Up Pompeii (1971)

Director:

Bob Kellett

Writers:

Sid Colin (screenplay)
Talbot Rothwell (idea)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's Ludicrus Maximus - When the Forum Loses Its Decorum!

Plot:

Roman slave Lurkio inadvertently becomes the possessor of a scroll naming the proposed assassins of the Emperor Nero...

Plot Keywords:

Museum | Slavery | Roman Empire | Orgy | Breaking The Fourth Wall

Cast

Frankie Howerd	...	Lurcio
Michael Hordern	...	Ludicrus Sextus
Barbara Murray	...	Ammonia
Patrick Cargill	...	Nero
Lance Percival	...	Bilius
Julie Ege	...	Voluptua
Bill Fraser	...	Prosperus Maximus
Rita Webb	...	Cassandra
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Gorgo
Adrienne Posta	...	Scrubba
Madeline Smith	...	Erotica
Royce Mills	...	Nausius
Ian Trigger	...	Odius
Aubrey Woods	...	Villanus
Hugh Paddick	...	Priest

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | UK:15 (video rating) (1989) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Anglo-EMI

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the same 'News of The World' DVD, Actors Warwick Sims and Jonathan Dennis are credited in the main titles but omitted from the end titles.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lurcio: [during the opening credits when Frankie Howerd is displayed in small letters] Oh come on, bigger!
Lurcio: [the name gets bigger] Don't be ashamed of it!
Lurcio: [now bigger] Bigger!
[now even bigger]
Lurcio: Bigger!
Lurcio: [the name is now very large, and most of it has disappeared] Alright, don't go mad!

Movie Connections:

Followed by Up the Front (1972)

Soundtrack:

Up Pompeii

Reflections of a prudish cultural era.

Up Pompeii relies on British prudishness for its humour to work. At the time of its release it was during a time of social upheaval, and people being credited as being ready for more adult humour that didn't rely on the double - entendre, but on more extreme suggestiveness, to the point of directness.

This revolutionary period of British culture, reflected by comedy reformation has culminated in a new era of comedy genius. One such genius of the moment, with a glorious career in front of him is no other than the great Russell Brand. Styling himself as a 'camp' comedian who has reinvented the Howedesque style of comedy.

Therefore, it would be most interesting to see an up-dated version of Up Pompii, with Brand playing Howard's part in it. This could come off if Brand gets his apparent yearning of a Hollywwood career fulfilled. I can't imagine what Up Pompeii would turn out like, let alone a Russell Brand influenced by Hollywood: it seems unnatural! Anyway, if you like suggestive comedy, and Roman orgies then this film could be up your street.