Follow That Camel

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Follow That Camel
Directed by	Gerald Thomas
Produced by	Peter Rogers
Written by	Talbot Rothwell
Starring	Phil Silvers Kenneth Williams Jim Dale Charles Hawtrey Joan Sims Angela Douglas
Music by	Eric Rogers
Cinematography	Alan Hume
Editing by	Alfred Roome
Distributed by	Rank
Release date(s)	1967
Running time	95 minutes
Country	UK
Language	English
Preceded by	Don't Lose Your Head
Followed by	Carry On Doctor
IMDb profile

Follow That Camel is the fourteenth Carry On film (and, like its predecessor, does not have the words "Carry On" in its original title). It was released in 1967. It parodies the much-filmed 1924 book Beau Geste, by P. C. Wren, and other Foreign Legion films (one character is named "Corktip", a parody of "Cigarette" in Under Two Flags).

This film was Producer Peter Rogers's attempt to break into the American market; Phil Silvers is heavily featured in a Sergeant Bilko-esque role.

1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

His reputation brought into disrepute by Captain Bagshaw, a competitor for the affections of Lady Jane Ponsonby, Bertram Oliphant West a.k.a "Bo" decides to leave England and join the French Foreign Legion, followed by his faithful manservant Simpson. Originally mistaken for enemy combatants at Sidi Bel Abbes, the pair eventually enlist and are helped in surviving Legion life by Sergeant Nocker, although only after they discover that when he is "on patrol" he is actually at the local cafe with the female owner, ZigZig.

Meanwhile Lady Ponsonby, having learnt that Bo was really innocent, heads out to the Sahara to bring him back to England. Along the way she meets Sheikh Abdul Abulbul and ends up becoming a part of his harem and planned 13th wife.

Nocker & Bo are kidnapped by Abulbul after being lured to the home of a belly dancer. Simpson follows them to the Oasis El Nooki but is also captured. After entering Abulbul’s harem and discovering Lady Ponsonby, Bo & Simpson give themselves up while Nocker escapes (or rather is allowed to by Abulbul) back to Sidi Bel Abbes to warn Commandant Burger of Abulbul’s plans to attack Fort Zuassantneuf.

However during this time ZigZig has told the Commandant about Nocker's true destination when on patrol and therefore upon his return his story is not believed. It is only when Knocker mentions Lady Ponsonby (the Commandant was previously her fencing teacher and they met again while she was looking for Bo) that they realise he was telling the truth and the Commandant organises a force to head to the fort.

Along the way they discover Bo & Simpson staked to the ground at the now abandoned oasis. The force marches on towards the Fort but heat, lack of water and a sand castle building competition gone wrong decimates the force to a handful. The remaining members reach the Fort to find that they are too late; the attack has already occurred and the stationed garrison wiped out.

After learning that Abulbul's celebration of the successful attack includes marrying Lady Ponsonby, Bo, Burger, Nocker & Simpson rescue her from his tent, leaving Simpson behind dressed as a decoy. When Abulbul discovers the deception he chases Simpson back to the fort where, through the imaginative use of gum arabic, coconuts, gunpower and a cricket bat, the group holds off Abulbul’s army until a relief force arrives.

Back in England the group reunites at a game of cricket. Bo is in bat but when he hits the ball it explodes. The bowler is then shown to be Abulbul who proclaims “Howzat!” to which Bo, with a broken bat and burnt clothes declares “Not Out!”

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Cast

Actor	Role
Phil Silvers	Sergeant Nocker
Kenneth Williams	Commandant Burger
Jim Dale	Bertram Oliphant "Bo" West
Charles Hawtrey	Captain Le Pice
Peter Butterworth	Simpson
Joan Sims	ZigZig
Bernard Bresslaw	Sheikh Abdul Abulbul
Angela Douglas	Lady Jane Ponsonby
Anita Harris	Corktip
John Bluthall	Corporal Clotski

[edit] Trivia

Camber Sands stood in for the Sahara desert.
Outside of the UK this film is also known as "Carry On In The Legion".

[edit] External links

v • d • e Carry On films

Films: Sergeant • Nurse • Teacher • Constable • Regardless • Cruising • Cabby • Jack • Spying • Cleo • Cowboy • Screaming • Don't Lose Your Head • Follow That Camel • Doctor • Up the Khyber • Camping • Again Doctor • Up the Jungle • Loving • Henry • At Your Convenience • Matron • Abroad • Girls • Dick • Behind • England • Emmannuelle • Columbus
TV: Laughing • Christmas Specials • That's Carry On! Unmade: Spaceman Upcoming: London