guildford, Surrey, England
- Claydon Park, Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England
- Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
- Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
- Black Park, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Bibliography
- Bright, Morris; Ross, Robert (2000). Mr Carry On – The Life & Work of Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0563551836.
- Davidson, Andy (2012). Carry On Confidential. London: Miwk. ISBN 978-1908630018.
- Eastaugh, Kenneth (1978). The Carry On Book. London: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0715374030.C
- Hibbin, Sally & Nina (1988). What a Carry On. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0600558194.
- Hudis, Norman (2008). No Laughing Matter. London: Apex. ISBN 978-1906358150.
- Rigelsford, Adrian (1996). Carry On Laughing – a celebration. London: Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-554-5.
- Ross, Robert (2002). The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN 978-0713487718.
- Sheridan, Simon (2007). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema (third edition). Reynolds & Hearn Books.
- Sheridan, Simon (2011). Keeping the British End Up – Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-0857682796.
- Webber, Richard (2009). 50 Years of Carry On. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0099490074.
References
External links
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