Carry On... Up the Khyber (1968)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Gerald Thomas

Writer:

Talbot Rothwell (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 February 1970 (Iceland)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

Gales of laughter as the wind blows up the Khyber and the kilts of the 'Carry On' army! [Australia theatrical]

Plot:

Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond looks after the British outpost near the Khybar pass. Protected by the kilted Third Foot and Mouth regiment...

Plot Keywords:

Carry On | Historical | British Empire | Sequel | Kilt

Cast

Sid James	...	Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond (as Sidney James)
Kenneth Williams	...	The Khasi of Kalabar
Charles Hawtrey	...	Pte. James Widdle
Roy Castle	...	Capt. Keene
Joan Sims	...	Lady Ruff-Diamond
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Bungdit Din
Peter Butterworth	...	Brother Belcher
Terry Scott	...	Sgt. Major Macnutt
Angela Douglas	...	Princess Jelhi
Cardew Robinson	...	The Fakir
Julian Holloway	...	Major Shorthouse
Peter Gilmore	...	Private Ginger Hale
Leon Thau	...	Stinghi
Wanda Ventham	...	Khasi's First Wife
Alexandra Dane	...	Busti

Also Known As:

Carry On... Up the Khyber or The British Position in India (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:M | UK:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Peter Rogers Productions

Trivia:

The Rank Organisation, which had recently taken over as distributor of the Carry On films, was initially reluctant to use the title "Carry On Up The Khyber" because "Khyber Pass" is Cockney rhyming slang for arse/ass. Instead they wanted to change the title to "Carry On Up The Regiment".

Goofs:

Continuity: During the bombardment of the British Consulate, there is a self-repairing window and blind situated behind the piano.

Quotes:

The Khasi of Kalabar: [Lady Ruff Diamond has the photograph] I must take that with me now
Lady Joan Ruff-Diamond: Then take me with it
The Khasi of Kalabar: But what about your husband?
Lady Joan Ruff-Diamond: Oh, we don't want him!
The Khasi of Kalabar: Will he not be displeased that you come away with me?
Lady Joan Ruff-Diamond: Oh, of course
[tearful]
Lady Joan Ruff-Diamond: My poor Sidney will be ever so upset!
The Khasi of Kalabar: Oh, do not worry unduly, before many days he and the others will all be dead
Lady Joan Ruff-Diamond: [happy] Oh well, that's alright then, innit!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Carry on Snogging (1998) (TV)

The British take on the British Take of India, and how India Took it Back, sort off.

As with glass, you can see straight through this movie, for what it is. Hilarious and witty, as is the talent of this huge Classic British Comedy Team.

Come on, you know deep down, they couldn't resist making a movie that rhymed with "Khyber Pass".

What a wonderful awry of comical satire and self-ridicule that Khyber Pass is. This, 1968, typical nostalgia trip from the Great Carry On team has bought us the usual Cast. We see Sidney James, as Sir Sidney-Rough Diamond and the beautiful Joan Sims as his torturous wife, Lady Joan Rough-Diamond, the very intelligent Kenneth Williams as the Rhandi Lal, the Khasi of Kalabar. Here, personally, I think that this is Bernard Bresslaw's, as Bungdit Din, best performance, his last Carry On was 1975's Carry On Behind, he passed away in June 1993, aged 59.

Without wanting to give too much away here, for you have to see Up the Khyber to appreciate the delivery of the script, ad libbing and comic simplicity that is Up the Khyber, which, excuse the pun here, carries itself off very well. Too much forewarning will only dilute the movies hilarious gags.

Not seeing Up the Khyber for many years, it was really a pleasant surprise, forgetting just how funny it is, and the combination, and their delivery, of the names of the characters. Lets face it; the absurd and totally ridiculous names of these characters are what truly make this movie.

This movie contains one of the most obvious (non) location doubles that I have ever seen. Since when has the real Khyber Pass in India looked like the green rolling hills of Wales, I mean, it's a five bar gate along a rocky green path running up Mount Snowdonia, they even put a tiny wooden sign on top, saying, "Please shut the gate". The Extras, seen at the Khyber Pass, who are dressed as local "natives" look like locals that have been paid to wear Turbans for the day, and the make up department haven't even applied make up. If it were not so funny, then it just would not be the Carry On it is. You just know too, that they must have had a great laugh trying to pull this one off. Pure admiration.

This movie shouldn't be passed over; it really is one of the best, where as Carry On Screaming was the better Produced, this is better scripted.

There is Glass and there are Diamonds, this is a Diamond of a movie.

Priceless.