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** When explaining Fanny's promiscuity to the audience, one of the names Lurk calls her is "Fanny by gaslight", the title of a 1940 novel and 1944 film.
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Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Creator/HermioneBaddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Creator/MadelineSmith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
to:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Creator/HermioneBaddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Creator/MadelineSmith, Stanley Holloway, Creator/StanleyHolloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
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Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Creator/MadelineSmith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
to:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Creator/HermioneBaddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Creator/MadelineSmith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
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Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
->'''Fanny''': You mean you're not going to fight for your country?
->'''Lurk''': Look, I try to see the other chap's point of view. Perhaps the filthy Bosche ''enjoy'' being filthy. Who am I to criticise other people's habits?
->'''Lurk''': Look, I try to see the other chap's point of view. Perhaps the filthy Bosche ''enjoy'' being filthy. Who am I to criticise other people's habits?
to:
Changed line(s) 34,35 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Groping''': There your rifle, an' there's your bayonet. You know where to put it, don't ya?
-->'''Lurk''': ''Yes'', I know where I'd ''like'' to put it...
-->'''Lurk''': ''Yes'', I know where I'd ''like'' to put it...
to:
Changed line(s) 40,42 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lurk''': Surely, she won't pull that old gag?
-->'''Mata Hari''': Of course I vill.
-->'''Lurk''': In that case, so will I.
-->'''Mata Hari''': Of course I vill.
-->'''Lurk''': In that case, so will I.
to:
-->'''Mata
Changed line(s) 62,63 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Groping''': I'll teach you to interfere with me private life!
--->'''Lurk''': Oh, Mister, your life is no concern of mine, especially your private parts.
--->'''Lurk''': Oh, Mister, your life is no concern of mine, especially your private parts.
to:
Changed line(s) 65,66 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Groping''': Your cravat - it's drooping a little.
--->'''Lurk''': That's not surprising, is it? He is seventy-five.
--->'''Lurk''': That's not surprising, is it? He is seventy-five.
to:
Changed line(s) 71,72 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Groping''': And when I come back, I want to be able to see me '''face''' in '''them'''.
-->'''Lurk''': If you're not careful, you'll see ''them'' in your ''bloody'' '''face!'''
-->'''Lurk''': If you're not careful, you'll see ''them'' in your ''bloody'' '''face!'''
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Changed line(s) 80 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lurk''': Look at my finger! ''Oh'', get me to the Royal Finger Hospital quickly.
to:
Changed line(s) 103 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Colonel von Gutz''': I need to interr-er... give him the help he needs.
to:
-->'''Colonel von Gutz''': Gutz:''' I need to interr-er... give him the help he needs.
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Lurk''': "Groping". What? That's not only his name, that's his hobby.
to:
Changed line(s) 114,116 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lurk''': What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a tree before?
-->'''Waiter''': Sorry, sir.
-->'''Lurk''': We've got branches everywhere.
-->'''Waiter''': Sorry, sir.
-->'''Lurk''': We've got branches everywhere.
to:
Changed line(s) 148 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Lurk''': Still, I love her dearly, even if she is only just a common little trollop. Of course, 'round here, she's known as "Fanny by gaslight", or "by moonlight", or "by sunlight", or "by candlelight". I mean, it's all the same to her. She always closes her eyes anyway.
to:
Changed line(s) 152,153 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lord Twithampton''': Well, if it does come to ''armed'' conflict, it's going to be terribly hard on me an' your mother, you know. Cooped up here, I hope we don't get on top of each other.
-->'''Lurk''': Don't worry. There's no fear of ''that''.
-->'''Lurk''': Don't worry. There's no fear of ''that''.
to:
-->'''Lord Twithampton''': Twithampton:''' Well, if it does come to ''armed'' conflict, it's going to be terribly hard on me an' your mother, you know. Cooped up here, I hope we don't get on top of each other.
-->'''Lurk''': -->'''Lurk:''' Don't worry. There's no fear of ''that''.
Changed line(s) 171,175 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''The boys are going, up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''The boys are going, up the front!''
to:
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': Cora/Troops:''' ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': -->'''Lurk:''' ''Up the front!''
-->'''AuntieCora/Troops''': Cora/Troops:''' ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': -->'''Lurk:''' ''Up the front!''
-->'''AuntieCora/Troops''': Cora/Troops:''' ''The boys are going, up the front!''
-->'''Auntie
-->'''Auntie
Changed line(s) 177,179 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lurk''': This could be ''very'' interesting. Now, what ''vital'' questions shall I ask?
-->'''Mata Hari''': 36-22-36.
-->'''Lurk''': Oh, I 'aven't asked you yet, dear.
-->'''Mata Hari''': 36-22-36.
-->'''Lurk''': Oh, I 'aven't asked you yet, dear.
to:
-->'''Mata
Changed line(s) 188,189 (click to see context) from:
-->'''The Great Vincento''': I will take your ''breath'' away.
-->'''Lurk''': I wish you'd take ''yours'' away.
-->'''Lurk''': I wish you'd take ''yours'' away.
to:
-->'''The Great Vincento''': Vincento:''' I will take your ''breath'' away.
-->'''Lurk''': -->'''Lurk:''' I wish you'd take ''yours'' away.
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Changed line(s) 158 (click to see context) from:
** When Lurk is caught in the German's searchlight, he asks "What do I do now, sing 'Swanee'?".
to:
** When Lurk is caught in the German's Germans' searchlight, he asks "What do I do now, sing 'Swanee'?".
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Added example(s)
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** When Groping bends over, the goat charges behind and rams him.
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Changed line(s) 108 (click to see context) from:
** Lord and Lady '''Twit'''hampton, slang for a stupid person which fits the {{Upper Class Twit}}s.
to:
** Lord and Lady '''Twit'''hampton, slang for a stupid person which fits the {{Upper Class Twit}}s.[[UpperClassTwit Upper-Class Twits]].
Changed line(s) 112 (click to see context) from:
** Although only stated in the credits, the other Officer in charge of Lurke is called "Corporal '''Lovechild'''", meaning the child of two who haven't been married, perfect for an utter bastard such as himself.
to:
** Although only stated in the credits, the other Officer in charge of Lurke Lurk is called "Corporal '''Lovechild'''", meaning the child of two who haven't been married, perfect for an utter bastard such as himself.
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Misuse - Impersonating An Officer is about policemen, not army officers.
Deleted line(s) 100,102 (click to see context) :
* ImpersonatingAnOfficer:
** Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a British Medical Officer in order to get the master plan back from Lurk.
** Later on, he disguises himself as a Scottish Officer to get into British Headquarters.
** Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a British Medical Officer in order to get the master plan back from Lurk.
** Later on, he disguises himself as a Scottish Officer to get into British Headquarters.
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Changed line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) from:
When UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne breaks out, Captain Nigel and Groping go off to fight, but Lurk is happy enough to stay at home until he hypnotised to want to defend by the Great Vincento (Holloway). Once in a trance, Auntie Cora Crumpington (Bryan) gets him to enlist in the army and he travels to the Western Front as a Private under the command of Groping, now a Sergeant Major, and Corporal Lovechild (Herbert).
to:
When UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne UsefulNotes/WorldWarI breaks out, Captain Nigel and Groping go off to fight, but Lurk is happy enough to stay at home until he hypnotised to want to defend by the Great Vincento (Holloway). Once in a trance, Auntie Cora Crumpington (Bryan) gets him to enlist in the army and he travels to the Western Front as a Private under the command of Groping, now a Sergeant Major, and Corporal Lovechild (Herbert).
Changed line(s) 59 (click to see context) from:
* DistantFinale: After Lurk is made a Colonel, the film cuts to 1939 when UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo has been declared.
to:
* DistantFinale: After Lurk is made a Colonel, the film cuts to 1939 when UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo UsefulNotes/WorldWarII has been declared.
Changed line(s) 91 (click to see context) from:
* HereWeGoAgain: After fighting in World War One, the film ends with Lurk hearing of the outbreak of World War Two.
to:
* HereWeGoAgain: After fighting in World War One, UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, the film ends with Lurk hearing of the outbreak of World War Two.UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.
Changed line(s) 137 (click to see context) from:
* PlotHole: Early on, Groping states that the Hun is at the gate again, despite the film being set in UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne meaning it should've been the first time Britain was at war with Germany.
to:
* PlotHole: Early on, Groping states that the Hun is at the gate again, despite the film being set in UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne UsefulNotes/WorldWarI meaning it should've been the first time Britain was at war with Germany.
Changed line(s) 182 (click to see context) from:
* {{Undercrank}}: PlayedForLaughs as the Germans and British capture and recapture the French base back and forth.
to:
* {{Undercrank}}: PlayedForLaughs as the Germans and British rapidly capture and recapture the French base back and forth.
Changed line(s) 184 (click to see context) from:
* VisualPun: Lurk claims he won't fight in World War Two has he has the kids to look after, followed by him walking down the street with lots and lots of goats.
to:
* VisualPun: Lurk claims he won't fight in World War Two has UsefulNotes/WorldWarII as he has the kids to look after, followed by him walking down the street with lots and lots of goats.
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Changed line(s) 53 (click to see context) from:
* CoveredInGunge: Upon his arrival in France, the motorbike that dropped him off sprays him with mud.
to:
* CoveredInGunge: Upon his Lurk's arrival in France, the motorbike that dropped him off sprays him with mud.
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* BigDamnKiss: Lurk gives Fanny one after he is made a Colonel.
to:
* BigDamnKiss: TheBigDamnKiss: Lurk gives Fanny one after he is made a Colonel.
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Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Madeline Smith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
to:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Madeline Smith, Creator/MadelineSmith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
Once inside the British military's headquarters, the German spy UsefulNotes/MataHari (Gabor) tries to get the plans back from Lurk before he can give them to General Burke (Coote), while he is pursued by Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner (Gertan Klauber) and Blitzen (Stanley Lebor), as HilarityEnsues.
to:
Once inside the British military's headquarters, the German spy UsefulNotes/MataHari (Gabor) tries to get the plans back from Lurk before he can give them to General Burke (Coote), while he is pursued by Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner (Gertan Klauber) (Creator/GertanKlauber) and Blitzen (Stanley Lebor), as HilarityEnsues.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
Once inside the British military's headquarters, the German spy UsefulNotes/MataHari (Gabor) tries to get the plans back from Lurk before he can give them to General Burke (Coote), while is he is pursued by Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner (Gertan Klauber) and Blitzen (Stanley Lebor), as HilarityEnsues.
to:
Once inside the British military's headquarters, the German spy UsefulNotes/MataHari (Gabor) tries to get the plans back from Lurk before he can give them to General Burke (Coote), while is he is pursued by Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner (Gertan Klauber) and Blitzen (Stanley Lebor), as HilarityEnsues.
Added DiffLines:
* PreWarCivilianCareer: Prior to joining the army, Lurk and Groping were the bootboy and butler to Lord and Lady Twithampton.
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Deleted line(s) 116 (click to see context) :
** Another only revealed in the credits is "El '''Punctur'''io", who a dragged-up Lurk assists for his stage act. "Puncture" means to put a hole in something, while he does a KnifeThrowingAct.
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* StevenUlyssesPerhero: Although only revealed in the credits, the man who a dragged-up Lurk assists for his stage act is called "El '''Punctur'''io". "Puncture" means to put a hole in something, while he does a KnifeThrowingAct.
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Changed line(s) 80 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lurk''': Look at my finger! ''Oh'', Get me to the Royal Finger Hospital quickly.
to:
-->'''Lurk''': Look at my finger! ''Oh'', Get get me to the Royal Finger Hospital quickly.
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* IdenticalGrandson: Lurk is the spitting image of his Roman ancestor, [[Film/UpPompeii Lurcio]].
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Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, William Mervyn, Madeline Smith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
to:
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, William Mervyn, Creator/WilliamMervyn, Madeline Smith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
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* AnswerCut: When Groping needs someone to take care of the goat and ponders who the most expendable man they've got is, the film cuts to Lurk running up to join the parade.
Deleted line(s) 32 (click to see context) :
* AnswerCut: When Groping needs someone to take care of the goat and ponders who the most expendable man they've got is, the film cuts to Lurk running up to join the parade.
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Changed line(s) 72 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Lurk''': If your not careful, you'll see ''them'' in your ''bloody'' '''face!'''
to:
-->'''Lurk''': If your you're not careful, you'll see ''them'' in your ''bloody'' '''face!'''
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Changed line(s) 128 (click to see context) from:
** The same can be said for Lurk, Groping, Colonel von Gutz, General Burke, Lord and Lady Twithampton, Captain Hamburger, and Mallett's first names.
to:
** The same can be said for Lurk, Groping, Colonel von Gutz, Donner, Blitzen, General Burke, Lord and Lady Twithampton, Captain Hamburger, and Mallett's first names.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/upthefront.jpg]]
->'''Fanny''': You mean you're not going to fight for your country?
->'''Lurk''': Look, I try to see the other chap's point of view. Perhaps the filthy Bosche ''enjoy'' being filthy. Who am I to criticise other people's habits?
-->-- '''Lurk''' trying to justify his cowardice to '''Fanny'''.
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, William Mervyn, Madeline Smith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
Lurk (Howerd) is one of the servants of Lord and Lady Twithampton (Mervyn and Linda Gray) and Captain Nigel Phipps-Fortescue (Cecil). He is the lowliest of all the servants and a terrible coward. While his heart lies with the Maid, Fanny (Smith), he has no chance of getting to her while the butler, Groping (Fraser), has his eye (and hands) on her.
When UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne breaks out, Captain Nigel and Groping go off to fight, but Lurk is happy enough to stay at home until he hypnotised to want to defend by the Great Vincento (Holloway). Once in a trance, Auntie Cora Crumpington (Bryan) gets him to enlist in the army and he travels to the Western Front as a Private under the command of Groping, now a Sergeant Major, and Corporal Lovechild (Herbert).
After a mix-up causes him to accidentally enter Madame Monique's (Baddeley) brothel mistaking it for the Medical Officer's residence, Groping sends Lurk to No Man's Land, where he ends up in possession of the German's master plan after Captain Nigel steals it from under the noses of General von Kobler (Bull), Colonel von Gutz (Percival), and Captain Hamburger (Ingo Mogendorf). Once Lurk and Captain Nigel return to their base, it has been invaded by the Germans, so Captain Nigel has to have it tattooed onto Lurk's rear end, causing German intelligence to pursue Lurk across France.
Once inside the British military's headquarters, the German spy UsefulNotes/MataHari (Gabor) tries to get the plans back from Lurk before he can give them to General Burke (Coote), while is he is pursued by Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner (Gertan Klauber) and Blitzen (Stanley Lebor), as HilarityEnsues.
----
!!Tropes in this Film:
* AccidentalMisnaming: Colonel von Gutz's accent causes him to pronounce Captain Nigel's name as "Niggle Whipps-Vaterscrew".
* AccidentalPervert: While looking for Lurk, Colonel von Gutz accidentally walks in on the Buttercup Girls getting changed.
* TheAlcoholic: The Great Vincento, who is plastered and clearly slurring his words throughout his entire stage performance. He eventually passes out midperformance, right before he was supposed to snap Lurk out of his trance, causing Auntie Cora to get him to enlist to fight in the war.
* AlliterativeName: The credits reveal that Auntie Cora's full name is "'''C'''ora '''C'''rumpington".
* AllThereInTheScript: Several characters' names are only given in the end credits:
** Auntie Cora's last name is "Crumpington".
** The German General's last name is "Von Kobler".
** The other Officer working with Groping is called "Corporal Lovechild".
** The man doing the KnifeThrowingAct is called "El Puncturio".
** The CampCook is called "Midgeley".
** The German who sees General von Kobler and Colonel von Gutz put the master plan in the safe is called "Muller".
** Mata Hari's maid is called "Magda".
* AnArmAndALeg: When thinking his finger has gotten infected, Lurk briefly frets that his arm will have to be chopped off.
* AnswerCut: When Groping needs someone to take care of the goat and ponders who the most expendable man they've got is, the film cuts to Lurk running up to join the parade.
* AssShove: When Groping gives Lurk his bayonet:
-->'''Groping''': There your rifle, an' there's your bayonet. You know where to put it, don't ya?
-->'''Lurk''': ''Yes'', I know where I'd ''like'' to put it...
* BandageMummy: Fanny has Lurk covered in bandages in order to sneak him out of the field hospital without Colonel von Gutz discovering him.
* BigDamnKiss: Lurk gives Fanny one after he is made a Colonel.
* BlackComedyRape: When Groping lives up to his name with Fanny, she asks if he's not going to rape her, leading to Groping flipping a coin to see if he should or not.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: As with ''Film/UpPompeii'' and ''Film/UpTheChastityBelt'', Creator/FrankieHowerd frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the audience and crack jokes. At one point, Creator/ZsaZsaGabor does too:
-->'''Lurk''': Surely, she won't pull that old gag?
-->'''Mata Hari''': Of course I vill.
-->'''Lurk''': In that case, so will I.
* BriefAccentImitation:
** Lurk copies Lord Twithampton's voice to stop Groping from having his way with Fanny.
** Lurk copies Mata Hari's voice to escape Colonel von Gutz, Donner, and Blitzen.
* BuxomBeautyStandard: When in the field hospital, Lurk admires Fanny's breasts.
* CampCook: Lurk and the troops have Midgeley, a disgusting man who puts dead cockroaches and boots in the food.
* CassandraTruth: Lord Twithampton accurately predicts that England will go to war soon but Lurk just dismisses him as a silly old fool.
* ClothingDamage:
** Groping rips Fanny's maid outfit as he tries to have his way with her.
** The goat Lurk has been tasked with keeping an eye on rips his battledress trousers.
* ComedicUnderwearExposure: When Lurk is DisguisedInDrag for El Puncturio's KnifeThrowingAct, Colonel von Gutz throws a knife at him. It doesn't harm him but causes his knickers to fall around his ankles.
* CoveredInGunge: Upon his arrival in France, the motorbike that dropped him off sprays him with mud.
* DirtyCoward: Lurk is one, just as his ancestors were until he is hypnotised by the Great Vincento to want to save England.
* DirtyOldMan:
** Groping, who is always chasing after Fanny, frequents Madame Monique's brothel, and tries to have it off with Magda the maid.
** Colonel von Gutz is accused of being one after he accidentally walks in on the Buttercup Girls while they are getting changed.
* DisguisedInDrag: The Buttercup Girls dress Lurk in Isobella's clothes in order to help him hide from Colonel von Gutz.
* DistantFinale: After Lurk is made a Colonel, the film cuts to 1939 when UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo has been declared.
* DoubleEntendre:
** When Groping is furious at Lurk for interrupting his time with Fanny:
--->'''Groping''': I'll teach you to interfere with me private life!
--->'''Lurk''': Oh, Mister, your life is no concern of mine, especially your private parts.
** When Groping fixes Lord Twithampton's cravat:
--->'''Groping''': Your cravat - it's drooping a little.
--->'''Lurk''': That's not surprising, is it? He is seventy-five.
* DressingAsTheEnemy:
** Captain Nigel wears a German uniform to go behind enemy lines and steal plans for British Intelligence.
** Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a British Medical Officer to capture Lurk.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Groping becomes one after he becomes a Sergeant Major, bossing Lurk around even worse than he did under the Twithamptons:
-->'''Groping''': And when I come back, I want to be able to see me '''face''' in '''them'''.
-->'''Lurk''': If your not careful, you'll see ''them'' in your ''bloody'' '''face!'''
* {{Fauxreigner}}:
** The British Captain Nigel disguises himself as a German to infiltrate their headquarters.
** The German Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a Brit to steal the German's master plan from Lurk.
** The British Lurk and German Colonel von Gutz, Donner, and Blitzen disguise themselves as Frenchmen (with Colonel von Gutz as a Scottish Officer) in order to get to General Burke.
** El Puncturio is really a Brit putting on a Spanish persona for his KnifeThrowingAct.
* FemmeFatale: Mata Hari, who seduces British men in order to get information for the German army.
* {{Fingore}}: Lurk angrily stabs a potato that reminds him of Groping, before clutching his hand in pain as the knife went through to the other side:
-->'''Lurk''': Look at my finger! ''Oh'', Get me to the Royal Finger Hospital quickly.
* FlirtatiousSmackOnTheAss: Groping gives one to one of the whores at Monique's.
* TheGhost:
** When Lurk finds the Battle H.Q., he mistakes it for the residence of his friend, Harry Quigley.
** Mademoiselle Frufru, who Midgeley goes off for a tryst with.
** General and Madame Dubinier, and Sir Grumble de Grunt, guests at British Headquarters.
** Isobella, El Puncturio's assistant who Lurk disguises himself as to hide from Colonel von Gutz.
* GotVolunteered: Velma forces a reluctant Lurk to take part in the Great Vincento's hypnotism show.
* GratuitousFrench: Madame Monique uses a few French phrases such as "Mon Dieu".
* GratuitousGerman: Colonel von Gutz and his men pepper their speech with German words such as "schnell".
* GrievousBottleyHarm: When Colonel von Gutz is about to shoot General Burke, Captain Nigel karate chops the gun out of his hand while Lurk knocks him out with a champagne bottle to the head.
* HereWeGoAgain: After fighting in World War One, the film ends with Lurk hearing of the outbreak of World War Two.
* HighClassGlass: Colonel von Gutz and General Burke wear them, befitting them as high-ranking Officers.
* HospitalHottie: Fanny becomes one after she becomes a field nurse. When she attends to Lurk in the field hospital, he gets a good view of her breasts.
* HypnoFool: The Great Vincento hypnotises Lurk into thinking he is UsefulNotes/HoratioNelson and UsefulNotes/SirFrancisDrake before making him want to defend England, which causes him to be susceptible to Auntie Cora getting him to enlist in the war.
* HypocriticalHumour: Midgeley complains about how unhygienic it is to have cockroaches in the kitchen, before dumping the one he just killed into the stew.
* IllTimedSneeze: When Lurk and Captain Nigel are hiding under the table during Colonel von Gutz's conference, some snuff brushed under the table causes Lurk to sneeze and send the table upwards, giving away the two's position.
* ImmediateSelfContradiction: After Lurk assures Captain Nigel that nothing will make him desert his post, he hears gunshots and runs for it.
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Somehow ''Lurk'' of all people is able to dodge a German machine gun just by running away from the bullets.
* ImpersonatingAnOfficer:
** Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a British Medical Officer in order to get the master plan back from Lurk.
** Later on, he disguises himself as a Scottish Officer to get into British Headquarters.
* IntimateMarks: Captain Nigel has the German's master plan tattooed on Lurk's bottom so he can get it to General Burke without suspicion.
* KnifeThrowingAct: When DisguisedInDrag to hide from Colonel von Gutz, Lurk ends up in El Puncturio's act as his assistant getting knives thrown at him. To make matters worse, Colonel von Gutz, Donner, and Blitzen find him and begin throwing knives of their own.
* LastSecondWordSwap: When Colonel von Gutz (in disguise as a doctor) has Lurk taken away to a private room:
-->'''Colonel von Gutz''': I need to interr-er... give him the help he needs.
* LowClearance: Captain Nigel knocks his head on a low-hanging light twice when stealing General von Kobler's war plans.
* {{Malaproper}}: Lurk accidentally says "infested" when he means "infected" while talking about the cut on his finger.
* ManInAKilt: Colonel von Gutz wears a kilt as part of his Scottish Officer disguise inside British Headquarters.
* MeaningfulName:
** Lord and Lady '''Twit'''hampton, slang for a stupid person which fits the {{Upper Class Twit}}s.
** '''Groping''', meaning to feel around blindly with the hands, which makes sense as he's always after Fanny:
--->'''Lurk''': "Groping". What? That's not only his name, that's his hobby.
** '''Fanny''', means "vagina", fitting for a young woman who loves to have it off.
** Although only stated in the credits, the other Officer in charge of Lurke is called "Corporal '''Lovechild'''", meaning the child of two who haven't been married, perfect for an utter bastard such as himself.
** Another only revealed in the credits is "El '''Punctur'''io", who a dragged-up Lurk assists for his stage act. "Puncture" means to put a hole in something, while he does a KnifeThrowingAct.
* MobileShrubbery: Lurk disguises himself as a tree in order to get to General Burke and show him the German's master plan:
-->'''Lurk''': What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a tree before?
-->'''Waiter''': Sorry, sir.
-->'''Lurk''': We've got branches everywhere.
* MistakenIdentity:
** After wandering into Monique's believing it to be the Medical Officer's residence, Lurk mistakes Madame Monique for a hospital Sister.
** When Groping sees Lurk hiding under a purple nightie at Monique's, he assumes he is Lurk's sister.
* MurphysBed: When Lurk wanders into a bedroom inside British Headquarters, Colonel von Gutz pops out from under the covers with a gun but can't do anything with it as Lurk sends the bed back into the wall, giving him time to escape.
* NakedFreakOut: The Buttercup Girls have one when Colonel von Gutz walks in on them getting changed.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Fanny tries to help Lurk avoid being done for desertion by telling the doctor that he has vital information for General Burke. Unfortunately, the doctor is Colonel von Gutz in disguise, and Lurk becomes a target for the German army.
* NoFullNameGiven:
** We don't get to find out Fanny, Madame Monique, the Great Vincento, or Velma's last names.
** The same can be said for Lurk, Groping, Colonel von Gutz, General Burke, Lord and Lady Twithampton, Captain Hamburger, and Mallett's first names.
* TheOldestProfession:
** When Lurk hears that Midgeley is off for a tryst with Mademoiselle Frufru, he claims he heard she costs twenty-five francs.
** Madame Monique runs a brothel that Lurk mistakes for the residence of the Medical Officer.
* OneDialogueTwoConversations: After entering Monique's believing it to be the Medical Officer's residence, Lurk tries asking for her to help his cut finger, while Madame Monique believes he is trying to pull her.
* PainToTheAss:
** Colonel von Gutz runs through the middle of the Buttercup Girls' performance when trying to catch Lurk and gets kicked up the ass by one of them.
** When General Burke inspects the German master plan tattooed on Lurk's behind, he stabs several flags in it to show where to attack, much to Lurk's displeasure.
* ThePeepingTom: Lurk spies on Fanny's bloomers through a keyhole.
* PlotHole: Early on, Groping states that the Hun is at the gate again, despite the film being set in UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne meaning it should've been the first time Britain was at war with Germany.
* {{Pun}}:
** After discovering he has to play the assistant in El Puncturio's KnifeThrowingAct, Lurk bemoans that he's "not cut out for this", and then remarks he soon will be as another knife hits the wall.
** While disguised as a tree, Lurk tells a waiter that they've "got branches everywhere".
* PunnyName:
** '''Lurk''', meaning to wait in ambush.
** Captain '''Hamburger''', also a popular lunchtime meal.
** General '''Burke''', or "berk", British slang for CountryMatters.
** '''Donner''' and '''Blitzen''', two of Santa's reindeer.
* RankUp: Lurk agrees to get the German's master plan to General Burke in hopes that he will be made an Officer. He succeeds and is made a Colonel.
* ReallyGetsAround:
** Fanny has earned quite a reputation for herself:
--->'''Lurk''': Still, I love her dearly, even if she is only just a common little trollop. Of course, 'round here, she's known as "Fanny by gaslight", or "by moonlight", or "by sunlight", or "by candlelight". I mean, it's all the same to her. She always closes her eyes anyway.
** The tattooist's wife does - he practices on her, and so does everyone else!
* ScatterbrainedSenior: Lurk dismisses Lord Twithampton as one and tends to disregard most things he says.
* SexlessMarriage: The Twithamptons have one according to Lurk:
-->'''Lord Twithampton''': Well, if it does come to ''armed'' conflict, it's going to be terribly hard on me an' your mother, you know. Cooped up here, I hope we don't get on top of each other.
-->'''Lurk''': Don't worry. There's no fear of ''that''.
* ShoutOut:
** Lurk does impressions of UsefulNotes/HoratioNelson and UsefulNotes/SirFrancisDrake while hypnotised.
** In his war diary, Lurk writes that it is "Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront".
** Lurk calls the army's goat "UsefulNotes/BillyTheKid".
** When Lurk is caught in the German's searchlight, he asks "What do I do now, sing 'Swanee'?".
** When trying to sneak into the British HQ, Lurk claims he is in fancy dress as Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame.
* SignsOfDisrepair: The sign at Monique's gets splattered with mud leaving only the first two letters visible. Lurk sees the sign and ends up wandering thinking that "MO" meant "Medical Officer".
* TheStarscream: After General von Kobler orders Colonel von Gutz [[YouHaveFailedMe to kill himself]], Colonel von Gutz chooses to shoot him dead and take over.
* StuffBlowingUp: The safe holding the German's master plan is blown up by Captain Nigel so the plan can be stolen.
* {{Tagline}}: "When only {{Creator/Frankie|Howerd}}'s cheek could save Britain from the Hun".
* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: When seducing Lurk, Mata Hari sneaks a {{Truth Serum|s}} drug into his drink. However, Lurk catches on and switches the drinks, leading to the two to switch the drinks back and forth until neither know who has the drugged glass. After the two uncertainly take a sip, Mata Hari discovers she has had it.
* TemptingFate: Once Lurk finishes peeling his potatoes, he claims that now he can go win the war. Not a second after this, a mountain of more potatoes comes pouring down from behind a curtain.
* TerribleTrio: Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner and Blitzen, form one to try and retrieve the German master plan.
* ThoseTwoGuys: Colonel von Gutz's henchmen, Donner and Blitzen, are never seen apart.
* TimeSkip: After Lurk is made a Colonel, the film jumps from 1914 to 1939.
* TitleDrop: Auntie Cora rouses the troops in the field hospital with a song:
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''The boys are going, up the front!''
* TruthSerums: Mata Hari tries to drug Lurk with one but ends up taking it herself when he switches their drinks:
-->'''Lurk''': This could be ''very'' interesting. Now, what ''vital'' questions shall I ask?
-->'''Mata Hari''': 36-22-36.
-->'''Lurk''': Oh, I 'aven't asked you yet, dear.
* {{Undercrank}}: PlayedForLaughs as the Germans and British capture and recapture the French base back and forth.
* UpperClassTwit: Lord Twithampton is a feeble-minded old man who can't manage tasks without getting his servants to do the work for him.
* VisualPun: Lurk claims he won't fight in World War Two has he has the kids to look after, followed by him walking down the street with lots and lots of goats.
* TheVonTropeFamily: General von Kobler and Colonel von Gutz both fall under Darker Von Trope, being high-ranking German army officials who will stop at nothing to retrieve their master plan from the British.
* VSign: The end credits start with UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill giving one.
* WardrobeMalfunction: When Lurk is DisguisedInDrag for El Puncturio's KnifeThrowingAct, Colonel von Gutz throws a knife at him that slices his knickers and sends them falling around his ankles.
* YouHaveFailedMe: After Colonel von Gutz loses Lurk again, General von Kobler orders for him to kill himself, so Colonel von Gutz takes the revolver and [[TheStarscream shoots the General dead instead]].
* YouNeedABreathMint: The Great Vincento has nasty breath:
-->'''The Great Vincento''': I will take your ''breath'' away.
-->'''Lurk''': I wish you'd take ''yours'' away.
----
->'''Fanny''': You mean you're not going to fight for your country?
->'''Lurk''': Look, I try to see the other chap's point of view. Perhaps the filthy Bosche ''enjoy'' being filthy. Who am I to criticise other people's habits?
-->-- '''Lurk''' trying to justify his cowardice to '''Fanny'''.
''Up the Front'' is a 1972 film and the third/final [[TheMovie film spin-off]] of ''Series/UpPompeii''. It stars Creator/FrankieHowerd, Hermoine Baddeley, Robert Coote, Bill Fraser, Creator/LancePercival, Creator/DoraBryan, Peter Bull, Jonathan Cecil, Percy Herbert, William Mervyn, Madeline Smith, Stanley Holloway, and Creator/ZsaZsaGabor.
Lurk (Howerd) is one of the servants of Lord and Lady Twithampton (Mervyn and Linda Gray) and Captain Nigel Phipps-Fortescue (Cecil). He is the lowliest of all the servants and a terrible coward. While his heart lies with the Maid, Fanny (Smith), he has no chance of getting to her while the butler, Groping (Fraser), has his eye (and hands) on her.
When UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne breaks out, Captain Nigel and Groping go off to fight, but Lurk is happy enough to stay at home until he hypnotised to want to defend by the Great Vincento (Holloway). Once in a trance, Auntie Cora Crumpington (Bryan) gets him to enlist in the army and he travels to the Western Front as a Private under the command of Groping, now a Sergeant Major, and Corporal Lovechild (Herbert).
After a mix-up causes him to accidentally enter Madame Monique's (Baddeley) brothel mistaking it for the Medical Officer's residence, Groping sends Lurk to No Man's Land, where he ends up in possession of the German's master plan after Captain Nigel steals it from under the noses of General von Kobler (Bull), Colonel von Gutz (Percival), and Captain Hamburger (Ingo Mogendorf). Once Lurk and Captain Nigel return to their base, it has been invaded by the Germans, so Captain Nigel has to have it tattooed onto Lurk's rear end, causing German intelligence to pursue Lurk across France.
Once inside the British military's headquarters, the German spy UsefulNotes/MataHari (Gabor) tries to get the plans back from Lurk before he can give them to General Burke (Coote), while is he is pursued by Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner (Gertan Klauber) and Blitzen (Stanley Lebor), as HilarityEnsues.
----
!!Tropes in this Film:
* AccidentalMisnaming: Colonel von Gutz's accent causes him to pronounce Captain Nigel's name as "Niggle Whipps-Vaterscrew".
* AccidentalPervert: While looking for Lurk, Colonel von Gutz accidentally walks in on the Buttercup Girls getting changed.
* TheAlcoholic: The Great Vincento, who is plastered and clearly slurring his words throughout his entire stage performance. He eventually passes out midperformance, right before he was supposed to snap Lurk out of his trance, causing Auntie Cora to get him to enlist to fight in the war.
* AlliterativeName: The credits reveal that Auntie Cora's full name is "'''C'''ora '''C'''rumpington".
* AllThereInTheScript: Several characters' names are only given in the end credits:
** Auntie Cora's last name is "Crumpington".
** The German General's last name is "Von Kobler".
** The other Officer working with Groping is called "Corporal Lovechild".
** The man doing the KnifeThrowingAct is called "El Puncturio".
** The CampCook is called "Midgeley".
** The German who sees General von Kobler and Colonel von Gutz put the master plan in the safe is called "Muller".
** Mata Hari's maid is called "Magda".
* AnArmAndALeg: When thinking his finger has gotten infected, Lurk briefly frets that his arm will have to be chopped off.
* AnswerCut: When Groping needs someone to take care of the goat and ponders who the most expendable man they've got is, the film cuts to Lurk running up to join the parade.
* AssShove: When Groping gives Lurk his bayonet:
-->'''Groping''': There your rifle, an' there's your bayonet. You know where to put it, don't ya?
-->'''Lurk''': ''Yes'', I know where I'd ''like'' to put it...
* BandageMummy: Fanny has Lurk covered in bandages in order to sneak him out of the field hospital without Colonel von Gutz discovering him.
* BigDamnKiss: Lurk gives Fanny one after he is made a Colonel.
* BlackComedyRape: When Groping lives up to his name with Fanny, she asks if he's not going to rape her, leading to Groping flipping a coin to see if he should or not.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: As with ''Film/UpPompeii'' and ''Film/UpTheChastityBelt'', Creator/FrankieHowerd frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the audience and crack jokes. At one point, Creator/ZsaZsaGabor does too:
-->'''Lurk''': Surely, she won't pull that old gag?
-->'''Mata Hari''': Of course I vill.
-->'''Lurk''': In that case, so will I.
* BriefAccentImitation:
** Lurk copies Lord Twithampton's voice to stop Groping from having his way with Fanny.
** Lurk copies Mata Hari's voice to escape Colonel von Gutz, Donner, and Blitzen.
* BuxomBeautyStandard: When in the field hospital, Lurk admires Fanny's breasts.
* CampCook: Lurk and the troops have Midgeley, a disgusting man who puts dead cockroaches and boots in the food.
* CassandraTruth: Lord Twithampton accurately predicts that England will go to war soon but Lurk just dismisses him as a silly old fool.
* ClothingDamage:
** Groping rips Fanny's maid outfit as he tries to have his way with her.
** The goat Lurk has been tasked with keeping an eye on rips his battledress trousers.
* ComedicUnderwearExposure: When Lurk is DisguisedInDrag for El Puncturio's KnifeThrowingAct, Colonel von Gutz throws a knife at him. It doesn't harm him but causes his knickers to fall around his ankles.
* CoveredInGunge: Upon his arrival in France, the motorbike that dropped him off sprays him with mud.
* DirtyCoward: Lurk is one, just as his ancestors were until he is hypnotised by the Great Vincento to want to save England.
* DirtyOldMan:
** Groping, who is always chasing after Fanny, frequents Madame Monique's brothel, and tries to have it off with Magda the maid.
** Colonel von Gutz is accused of being one after he accidentally walks in on the Buttercup Girls while they are getting changed.
* DisguisedInDrag: The Buttercup Girls dress Lurk in Isobella's clothes in order to help him hide from Colonel von Gutz.
* DistantFinale: After Lurk is made a Colonel, the film cuts to 1939 when UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo has been declared.
* DoubleEntendre:
** When Groping is furious at Lurk for interrupting his time with Fanny:
--->'''Groping''': I'll teach you to interfere with me private life!
--->'''Lurk''': Oh, Mister, your life is no concern of mine, especially your private parts.
** When Groping fixes Lord Twithampton's cravat:
--->'''Groping''': Your cravat - it's drooping a little.
--->'''Lurk''': That's not surprising, is it? He is seventy-five.
* DressingAsTheEnemy:
** Captain Nigel wears a German uniform to go behind enemy lines and steal plans for British Intelligence.
** Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a British Medical Officer to capture Lurk.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Groping becomes one after he becomes a Sergeant Major, bossing Lurk around even worse than he did under the Twithamptons:
-->'''Groping''': And when I come back, I want to be able to see me '''face''' in '''them'''.
-->'''Lurk''': If your not careful, you'll see ''them'' in your ''bloody'' '''face!'''
* {{Fauxreigner}}:
** The British Captain Nigel disguises himself as a German to infiltrate their headquarters.
** The German Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a Brit to steal the German's master plan from Lurk.
** The British Lurk and German Colonel von Gutz, Donner, and Blitzen disguise themselves as Frenchmen (with Colonel von Gutz as a Scottish Officer) in order to get to General Burke.
** El Puncturio is really a Brit putting on a Spanish persona for his KnifeThrowingAct.
* FemmeFatale: Mata Hari, who seduces British men in order to get information for the German army.
* {{Fingore}}: Lurk angrily stabs a potato that reminds him of Groping, before clutching his hand in pain as the knife went through to the other side:
-->'''Lurk''': Look at my finger! ''Oh'', Get me to the Royal Finger Hospital quickly.
* FlirtatiousSmackOnTheAss: Groping gives one to one of the whores at Monique's.
* TheGhost:
** When Lurk finds the Battle H.Q., he mistakes it for the residence of his friend, Harry Quigley.
** Mademoiselle Frufru, who Midgeley goes off for a tryst with.
** General and Madame Dubinier, and Sir Grumble de Grunt, guests at British Headquarters.
** Isobella, El Puncturio's assistant who Lurk disguises himself as to hide from Colonel von Gutz.
* GotVolunteered: Velma forces a reluctant Lurk to take part in the Great Vincento's hypnotism show.
* GratuitousFrench: Madame Monique uses a few French phrases such as "Mon Dieu".
* GratuitousGerman: Colonel von Gutz and his men pepper their speech with German words such as "schnell".
* GrievousBottleyHarm: When Colonel von Gutz is about to shoot General Burke, Captain Nigel karate chops the gun out of his hand while Lurk knocks him out with a champagne bottle to the head.
* HereWeGoAgain: After fighting in World War One, the film ends with Lurk hearing of the outbreak of World War Two.
* HighClassGlass: Colonel von Gutz and General Burke wear them, befitting them as high-ranking Officers.
* HospitalHottie: Fanny becomes one after she becomes a field nurse. When she attends to Lurk in the field hospital, he gets a good view of her breasts.
* HypnoFool: The Great Vincento hypnotises Lurk into thinking he is UsefulNotes/HoratioNelson and UsefulNotes/SirFrancisDrake before making him want to defend England, which causes him to be susceptible to Auntie Cora getting him to enlist in the war.
* HypocriticalHumour: Midgeley complains about how unhygienic it is to have cockroaches in the kitchen, before dumping the one he just killed into the stew.
* IllTimedSneeze: When Lurk and Captain Nigel are hiding under the table during Colonel von Gutz's conference, some snuff brushed under the table causes Lurk to sneeze and send the table upwards, giving away the two's position.
* ImmediateSelfContradiction: After Lurk assures Captain Nigel that nothing will make him desert his post, he hears gunshots and runs for it.
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Somehow ''Lurk'' of all people is able to dodge a German machine gun just by running away from the bullets.
* ImpersonatingAnOfficer:
** Colonel von Gutz disguises himself as a British Medical Officer in order to get the master plan back from Lurk.
** Later on, he disguises himself as a Scottish Officer to get into British Headquarters.
* IntimateMarks: Captain Nigel has the German's master plan tattooed on Lurk's bottom so he can get it to General Burke without suspicion.
* KnifeThrowingAct: When DisguisedInDrag to hide from Colonel von Gutz, Lurk ends up in El Puncturio's act as his assistant getting knives thrown at him. To make matters worse, Colonel von Gutz, Donner, and Blitzen find him and begin throwing knives of their own.
* LastSecondWordSwap: When Colonel von Gutz (in disguise as a doctor) has Lurk taken away to a private room:
-->'''Colonel von Gutz''': I need to interr-er... give him the help he needs.
* LowClearance: Captain Nigel knocks his head on a low-hanging light twice when stealing General von Kobler's war plans.
* {{Malaproper}}: Lurk accidentally says "infested" when he means "infected" while talking about the cut on his finger.
* ManInAKilt: Colonel von Gutz wears a kilt as part of his Scottish Officer disguise inside British Headquarters.
* MeaningfulName:
** Lord and Lady '''Twit'''hampton, slang for a stupid person which fits the {{Upper Class Twit}}s.
** '''Groping''', meaning to feel around blindly with the hands, which makes sense as he's always after Fanny:
--->'''Lurk''': "Groping". What? That's not only his name, that's his hobby.
** '''Fanny''', means "vagina", fitting for a young woman who loves to have it off.
** Although only stated in the credits, the other Officer in charge of Lurke is called "Corporal '''Lovechild'''", meaning the child of two who haven't been married, perfect for an utter bastard such as himself.
** Another only revealed in the credits is "El '''Punctur'''io", who a dragged-up Lurk assists for his stage act. "Puncture" means to put a hole in something, while he does a KnifeThrowingAct.
* MobileShrubbery: Lurk disguises himself as a tree in order to get to General Burke and show him the German's master plan:
-->'''Lurk''': What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a tree before?
-->'''Waiter''': Sorry, sir.
-->'''Lurk''': We've got branches everywhere.
* MistakenIdentity:
** After wandering into Monique's believing it to be the Medical Officer's residence, Lurk mistakes Madame Monique for a hospital Sister.
** When Groping sees Lurk hiding under a purple nightie at Monique's, he assumes he is Lurk's sister.
* MurphysBed: When Lurk wanders into a bedroom inside British Headquarters, Colonel von Gutz pops out from under the covers with a gun but can't do anything with it as Lurk sends the bed back into the wall, giving him time to escape.
* NakedFreakOut: The Buttercup Girls have one when Colonel von Gutz walks in on them getting changed.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Fanny tries to help Lurk avoid being done for desertion by telling the doctor that he has vital information for General Burke. Unfortunately, the doctor is Colonel von Gutz in disguise, and Lurk becomes a target for the German army.
* NoFullNameGiven:
** We don't get to find out Fanny, Madame Monique, the Great Vincento, or Velma's last names.
** The same can be said for Lurk, Groping, Colonel von Gutz, General Burke, Lord and Lady Twithampton, Captain Hamburger, and Mallett's first names.
* TheOldestProfession:
** When Lurk hears that Midgeley is off for a tryst with Mademoiselle Frufru, he claims he heard she costs twenty-five francs.
** Madame Monique runs a brothel that Lurk mistakes for the residence of the Medical Officer.
* OneDialogueTwoConversations: After entering Monique's believing it to be the Medical Officer's residence, Lurk tries asking for her to help his cut finger, while Madame Monique believes he is trying to pull her.
* PainToTheAss:
** Colonel von Gutz runs through the middle of the Buttercup Girls' performance when trying to catch Lurk and gets kicked up the ass by one of them.
** When General Burke inspects the German master plan tattooed on Lurk's behind, he stabs several flags in it to show where to attack, much to Lurk's displeasure.
* ThePeepingTom: Lurk spies on Fanny's bloomers through a keyhole.
* PlotHole: Early on, Groping states that the Hun is at the gate again, despite the film being set in UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne meaning it should've been the first time Britain was at war with Germany.
* {{Pun}}:
** After discovering he has to play the assistant in El Puncturio's KnifeThrowingAct, Lurk bemoans that he's "not cut out for this", and then remarks he soon will be as another knife hits the wall.
** While disguised as a tree, Lurk tells a waiter that they've "got branches everywhere".
* PunnyName:
** '''Lurk''', meaning to wait in ambush.
** Captain '''Hamburger''', also a popular lunchtime meal.
** General '''Burke''', or "berk", British slang for CountryMatters.
** '''Donner''' and '''Blitzen''', two of Santa's reindeer.
* RankUp: Lurk agrees to get the German's master plan to General Burke in hopes that he will be made an Officer. He succeeds and is made a Colonel.
* ReallyGetsAround:
** Fanny has earned quite a reputation for herself:
--->'''Lurk''': Still, I love her dearly, even if she is only just a common little trollop. Of course, 'round here, she's known as "Fanny by gaslight", or "by moonlight", or "by sunlight", or "by candlelight". I mean, it's all the same to her. She always closes her eyes anyway.
** The tattooist's wife does - he practices on her, and so does everyone else!
* ScatterbrainedSenior: Lurk dismisses Lord Twithampton as one and tends to disregard most things he says.
* SexlessMarriage: The Twithamptons have one according to Lurk:
-->'''Lord Twithampton''': Well, if it does come to ''armed'' conflict, it's going to be terribly hard on me an' your mother, you know. Cooped up here, I hope we don't get on top of each other.
-->'''Lurk''': Don't worry. There's no fear of ''that''.
* ShoutOut:
** Lurk does impressions of UsefulNotes/HoratioNelson and UsefulNotes/SirFrancisDrake while hypnotised.
** In his war diary, Lurk writes that it is "Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront".
** Lurk calls the army's goat "UsefulNotes/BillyTheKid".
** When Lurk is caught in the German's searchlight, he asks "What do I do now, sing 'Swanee'?".
** When trying to sneak into the British HQ, Lurk claims he is in fancy dress as Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame.
* SignsOfDisrepair: The sign at Monique's gets splattered with mud leaving only the first two letters visible. Lurk sees the sign and ends up wandering thinking that "MO" meant "Medical Officer".
* TheStarscream: After General von Kobler orders Colonel von Gutz [[YouHaveFailedMe to kill himself]], Colonel von Gutz chooses to shoot him dead and take over.
* StuffBlowingUp: The safe holding the German's master plan is blown up by Captain Nigel so the plan can be stolen.
* {{Tagline}}: "When only {{Creator/Frankie|Howerd}}'s cheek could save Britain from the Hun".
* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: When seducing Lurk, Mata Hari sneaks a {{Truth Serum|s}} drug into his drink. However, Lurk catches on and switches the drinks, leading to the two to switch the drinks back and forth until neither know who has the drugged glass. After the two uncertainly take a sip, Mata Hari discovers she has had it.
* TemptingFate: Once Lurk finishes peeling his potatoes, he claims that now he can go win the war. Not a second after this, a mountain of more potatoes comes pouring down from behind a curtain.
* TerribleTrio: Colonel von Gutz and his henchmen, Donner and Blitzen, form one to try and retrieve the German master plan.
* ThoseTwoGuys: Colonel von Gutz's henchmen, Donner and Blitzen, are never seen apart.
* TimeSkip: After Lurk is made a Colonel, the film jumps from 1914 to 1939.
* TitleDrop: Auntie Cora rouses the troops in the field hospital with a song:
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Lurk''': ''Up the front!''
-->'''Auntie Cora/Troops''': ''The boys are going, up the front!''
* TruthSerums: Mata Hari tries to drug Lurk with one but ends up taking it herself when he switches their drinks:
-->'''Lurk''': This could be ''very'' interesting. Now, what ''vital'' questions shall I ask?
-->'''Mata Hari''': 36-22-36.
-->'''Lurk''': Oh, I 'aven't asked you yet, dear.
* {{Undercrank}}: PlayedForLaughs as the Germans and British capture and recapture the French base back and forth.
* UpperClassTwit: Lord Twithampton is a feeble-minded old man who can't manage tasks without getting his servants to do the work for him.
* VisualPun: Lurk claims he won't fight in World War Two has he has the kids to look after, followed by him walking down the street with lots and lots of goats.
* TheVonTropeFamily: General von Kobler and Colonel von Gutz both fall under Darker Von Trope, being high-ranking German army officials who will stop at nothing to retrieve their master plan from the British.
* VSign: The end credits start with UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill giving one.
* WardrobeMalfunction: When Lurk is DisguisedInDrag for El Puncturio's KnifeThrowingAct, Colonel von Gutz throws a knife at him that slices his knickers and sends them falling around his ankles.
* YouHaveFailedMe: After Colonel von Gutz loses Lurk again, General von Kobler orders for him to kill himself, so Colonel von Gutz takes the revolver and [[TheStarscream shoots the General dead instead]].
* YouNeedABreathMint: The Great Vincento has nasty breath:
-->'''The Great Vincento''': I will take your ''breath'' away.
-->'''Lurk''': I wish you'd take ''yours'' away.
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