Trivia / Up Pompeii

Trivia for the television series:

• Hostility on the Set: Lead actor Frankie Howerd and producer David Croft didn't get on during filming due to Howerd's insecurities, strange behaviours, and how it took him long to learn the script. Despite this, Croft still respected how the audience adored him and how he performed the material he was given.
• The Other Darrin: The character of Senator Ludicrus Sextus was originally played by Max Adrian in the first series, then by Wallas Eaton in the second. There was no reason offered for the change; Adrian was a red-haired middle-aged man whilst Eaton played a grey-haired old man. A throw-away line was offered that the Senator had gone for a face-lift, but the lift broke down halfway through the procedure.
• Wag the Director: Frankie Howerd got several actors (including Fabia Drake) dropped from the show because they didn't get on with him, much to the disdain of producer David Croft.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Talbot Rothwell admitted that despite knowing the series was intended to be a star vehicle for Frankie Howerd, he had written the pilot with Kenneth Williams in mind.
  • Fabia Drake was due to make a guest role but was dropped from the series because Howerd didn't like her.

Trivia for the 1971 film:

• Acting for Two:
  • Frankie Howerd, Madeline Smith, Michael Hordern, Rita Webb, Lance Percival, Adrienne Posta, Patrick Cargill, and Royce Webb all also play a tour guide and his tourists in the Distant Finale.
  • In addition to playing Gorgo, Bernard Bresslaw also provides the voice of the prisoner who steals Lurcio's bread.
• Billing Displacement: Julie Ege is featured prominently on the poster alongside leading man Frankie Howerd, but has some of the least amount of screen time out of all the stars.
• Completely Different Title: In Germany, the film was released as Bring on the Roman Slaves.
• Fake Nationality: The entire cast is made up of Brits playing Pompeiians and Romans.
• Follow the Leader: Nat Cohen's inspiration to make a film version of Up Pompeii was due to the fact he had noticed how profitable spin-off films of TV series were, most notably being jealous of how successful The Movie of Till Death Us Do Part was.
• The Other Darrin: All the TV cast barring Frankie Howerd were replaced:
  • Michael Hordern was the third Ludicrus Sextus after Max Adrian and Wallas Eaton.
  • Barbara Murray took over Ammonia from Elizabeth Larner.
  • Madeline Smith took over Erotica from Georgina Moon.
  • Royce Mills took over Nausius from Kerry Gardner.
• Prop Recycling: A bust of John Gielgud taken from Julius Caesar (1970) can be seen in the steam baths set.
• Recycled Set: Many of the sets were reused from Julius Caesar (1970).
• Referenced by...: A poster for the film can be seen in The Lovers!.
• Uncredited Role:
  • Valerie Stanton as Virginia.
  • Laura Marshall as Sutra.
  • Sally Douglas as Titta.
  • Carol Hawkins as Nero's girl.
  • David Prowse as Erotica's steam bath lover.
• What Could Have Been: The idea for the Distant Finale came later, as the screenplay ended with Lurcio accepting his fate during the destruction of Pompeii.

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