Carry on Follow That Camel (1967) User Reviews

Phil Silvers was a mistake

[Royalcourtier · 6/10 · 28 June 2013]

The Carry On films represent a particular type of English humour. They are slapstick rather than intellectual, but often show a degree of humanity and pathos lacking in American slapstick. For years it has been customary to condemn Carry On as being low-brow and low-budget. They certainly were low budget, particularly compared with their American equivalents, but they compare favourably with the American movies.

It was a mistake to introduce Phil Silvers into this film. He gives the impression over overacting, whereas the British actors are merely camp. His style of humour is crass rather than subtle. Some have said that he dominated the film. He does not. He detracts from it.

This is an enjoyable movie, though undemanding.

Bilko meets Carry On

[no-skyline · 7/10 · 11 May 2007]

Another of the historical/costume Carry On's see's Phil Silvers join the Carry On team as a guest star. This was the first time one cast members name had been allowed to headline over the others and this was undoutbly done to increase the series appeal in America. However this is rumoured to have caused friction amongst the regular cast members which is possibly one reason for Kenneth Williams even more over the top than usual performance trying to out do Silvers.

The plot line follows Beau (Jim Dale) and his Butler (Petter Butterworth) join the foreign legion in the 1800's their they meet the conniving Seargent Knocker (Silvers). Seargent Knocker is pretty much just Seargent Bilko in the 1800's which is fine by me as Silvers creation of Bilko is a great character and funny even now over fifty years after the series was broadcast. However the problem being at times this does feel like the Phil Silvers show rather than a carry on. The rest of the cast do OK but it has to be said other than Dale and Breslaw they are either not on their usual high form (Williams and Hawtry as the commanding officers) or underused (an excellent Joan Simms who only appears for less than 10mins in total).

Follow that Camel is a funny film but not as funny as the best of the series Silvers adds star power but it hasn't got enough killer lines. There's not one joke that makes you remember this film like the best Carry On's for instance the daffodil in Nurse, Infamy infamy.... in Cleo or the diner scene in Khyber.

Out of 10 I'm giving it a generous 7 as I'm a big Bilko and Carry On fan. 7/10

FOLLOW THAT CAMEL (Gerald Thomas, 1967) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 9 February 2008]

I wasn't really expecting much out of this "Carry On" spoof on Foreign Legion films – but it turned out to be a highly agreeable entry in the long-running series. Unusually for them, the film-makers went for an American lead in the person of Phil Silvers – then again, his Sgt. Nocker here was directly inspired by the latter's popular Sgt. Bilko characterization (which originated on TV); actually, the clash of comedy styles works surprisingly well here.

Most of the series stalwarts are on hand – Kenneth Williams as German fort commandant Burger (with matching short hair); Charles Hawtrey as Captain Le Pice(!); Jim Dale as Beau West(!), a dishonored Englishman who joins the legion (accompanied by loyal valet Peter Butterworth) after losing girlfriend Angela Douglas; Bernard Bresslaw has one of his best roles as the flamboyant villainous sheik; and Joan Sims is Madam Zigzig, hostess of the local tavern. Anita Harris also makes an impression as a sultry belly-dancer.

Apart from the traditional desert-march-fraught-with-mirages sequence, there are a couple of delightful running gags here – the naïve Douglas (who decides to stick with Dale) is taken advantage of by several men on her journey to join her lover, and eventually ends in line to being made Bresslaw's 13th wife!; another involves the constant attempts to violently curtail the cock's heralding of each new day by the reluctant soldiers. This good-looking film – which actually anticipates the team's other outing with an exotic setting, the even better CARRY ON...UP THE KHYBER (1968) – is satisfyingly capped by an action-packed climax.

Carry On in the French Foreign Legion or Bilko in the Desert

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 7 August 2011]

The title card may not include the words 'Carry On' but it isn't surprising that they are added to TV listings and the DVD title as this film features many of the Carry On regulars. Jim Dale plays Bertram Oliphant 'Bo' West; a man who decides to join the French Foreign Legion after he is dismissed from his cricket club in disgrace after being wrongly accused of lying. Soon after he leaves his beloved Lady Jane Ponsonby, played by Angela Douglas, learns what how he was wronged and sets off to find him. Once in the Legion West and his manservant Simpson find that life is much harder than they expected… that is until they realise the cruel Sergeant Nocker, Phil Silvers, lied to the commandant; claiming to have been battling Arabs in the desert when he had in fact been with a local woman. With this information the soon get treated much better. The local Sheikh is keen to defeat the French and captures Nocker, West and Simpson along with Lady Jane when she arrives; Nocker escapes but by know the commandant has learnt of his lies so doesn't believe him for some time… when he realised what has happened he sets off with the rest of the garrison to mount a rescue.

This film had all the mild innuendo and double entendres one would expect from a Carry On film; none too rude but still sufficiently funny. The regulars give the solid performances one would expect and Phil Silvers is a lot of fun as Sgt. Nocker; a character not dissimilar to Silvers' more famous role: Sgt. Bilko. In this day and age it probably wouldn't be acceptable for a white actor to 'black up' to play an Arab but it was standard practice then and Bernard Bresslaw did a decent job as Sheikh Abdul Abulbul. The story was good enough with a decent plot that gave the team plenty of opportunities to be funny. This might not be one of the classic Carry On films but it is far from being one of the worst so is well worth watching if you have enjoyed other films in the series.

Lacks really sharp material but the domineering force that is Phil Silvers makes it worth seeing

[bob the moo · 23 August 2004]

Falsely accused of foul play during a cricket match, Bo West decides the only way to find his honour again is to join the foreign legion and, with his butler, sets off to join up. On their way they meet Sgt Nocker – sleeping in a bordello just a few hours before he pretends to have been on a dangerous mission. Using this information, West and Simpson get an easy ride – however everything changes when all three of them are captured by Sheikh Abdul Abulbul. Things become more urgent when Bo discovers that his lover, Jane Ponsonby has traveled to the region to find him and has herself been captured by Abulbul.

Quite rightly, this film is on this database without its 'carry on' rider, as this was not an official Carry On film but rather one that bore enough similarity to the series to allow it to be shanghaied into the group. While it doesn't stand out as being the best of the series it is still pretty enjoyable. The plot spoofs Beau Guest very loosely and it delivers the usual smutty puns and Carry On style laughs even if the material is not as sharp as it should have been. The main reason I liked the film as much as I did was down to one main factor – Phil Silvers.

Silvers dominates the film and he gets the majority of the laughs with what is essentially a foreign legion version of his own Bilko. If anything his presence unbalances the film as the rest of the cast, talented as they are, are all in his shadow. Dale is amusing in his usual stuttering role as the slightly daffy English ponce and he is ably supported by Butterworth in a small role. Williams plays his role very well, while Hawtrey does his usual effeminate performance to good effect. Douglas is OK but Sims has far to little to do. Bresslaw, as always, has the 'ethnic' role and he has quite a few good lines along the way but the film does lack the all round cast that quite a few of the Carry On films have. The support features a tent full of gorgeous women who, rather frighteningly, include the presence of one Anita Harris – so much for wholesome!

Overall this is not one of the better Carry On films but it is still amusing and quite enjoyable, mainly due to the Bilko-esque delivery from Phil Silvers who pretty much dominates the film, certainly stealing every scene he is in. The material is not the sharpest and I missed the presence of some of the other Carry On regulars but generally this had enough in the way of laughs to justify watching if you're a Carry On fan.

Mustapha Leek!

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 11 July 2015]

Originally released under the title Follow That Camel, Carry On Follow That Camel is the 14th entry in the long running series. Story plays out as a historical parody of the Beau Geste type of movies, thrusting Jim Dale and Peter Butterworth into the French Foreign Legion. There they are at the mercy of Commandant Maximilian Burger (Kenny Williams) and Sergeant Nocker (Phil Silvers brought in to try and boost American ticket sales).

Japery is prominent as the not so intrepid Legionnaires get involved with an angry army of Bedouins led by Sheikh Abdul Abulbul (Bernard Bresslaw). Joan Sims has a minor role as a big cleavage landlady, while it's Angela Douglas snagging the main gal role as Lady Jane Ponsonby, with a running gag of her sexual innocence being mined for all it's worth. It's actually a better film than the iffy reputation afforded it. True, missing big hitters like Sid James and Hattie Jacques is felt, but Silvers is ebullient playing a Bilko character, while it's nice to see the excellent Jim Dale bag the English lead and not letting anyone down.

It sits somewhere in the middle scale of Carry On films, neither too bawdy nor like the genial black and whites. But plenty of laughs to be had and it's a good production, the Camber Sands locations surprisingly passing muster as the Legionnaires desert hell. Well constructed battle sequences for the finale as well. 7/10

Decent

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 14 September 2010]

This is not one of their best films but I liked it. The story is admittedly thin with a slight overbalance of the Bilko of the Dunes, the film feels rushed sometimes and Joan Sims the great actress she was has sadly little to do here. That said, I liked the set and costume design and the cinematography was good. The script is full of puns and innuendos, and there are some fun jokes particularly the Mustapha Leek one. The acting is decent generally, some of the regulars such as Sims are underused, but Phil Silvers is really quite excellent here, and Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale and Charles Hawtrey play their parts well. Overall, not exceptional but decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox

And over there. You see? Figs, dates, senna pods, cascara. They couldn't have been regular troops, sir.

[timsmith37 · 7/10 · 24 March 2013]

Sergeant Bilko makes for a disconcerting presence in a Carry On spoof of Beau Geste, but the experiment is more successful than not thanks to a solid Talbot Rothwell script, with Silvers playing well off the stiff upper lip types. Dale and Butterworth are in fine form as the naive aristo and his loyal valet, while Gilmore puts in a moustache twirling turn as the caddish rival, and as the object of their affections Douglas is absolutely luminous - and laugh out loud funny as she undergoes her rites of passage while retaining impeccable English manners.

Less successful are the broader ethnic stereotypes from Williams, Hawtry, Simms and Bluthal, though Bresslaw enjoys himself as the villainous sheik, while Harris is more sultry than might be thought possible as a treacherous belly dancer.

Not a classic, but by no means the dregs of the series (see Convenience, Loving, Behind, Henry, England, and - shudder - Emmanuelle and Columbus.)

Comedy Gone Flat

[ra-kamal · 4/10 · 26 May 2022]

Follow That Camel (1967)

This was the 14th film in the "Carry On ..." series (franchise) of 31 British comedy films that were produced between 1958-1978, and once again, in 1992. "Carry On Up the Khyber" (1968) is generally considered the best of them all. "Follow That Camel" is commonly ranked 14th to 16th. It is the only one of the series that starred an American actor, Phil Silvers.

An aristocrat (played by Jim Dale) decides that joining the French Foreign Legion (FFL) is the only way to redeem his honor after lying during a polo game altercation. His valet signs up with his master. His promiscuous lady love follows him to North Africa and ends up in the Shaikh's harem. The sergeant (Silvers) treats them well because they have discovered that he is secretly a womanizer at the local cabaret. An evil Arab Shaikh (Bernard Bresslaw) and his evil cronies use a belly dancer to kidnap the two of them and take them to a desert encampment. Anita Harris performs a notable belly dance. Bresslaw was the best actor in this film. The rest of the film is the attempts of the four captives (joined by the valet) to escape and save the fort from imminent attack.

It had been over 40 years of FFL movies, and Western moviemakers continued to think that the Riffians were Arabs! The garb is also wrong. For headdress, the costume people used the modern kufiyyeh of Eastern Arabs, mainly with the Palestinian black-lined, white, head scarf! It took Harris three weeks to learn belly dancing. It would have taken the costumes people 30 minutes to discover the correct headdress.

Overall, the "Carry On ...." series was good British comedy that paved the way for Benny Hill, Monty Python, and John Cleese going solo. A type of comedy that combines bawdy sexual innuendo; with one-liners and a play on words; with a pinch of neo-slapstick; all wrapped in satirical parody. When well-executed, British comedy is simply hilarious. This specific film was flat. Not really funny. Silvers was not funny. The material was simply not there. It's as if the writers wrote the script in two evenings over dinner. Twice I had to pause my watching only to find out that it took me days to pick up where I had left off. Once I started watching "Carry On Up The Khyber" instead.

Phil Silvers joins the Carry On troupe

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 12 December 2013]

The traditions of the French Foreign Legion get the full treatment by the Carry On gang in Carry On in the Legion. You'll never watch Beau Geste again and look at it the same way after seeing this.

Jim Dale and his butler Peter Butterworth following him loyally enlist in the Legion after one of those English honor affairs. They get the privilege of serving at a post commanded by German officer Kenneth Williams with Captain Charles Hawtrey as number two. After that Angela Douglas who Dale was seeing in the United Kingdom comes North Africa to get him back because his name has been cleared.

The Carry On troupe took on an American in the cast. Phil Silvers playing a version of his Sergeant Bilko character is the sergeant who puts Dale and Butterworth through the ringer until they discover that his various missions and tales of derring do have all been lies. Silvers has been seeing lots of action, but it's with Joan Sims over at her café.

All this while the Riffs are revolting. Beau Geste maybe the basis for the satire, but some of the gags come out Abbott&Costello in the Foreign Legion. Only Bud and Lou were never into sexual innuendo which the Carry On gang was noted for.

You'll find a lot of laughs in Carry On In The Legion.

Ruined by the "star"

[paulsingstenor · 5/10 · 29 August 2022]

This isn't the strongest Carry On entry, it's not the strongest script but it's a solid plot ably handled.

However, in the absence of Sid James who had filming commitments elsewhere, Phil Silvers was cast & he drags it down. Every scene he's in is just the same ridiculous, self-indulgent gurning, giving no consideration to others in the scenes or to the film as a whole. He sticks out like a sore thumb to the detriment of everyone, dragging the film from a solid B to a desperate C-, coupled with his inability or unwillingness to actually learn his lines like an actual professional actor, no wonder he was disliked by other cast members.

Thank God he was only in the one film.

Still worth a chuckle

[Caz1964 · 8/10 · 1 April 2006]

I think this was one of the funniest carry on films,it would have to be some where in the top 10.The story is based on Beau Geste,with quite a few changes.Phil Silvers seems relaxed in his role,almost as if he has starred in other carry on films,he was probably the replacement for Sid James.Although Phil Silvers fits the role perfectly,in his usual SGT Bilko style.Anita Harris only starred in two carry on films,and you wonder why she wasn't asked to do more,as she was popular with the male audiences.All the characters are very good,and the best use has been made of their talents.Kenneth Williams playing the German called Burger,Charles Hawtrey playing the Frenchman Le piece.Bernard Bresslaw gives his best carry on performance as the Arab leader.I think one of the funniest parts of this film is when the Legionaires are having a sandcastle competition,and it breaks into a fight,and the Arabs are looking on thinking their all stupid.In all still a funny film,with a good cast who sadly most are not with us anymore.

Passes muster - gets better with age

[praestans · 6/10 · 21 December 2016]

Regardless of which title it goes by, this film is enjoyable- though somewhat tepid for a Carry On full throttle. I remember watching it as a child - but as an adult now, I'm more appreciative of the story line (yes, there is one), the clever innuendos and British humour charged double entendres: Nookie, Nocker, camp 68, Mustapha Leke, Le Pice. I've no idea why Carry Ons haven't been big in North America- suppose that's why Sergeant Bilko-Phil Silvers was drafted in - and he does very well to hold his own. Carry-Ons are more Are You Being Served rather than Monty Python. The other cast members Dale, Williams, Butterworth, Hawtrey are once again, superb examples of their craft - particularly impressive is the turn of the ever reliable Williams as the German commandant, as is Bresslaw as the excellent Arab chief. As I have mentioned, this is rather carry-on lite - subdued perhaps owing to the absence of Sid James, and or indeed to less screen time to women though they do get a fair bit compensatory exposure. Anita Harris is a revelation, but Angela Douglas is a bit more staid in this - the late great Joan Sims with and emphatic character presence is unfortunately and inexplicably underused and muted.

What also must be noted, is the eerily prophetic/authentic terrorism theme. How harmless then - but the same thinking is a driver now. (The Arabic is impressively authentic though the words are in the wrong order! and some bizarre 'abdul' (actually means 'slave of'...)is made cultic.

All in all, an understated Carry On but doesn't let you down too much.

Phil Silvers fails to create comedy gold.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 26 January 2015]

Falsely accused of cheating at cricket by crafty love-rival Humphrey Bagshaw, disgraced British gent 'Bo' West (Jim Dale) abandons all hope of courting lovely Lady Jane Ponsonby (Angela Douglas) and heads for Algeria with his trusty manservant Simpson (Peter Butterworth), where the pair sign up with the French Foreign Legion. On hearing of Bo's hasty decision, Bagshaw confesses all; Lady Jane leaves immediately in pursuit of West, but is captured by nasty Arab Sheikh Abdul Abulbul (Bernard Bresslaw), who intends to make her his wife. When news of Lady Jane's abduction reaches Bo at the legion fort, he and a group of fellow legionnaires undertake a rescue mission, but soon become lost in the desert.

Despite missing the words 'Carry On' from its title, Follow that Camel is still considered to be part of the popular British comedy series, featuring as it does many of the familiar Carry On cast: Kenneth Williams, Peter Butterworth, Bernard Bresslaw, Charles Hawtree, Joan Sims and Jim Dale are all present and correct. Sid James, however, is nowhere to be seen…

With Carry On favourite James unable to appear in Follow That Camel due to prior commitments, the movie's producers, in a bid to secure a U.S. distributor, took the opportunity to cast American comedian Phil Silvers as disreputable legionnaire Sergeant Knocker. Drafting in Silvers was a bad move: not only did the lucrative stateside deal not happen, but the Sgt. Bilko star stuck out like a camel behind a palm tree, his comedic style completely at odds with the distinctly British humour. The result is one of the weaker 'Carry On' movies, the plot meandering as aimlessly as its lost legionnaires, the weak gags unable to quench this particular viewer's thirst for quality innuendo and silly slapstick.

Anita Harris in Belly Dance Shocker!

[w_anchor · 2 January 1999]

This film features Anita Harris, cast against type as a Middle Eastern dancer and temptress. I always regarded Anita Harris as a wholesome family entertainer, so to see her performing a belly dance in this film wearing a skimpy costume was something of a trouser-popping surprise.

Talking heads

[jimbo-53-186511 · 7/10 · 19 February 2023]

After being disgraced in his home country, Bo West along with his servant Simpson decide to enlist in the foreign legion. However, for West and Simpson the foreign legion is not quite as it seems and West soon finds himself with further concerns when his girlfriend Lady Jane follows him and Sheikh Abdul Abdulbul selects her as one of his wives...

When I start watching Carry On Films now I generally look for Sid James and Kenneth Williams names rolling down the screen, but when one of these 2 men is missing it sometimes causes concern as they are both stalwarts of the franchise. Well in this film it is Sid James that is missing, but the man who is playing his stand-in is fairly obvious...

Before I even looked at the trivia section I knew that Phil Silvers was in the Sid James role and yeah having an American have a prominent role in a traditionally British film franchise takes a bit of getting used to. Having said that, I didn't think Phil Silvers was too bad and did relatively well in the role. Would I have preferred to see Sid James? Of course, because I know that he would have done a better job, but Silvers was fairly good and was not deserved of all the hate.

Going back to the film we have the usual amusing play on words "Mustaphaleak" "Le Pice" the latter is well worked in to a gag at one point in the film. There are several other examples (when I can't remember them all the Carry on films automatically get a more than worthy score). Whilst the story is perhaps not the strongest of the Carry on franchise, it is decent enough and provides many laughs along the way (Bernard Bresslaw got a good amount of screen time here and I thought that he was great).

There were a few negatives here for me; I know that this was made back in the 60's in what was perceived as a more innocent time, but it's hard watching this film in 2023 without wincing at certain scenes; Lady Jane being taken advantage of multiple times by several creepy men whilst she's travelling alone. This may have been funny back in the 60's, but now it would make up an entire true crime series on YouTube. Likewise, Sheikh Abdul Abulbul seemingly puts something in to Lady Jane's drink (equivalent to Rohypnol one assumes) this is a little disturbing to watch nowadays. I always try to view films in their own time vortex and not judge them in the modern era, but this one is tough based on how obviously creepy its treatment towards women is.

If you can get past these things though, the film does have plenty of clean and funny laughs which are a staple of the franchise and if nothing else the Carry on films are short in length. As with the majority of the other Carry on films, this is worth seeing, but it crosses the boundary more than some of the other offerings which may not sit well with everyone.

FINAL VERDICTS: sure there are uncomfortable moments, but there are plenty of clean laughs which one would expect from the franchise.

It has been ordained by the prophet Mustafa Leek....

[comedyfan71 · 7/10 · 29 January 2024]

Interestingly this, the 14th edition of the Carry On series (although it doesn't feature the carry on name in the title), features an American in Phil Silvers as to encourage the popularity of the series in the USA. Despite this attempt the Carry On films remain firmly at their most popular in the UK. He does a surprisingly good job in his role, although he doesn't match Sid James.

It's one of my personal favourites of the series with some very funny gags in there. It heavily parodies the book Beau Geste, which has been made into various films and tv series down the years. The cast all do a good job playing off each other.

The scenes set in the Sahara were actually filmed in Camber Sands in Sussex, which turns out to make a pretty authentic looking desert. While it's not quite the strongest of the series, it's one of the better ones in my mind.

Uneasy entry in the long-running series

[Libretio · 4/10 · 23 January 2005]

FOLLOW THAT CAMEL

Aspect ratio: 1.66:1

Sound format: Mono

When his reputation is compromised during a routine game of cricket, an English nobleman (Jim Dale) joins the French Foreign Legion and gets mixed up with a lecherous sergeant (Phil Silvers) and an Arab uprising.

The first of two entries not to use "Carry On" in its title due to political fall-out from a change of distributor, this lumpy concoction features Silvers in a role originally intended for Sid James (producers had even considered Woody Allen, hoping an American star would help them crack the elusive US market), and while Silvers holds his own amongst an impressive ensemble cast, he seems out of place in a movie steeped in British traditions and sensibilities. Like everyone else, however, he's constantly upstaged by Kenneth Williams as the nostril-flaring German commandant at the Saharan garrison where Dale is stationed with his faithful valet (Peter Butterworth), though by this stage in the "Carry On" series, Williams' dominance of proceedings had become pretty much par for the course. Talbot Rothwell's script is long on plot and short on gags, though a couple of fruity nuggets hit the target (when heroine Angela Douglas proposes venturing onto the streets of a Middle Eastern village after dark, dismissing the possibility of being kidnapped and ravished among the sand dunes by a rampant tribesman, Williams reminds her of an old Arab proverb: "There's many a good fiddle played on an old dune!"). The screenplay also pokes fun at upper-class British twittery (Dale is quite superb as the clueless aristo, completely at odds with his surroundings), which minimises any offence caused by some broad Arab stereotypes, and Bernard Bresslaw hams it up as a villainous bedouin whose only allegiance is to the mythical 'Mustafa Leek'! For some strange reason, the magnificent Joan Sims is wasted as the owner of a small cafe where much of the film's action unfolds.

Filmed in the wilds of Camber Sands, Sussex (!), the movie's low budget production values are bolstered by an ultra-professional production team (cinematographer Alan Hume would later work on a number of British-lensed blockbusters, including the Bond movies), but while Gerald Thomas' direction is as efficient as ever, the film is amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny (one gets the impression Rothwell's heart wasn't in it). For the first and only time in "Carry On" history, Silvers gets top billing over all the other actors (producer Peter Rogers always claimed the "Carry On" title was bigger than any of its stars), which must have galled some of the regular players. In fact, the principals were all wary of Silvers' presence, and Williams was particularly vocal in his opposition to the US stars' use of written prompts, causing tension on the set. To his credit, once Silvers became aware of this problem, he abandoned the prompts and memorised his dialogue, earning him the respect of his co-stars, including Williams. Though fun in its own way, the movie pales in comparison with the following "Carry On" entry, DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD (1967), an uproarious parody of the French Revolution.

NB. Though often billed as 'Carry On Follow That Camel' and 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head', neither film has ever been screened under those titles.

Old-fashioned and genuinely funny

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 10 December 2014]

A surprisingly funny instalment of the CARRY ON franchise, given this film's poor reputation amongst fans. A lot of that ill feeling stems from the presence of Phil Silvers (SGT. BILKO) in the cast, replacing Sid James; Silvers is hardly a perfect fit here, but I found that come the end he had acquitted himself well with the material.

And the story is very enjoyable. This is a broad spoof of the Foreign Legion movie, with an upper class toff (Jim Dale, on fine form) and his manservant (Peter Butterworth, excelling in one of his larger roles) drafted into the Legion to do battle against Bernard Bresslaw (excellent) and his nefarious Arabs.

The cast give some very good performances in this one, particularly Kenneth Williams playing a (bizarrely) German officer. Inevitably the gags come thick and fast, and there's a fair share of hits among them too, including some great sight gags. What I noticed in particular, and it may be the nature of the spoof, is that CARRY ON FOLLOW THAT CAMEL has much more in common with the 1950s-era CARRY ON flicks than the crude 1970s ones, and that's perhaps a reason I enjoyed it so much.

So So

[crossbow0106 · 5/10 · 28 April 2008]

Absurdish even by Carry On standards, this film would be so politically incorrect now it couldn't be made (I like that). Basically, its the story of Bo, played by Jim Dale, who joins the French Foreign Legion due to a misunderstanding at a cricket game. Phil Silvers plays the Sargeant in this film, and Kenneth Williams reminds me of the Colonel in Hogan's Heroes. It has a few good gags, but it is also very labored. I found my attention wandering through it, never a ringing endorsement for a comedy. Phil Silvers tries, but the film just plods along. If you're a Carry On completist, by all means watch it. I've seen much better from them.

Has its moments but generally not that funny, or interesting

[grantss · 4/10 · 26 December 2015]

Has its moments but generally not that funny, or interesting.

A young English gentleman is falsely shamed at cricket match and, as a result, runs off to join the French Foreign Legion in North Africa. His sergeant is a lazy, scheming, pleasure-over-duty sort and this leads to some interesting escapades. Meanwhile, a local warlord is intent on attacking the Legionnaire's fort...

Regarded as an honorary Carry On movie, this movie is mostly quite silly and uninteresting. The jokes are hardly plentiful or that good, though some do hit the mark. Doesn't really work as an adventure movie either - quite dull and unoriginal in that regard.

About the only thing that keeps this going are the hijinks and schemes of Sergeant Nocker, played by Phil Silvers.

Watchable but not the greatest

[IndianaDoctor · 5/10 · 1 February 2015]

Follow That Camel is the fourteenth of Carry On Series, which sees the Carry On gang join the French Foreign Legion. With Sid James being unavailable for the part of Sergeant Knocker, it was up to Peter Rodgers & Gerald Thomas to find a perfect lead. At this time Rodgers & Thomas thought this was a perfect opportunity to try & break the Carry On's into the American market by casting an American in the lead. Originally the first choice to play the lead was Woody Allen, however it was said Allen wanted to much money. Eventually producers managed to convince Sgt Bilko star Phil Silvers to take the lead. The part of Knocker was tailored to the style of Bilko.

The rest of the Carry On regulars are present, Jim Dale as Bo West, Peter Butterworth as Simpson, Kenneth Williams as Commandant Burger, Angela Douglas as Lady Jane, Charles Hawtrey as Captain Le Pice, Joan Sims as Zig-Zig, Anita Harris as Corktip & Bernard Bresslaw as Abdul.

Finally the review, I have to say Follow That camel is not the greatest of Carry on's, in fact I'd go as far as calling it one of the forgotten Carry On's. When you mention to people the title to this one, people seem to say "Is that the one with Phil Silvers in?". And that's probably what I mean, because apart from Phil Silvers presents not a lot of things in this stick out.

The film feels a lot like Up The Khyber which we see a couple of films down the line, in fact a lot of things in this feels like it gets recycled in that, right from the plot to the actually scenery which you would probably recognize. The only thing you don't have in Up The Khyber is a Sgt Knocker character around.

One thing to mention about this is Kenneth Williams for once is playing a slightly less Campy role than usual. In fact he's playing a straight strict Commandant.

At times when you watch this, you get this feeling your not watching Carry On, its like watching Columbus but with gang present if you get my drift. The film is funny yes, there's is the odd good one liner, I did enjoy the desert bit which sees them on a long trek across the desert to Fort Zuassantneuf, oh and "Musthavealeak"

What about Phil Silvers? Silvers performance is okay, I think his presents was good for a one off, I do feel if he had appeared in a another one it wouldn't haven't worked, as mentioned he was playing Bilko in this with a different name and looking at the other Carry On's I don't know where he would have fit in plus people may got sick of his Bilko character keep popping up in the carry on's. His character in this is just right really. Another thing to mention is during production Silvers health wasn't particularly great and his mind was going, cause of this Silvers permanently kept forgetting his lines and it forced producers to hold up his lines alongside the camera.

Where does this film fail? I just feel there isn't a great deal to remember in this, yeah the regulars put in a good performance and can't fault that but as mentioned it doesn't feel like a Carry On.

The film is watchable and far from the worst, yeah of course give it a look in. It's not one of the carry on's where you'd probably watch it again and again, you'd probably need a few years gap.

If Sid had been here would it have been different? I dunno maybe if Sid was present it would have felt more like a Carry On, however put it this way if he was in this then Up The Khyber probably wouldn't have been so great.

Die, infidels!

[clivey6 · 8/10 · 18 November 2010]

Not sure you could get away with screening this on BBC1 early evening these days, though its strangely reassuring to find that the old Middle Eastern Muslim antipathy goes back 100 years and is hardly anything new. Bernard Bresslaw is a revelation as the swarthy anti-imperialist and I must say I prefer him in this to his similar role in Carry On Up The Kyber, which others prefer.

Many Carry Ons basically take one movie and spoof if, be it The Scarlet Pimpernel, Cleopatra, Hammer horror, James Bond. This one does The Four Feathers, as young posh boy Jim Dale leaves Blighty brokenhearted to join the Foreign Legion, with his trusty manservant in tow.

Production values are high, which makes this a joy to watch on DVD. The desert may be Camber Sands, but as this was filmed in the summer of 1967, you get some lovely shots of blazing blue skies, unlike other Carry Ons which are meant to be balmy summer but in fact were filmed in February.

Kenneth Williams mentions his tensions with interloper Phil Silvers in his diaries, though it's clear he may have been jealous of someone other than him monopolising the conversation. You don't get any sense of this with the first half of the film, where Silvers is on comic form and I personally soon forgot about Sid James, seeing as Silvers offered something different. The pace and interest does slacken towards the end, as there don't seem to be so many Carry On regulars on screen, it lacks that ensemble feel and with the Road films you did get a song or two chucked in to lighten the load.

Within three months, Kenneth Williams and the team were back on filming Carry On Doctor that early autumn. That's a heck of a work ethic.

Carry On Follow That Camel

[jboothmillard · 3/10 · 4 January 2010]

I think this is the only Carry On film to feature an American comedian in the cast, which doesn't make any difference, because it's also one of the ones that makes me laugh least. Basically Bertram Oliphant 'Bo' West (Jim Dale) competes for the affections of Lady Jane Ponsonby (Angela Douglas) against Captain Humphrey Bagshaw (Peter Gilmore), and to get a better reputation, he and manservant Simpson (Peter Butterworth) join the Foreign Legion. They are helped out by surviving soldier, Sergeant Nocker (Phil Silvers), but he was actually just hanging out in a café with the female owner Zig-Zig (Joan Sims). Knowing that Bo is innocent of some accusations, she disguises herself to bring him home, but she ends up with Sheikh Abdul Abulbul (Bernard Bresslaw). Meanwhile French villain Commandant Maximilian Burger (Kenneth Williams) is planning an attack on the fort they have been posted to, Fort Zuassantneuf. Also starring Charles Hawtrey as Captain Le Pice, Anita Harris as Corktip and John Bluthal as Corporal Clotski. I don't remember there being any innuendos, in fact, it was pretty boring that I ended up dozing towards the end, a disappointing comedy. Adequate!

Carry On Follow That Camel

[CinemaSerf · 5/10 · 26 July 2023]

This time, it's "Beau Geste" and the Foreign Legion that get's the "Carry On" treatment as Jim Dale arrives at a desert fortress under the strict command of "Burger" (Kenneth Williams) ably abetted by Phil Silvers' "Sgt. Nocker". Clearly, someone thought that importing him into this might breathe some fresh air into the franchise. Sadly, for me at any rate, it doesn't. He just overwhelms the whole thing with this rather brash and unsubtle humour and coupled with the over-use of the annoying Dale this just ends up being a rather messy desert-meleé that sees the troop getting lost before getting found and then combatting the evil Sheikh "Abdul Abulbul" (Bernard Bresslaw) to secure the "Nooki" oasis. Joan Sims and Charles Hawtrey are here alright, but neither really gets much opportunity to gatecrash the "Bilko"-ing of the film and it sort of reminded me of that old adage about something not being broke... It's a shame, though - this subject matter could have provided quite a rich seam for their style of comedy had it just concentrated on what it had been good at, kept it British - and not tried to internationalise itself.