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| producer = [[Peter Rogers]]
| producer = [[Peter Rogers]]
| writer = [[Talbot Rothwell]]
| writer = [[Talbot Rothwell]]
| starring = [[Sid James]] <br>[[Kenneth Williams]] <br>[[Charles Hawtrey (film actor)|Charles Hawtrey]]<br>[[Joan Sims]] <br>[[Terry Scott]]<br>[[Barbara Windsor]] <br>[[Kenneth Connor]]
| starring = [[Sid James]] <br>[[Kenneth Williams]] <br>[[Charles Hawtrey (actor)|Charles Hawtrey]]<br>[[Joan Sims]] <br>[[Terry Scott]]<br>[[Barbara Windsor]] <br>[[Kenneth Connor]]
| music = [[Eric Rogers (composer)|Eric Rogers]]
| music = [[Eric Rogers (composer)|Eric Rogers]]
| cinematography = [[Alan Hume]]
| cinematography = [[Alan Hume]]
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}}
}}


'''''Carry On Henry''''' is the 21st of the ''[[Carry On films|Carry On]]'' series and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving [[Sid James]] as [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], who chases after [[Barbara Windsor]]'s character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Charles Hawtrey (film actor)|Charles Hawtrey]], [[Joan Sims]], [[Terry Scott]] and [[Kenneth Connor]]. This was the first time that Williams and Connor appeared together since [[Carry On Cleo]] seven years previously. The original alternative title was to be ''Anne of a Thousand Lays'', a pun on the [[Richard Burton]] film ''[[Anne of the Thousand Days]]'', and [[Sid James]] wears exactly the same cloak that Burton wore in that film.
'''''Carry On Henry''''' is the 21st of the ''[[Carry On films|Carry On]]'' series and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving [[Sid James]] as [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], who chases after [[Barbara Windsor]]'s character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Charles Hawtrey (actor)|Charles Hawtrey]], [[Joan Sims]], [[Terry Scott]] and [[Kenneth Connor]]. This was the first time that Williams and Connor appeared together since [[Carry On Cleo]] seven years previously. The original alternative title was to be ''Anne of a Thousand Lays'', a pun on the [[Richard Burton]] film ''[[Anne of the Thousand Days]]'', and [[Sid James]] wears exactly the same cloak that Burton wore in that film.


The opening theme is a version of [[Greensleeves]], by [[Eric Rogers]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rfsoc.org.uk/jim16.shtml |title=Robert Farnon Society |first= |last={{err|{{AUTHOR MISSING}}}} |work=rfsoc.org.uk |year=2011 [last update] |accessdate=16 May 2011}}</ref>
The opening theme is a version of [[Greensleeves]], by [[Eric Rogers]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rfsoc.org.uk/jim16.shtml |title=Robert Farnon Society |first= |last={{err|{{AUTHOR MISSING}}}} |work=rfsoc.org.uk |year=2011 [last update] |accessdate=16 May 2011}}</ref>
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*[[Sid James]] as [[King Henry VIII]]
*[[Sid James]] as [[King Henry VIII]]
*[[Kenneth Williams]] as [[Thomas Cromwell]]
*[[Kenneth Williams]] as [[Thomas Cromwell]]
*[[Charles Hawtrey (film actor)|Charles Hawtrey]] as Sir Roger de Lodgerley
*[[Charles Hawtrey (actor)|Charles Hawtrey]] as Sir Roger de Lodgerley
*[[Joan Sims]] as Queen Marie of Normandy
*[[Joan Sims]] as Queen Marie of Normandy
*[[Terry Scott]] as [[Cardinal Wolsey]]
*[[Terry Scott]] as [[Cardinal Wolsey]]

Revision as of 05:25, 6 February 2012

Carry on Henry
File:Carry On Henry.jpg
DVD cover art
Directed byGerald Thomas
Written byTalbot Rothwell
Produced byPeter Rogers
StarringSid James
Kenneth Williams
Charles Hawtrey
Joan Sims
Terry Scott
Barbara Windsor
Kenneth Connor
CinematographyAlan Hume
Edited byAlfred Roome
Music byEric Rogers
Distributed byThe Rank Organisation
Release date
  • February 1971 (1971-02)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film UK
LanguageEnglish
Budget£223,000

Carry On Henry is the 21st of the Carry On series and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott and Kenneth Connor. This was the first time that Williams and Connor appeared together since Carry On Cleo seven years previously. The original alternative title was to be Anne of a Thousand Lays, a pun on the Richard Burton film Anne of the Thousand Days, and Sid James wears exactly the same cloak that Burton wore in that film.

The opening theme is a version of Greensleeves, by Eric Rogers.[1]

Casting and characterisation

Sid James plays Henry VIII as a lovable rogue who is surrounded by scheming courtiers. Peter Rogers originally planned on using Harry Secombe in the title role, and in the first draft of the screenplay Henry was going to be an avid composer of madrigals, but the idea was shelved and Sid James took over the role. Two comedic madrigals written for the film but unused were later performed in the 1972 Carry On Christmas special and the 1973 stage show Carry On London.[2]

Plot

The film opens with a passage, which states:

This film is based on a recently discovered manuscript by one William Cobbler, which reveals that Henry VIII did in fact have two more wives. Although it was first thought that Cromwell originated the story, it is now known to be definitely all Cobbler's... from beginning to end.

Henry VIII (Sid James) has his wife Anne of Cleves (Patsy Rowlands) beheaded and quickly marries Marie of Normandy (Joan Sims). This union was organised at the behest of bumbling Cardinal Wolsey (Terry Scott) as Marie is cousin of King Francis I of France. Henry's wedding night ardour dies when he finds she reeks of garlic, but she refuses to stop eating it. Marie gets frustrated so soon receives amorous advances from Sir Roger de Lodgerley (Charles Hawtrey who, while still in his camp persona, is playing against type as a ladies man).

Henry is keen to be rid of Marie, as he has met the lovely Bettina (Barbara Windsor, in her favourite Carry On role). Bettina is the daughter of the Earl of Bristol (Peter Butterworth, in a one scene cameo), a punning reference to Bristols. Thomas Cromwell (Kenneth Williams) assists in ousting Marie by organising Lord Hampton of Wick (Kenneth Connor) to kidnap the King in a staged plot. Cromwell and Lord Hampton also secretly plot to bring the king to harm as part of this escapade, but the false kidnapping fails.

Henry seizes on Marie's infidelity with de Lodgerley to be free of her; all he needs is a confession from de Lodgerley. He orders Cromwell to extract a confession using any means necessary. This leads to a running joke in the torture chamber as Henry keeps changing his mind about the confession due to political necessities, requiring multiple changes and retractions of the original confession. Wolsey is baffled by all the intrigue, and Cromwell is driven to treason by all of Henry's unreasonable demands.

Cast

Filming and locations

  • Filming dates – 12 October-27 November 1970

Interiors:

Exteriors:

  • Windsor Great Park
  • The Long Walk, Windsor Castle
  • Knebworth House

See also

References

  1. ^ [author missing] (2011 [last update]). "Robert Farnon Society". rfsoc.org.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2011. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  2. ^ Ross, Robert. The Carry On Companion, B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. ISBN 0-7134-7967-1 pp 93-94

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