History Film / CarryOnCleo

The movie was the tenth made in the ''Film/CarryOn'' series, during the "heydays" of the franchise, according to many fans. It takes some references from [[Creator/WilliamShakespeare William Shakespeare's]] tragedies ''Theatre/JuliusCaesar'' and ''Theatre/AntonyAndCleopatra'', as well as a few other quotes from his other plays. This film also contains a lot of AnachronismStew, mostly to [[RuleOfFunny fit in with comedic tone of the series]].

Meanwhile, Horsa is bought at an [[SlaveMarket auction]] by Willa Claudia (Julie Stevens), a woman who lusts over his looks, so he and Hengist decide to escape. They hide in a temple for virginal women and eunuchs. Caesar, who is constantly tortured by Seneca's (Hawtrey) soothsaying, visits the temple to get an accurate reading, followed by his {{Mooks}}, who intend to kill him. In the conflict, the bodyguards are killed, Horsa escapes, and the confused Hengist is mistaken as the killer. Overcome with relief, Julius makes him his new Commandant and personal bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Horsa is bought at an [[SlaveMarket auction]] by Gloria (Julie Stevens), a battle-axed woman who lusts over his looks, so he and Hengist decide to escape and hide in a temple for virginal women and eunuchs. Caesar, who is constantly tortured by Seneca's (Hawtrey) horoscope, visits the temple to get an accurate reading, followed by his {{Mooks}}, who have been told to have him killed. In the conflict, the bodyguards are killed, Horsa escapes, and the confused Hengist is mistaken as the killer. Overcome with relief, Julius makes him his new Commandant and personal bodyguard.

* AmbiguouslyGay:
** Cleopatra's adviser Archimedes talks in a stuffy, haughty lisp, and hobbles around [[{{camp}} flamboyantly]].
** Seneca, implied. When he talks about a vision of half-naked women with see-through clothing, and Calpurnia dismissing this by assuming that, "he's been eating cheese again".

* {{Bowdlerisation}}: When aired on British daytime TV, like many ''Carry On'' movies, this one is heavily edited with DoubleEntendre, {{Accidental|Innuendo}}[=/=]InnocentInnuendo and {{suggestive collision}}s taken out.

* InventingTheWheel: Hengist Pod tries to create the wheel, but constantly makes squares. But the wheel has already been invented, at least in Ancient Rome. England and the rest of the British Isles are still in the Celtic (and Stone Age) era.

** When Hengist is found delirious after the assassin ambush, he collapses into Mark's arms unconscious making Mark laugh "What a carve up!", which could be a reference to the horror comedy film ''Film/WhatACarveUp'' that was released about the same time as this movie, which featured the two actors as the leading duo.
** "Infamy, infamy -- they've all got it in for me!" is a reference to a British radio show called ''Take It From Here'', but it's practically impossible to find someone who knows that.

** Seneca, implied. When he talks about a vision of half-naked women with see-through clothing, and Calpurnia dismissing this by assuming that, "[[YourWorstNightmare he's been eating cheese again]]".

* OneMillionBC: The Britons as dinosaur-hunting cavepeople at the time of the Roman Empire. RuleOfFunny applies, obviously.

* AccidentalArt: The case of Hengist, who cuts off Venus de Milo's arms.

** Hengist creating a Venus de Milo by accidentally cutting off Venus' arms pretending to reenact his fight with the bodyguards.

** Julius and Mark talk about the natives they've just enslaved moaning about "tea" and "Crum-pet"s, wondering whether they're gods that the British pray to.

** Charles Hawtrey's character is called Seneca, but neither Seneca the Younger nor Seneca the Elder were old enough to have adult children during the reign of Cleopatra.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

This was ''Film/CarryOn'' series' take on the movie ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}'', with a fraction of its budget. It was released in late 1964, and is considered one of the best (along with ''Film/CarryOnUpTheKhyber'' and ''Film/CarryOnCamping'') out of the entire franchise. It stars Creator/SidJames, Creator/KennethWilliams, Creator/KennethConnor, Creator/CharlesHawtrey, Creator/JoanSims, Creator/JimDale, and Amanda Barrie, and used the [[RecycledSet old sets from the 20th Century Fox film]]. This film probably made more at the box office than the film it's parodying.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: As with many Sid James characters, Mark just assumes that Cleopatra is the typical StrawFeminist who is trying to rule the empire because she wants to get back at men for not finding her [[ChristmasCake desirable]]. The moment he sees her beauty, he immediately decides to betray the Roman Army.

* ChristmasCake: Calpurnia. It can also be inferred that she believes her husband thinks so too, which is why he decided to stay in the British Isles for three years without attempting to contact her.

* FactionMotto: "Nihil expector in omnibus." [[note]]"[[BilingualBonus No spitting on public transport.]]"[[/note]]

* FortuneTeller: Creator/JonPertwee as the soothsayer.]

->''"Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!!"''

This was ''Film/CarryOnSeries's'' take on the movie ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}'', with a fraction of its budget. It was released in late 1964, and is considered one of the best ''Carry On'' films (along with ''Film/CarryOnCamping'' and ''Film/CarryOnUpTheKhyber'') out of the entire franchise. It stars series regulars Creator/SidneyJames, Creator/KennethWilliams, Creator/JoanSims, Creator/CharlesHawtrey, Creator/KennethConnor and Creator/JimDale, and uses the [[RecycledSet old sets from the 20th Century Fox film]]. This film probably made more at the box office than the film it's parodying.

The movie was the tenth made in the ''Carry On'' series, during the "heydays" of the franchise, according to many fans. It takes some references from Creator/WilliamShakespeare's tragedies ''Theatre/JuliusCaesar'' and ''Theatre/AntonyAndCleopatra'', as well as a few other quotes from his other plays. This film also contains a lot of AnachronismStew, mostly to [[RuleOfFunny fit in with comedic tone of the series]].

''Carry On Cleo'' begins in Ancient Britain, in which a group of Stone Age citizens are enslaved by the Roman army. Two members of the capture are [[ChickMagnet Horsa]] (Dale) and [[BunglingInventor Hengist Pod]] (Connor), two neighbors that have just acknowledged each other minutes before.

After three years of settling down and conquering the British Isles, the exhausted UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar (Williams) and his army general UsefulNotes/MarkAntony (James) return to Rome, to be greeted by an angry crowd of citizens and Caesar's annoyed wife Calpurnia (Sims). Because of sheer stupidity, Ancient Rome becomes a part of a war between Ptolemy and Cleopatra, so Mark is sent to kill them both. After one sight of the beauty of UsefulNotes/{{Cleopatra|VII}} (Amanda Barrie) [[DistractedByTheSexy coming out of her asses' milk bath and wrapping herself up in her dressing gown]], he decides to not kill her and hatches a plan to end Caesar's reign.

Meanwhile, Horsa and Pod are bought at an [[SlaveMarket auction]] by a battle-axed woman who lusts over their looks, so they decide to escape and hide in a temple for virginal women and eunuchs. Caesar, who is constantly tortured by Seneca's (Hawtrey) horoscope, visits the temple to get an accurate reading, followed by his {{mooks}}, who have been told to have him killed. In the conflict, the bodyguards are killed, Horsa escapes, and the confused Hengist is mistaken as the killer. Overcome with relief, Julius makes him his new Commandant and personal bodyguard.

Now Antony and Cleopatra's plan is ready to commence, giving Antony the excuse to have Caesar visit Egypt and discuss politics. The paranoid Caesar takes Commandant Pod along with him, grateful that he is far away from his wife yet again. Mutiny takes place on the ship, and Caesar's cabin is surrounded by sailors. This plan fails, much to Antony's annoyance, and the group arrives in Egypt. When waiting in his guestroom for further instructions, Caesar meets an oracle that shows him Cleo's actual intentions, which calls for a plan of their own for Caesar to find out what happens after the cliffhanger.

* SpotOfTea:
-->'''Marc Anthony''': You know I just don't get these Britons; every time we get a good punch up going, someone behind the line yells "Tea's up!" and they all disappear!

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Well, it is a ''Carry On'' movie, after all.
** When Bilius draws his sword, Julius demands to know "what [is he] doing with [his] thing". Then much later, he tells a nervous Hengist to "stop playing with your thing".
** This moment:
--->'''Mark Antony:''' There must be some way we can get rid of [Julius]!\\
'''Cleopatra:''' I have a poisonous [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything asp]].\\
'''Mark Antony:''' ''[looking at her body up and down]'' ... I wouldn't say that.\\
'''Cleopatra:''' No I have! Look...
** An annoyed Calpurnia mouths angrily at Hengist once she finds him hiding in the bedroom.
** Mark's first appearance in the movie is a dramatic ride through the rainy British Isles, to which he exclaims disgustedly, "What a COUNT-ry!!"
** When talking to Cleopatra's mute bodyguard, Julius signals "two" with his [[FlippingTheBird middle and index finger on his hand, but inverted]]. The bodyguard is immediately offended, charges across the room and picks him up, as if he's about to throw him off the balcony. The rest of the guests grab the bodyguard and order him to put the emperor down.
** During the two cavemen neighbor's introductions:
--->'''Horsa''': I'm Horsa, son of Æthelred.\\
'''Hengist''': Ooh -- not Æthelred the Unready?\\
'''Horsa''': Oh no. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything My dad was always ready]] -- at least, that's what mum said.
** When the Romans were in cold, rainy British Isles:
--->'''Bilius:''' Caesar, there is a messenger here without.\\
'''Julius Caesar:''' I'm not surprised, if we stay here much longer we'll all be without.
** When Mark and the Roman Army arrive at Hengist's village:
--->'''Mark Antony:''' What do they call this place?\\
'''Billius:''' Cocko Cocka Coco.\\
'''Mark Antony:''' ''[scoffs]'' What a mouthful.
** Mark makes Ptolomy and Cleopatra swap positions in royalty because "she'd make a better Queen than he would!"

* ZettaiRyouiki: The less said about the men, the better.