"Carry on Laughing" The Case of the Coughing Parrot (TV Episode 1975) Poster

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6/10
Carry On Laughing: The Case Of The Coughing Parrot (TV) (Alan Tarrant, 1975) **1/2
Bunuel19767 December 2008
Third and last of the 'Lord Peter Flimsy' detective spoof entries in the "Carry On" TV series: this has an archaeology backdrop involving the theft of jewels belonging to the mummy of the Pharaoh Ram-it-up-em (the episode's single best joke, which is then repeated incessantly throughout). Making an ideal team are Jack Douglas as Flimsy and Kenneth Connor as his servant/sidekick Punter, while David Lodge is the flustered Inspector on the case; Joan Sims has fun with her role of the archaeologist and Peter Butterworth has a bit as an employer of the Post Office detailed with the "Lost & Found" department.

The episode has a very convoluted plot in which it manages to balance interior and exterior scenes (with the latter being perennially shrouded in thick fog); the villainess of the piece turns out to be Sims' young assistant under whose guise an aristocratic lady thief hides. By the way, the title is a reference to that particular bird's reaction to poison – as explained by Connor at the climax…after which he's pecked by the bird and, while believing himself doomed, immediately starts to cough!
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7/10
Lord Flimsy's final case
ShadeGrenade23 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
As the 'Carry On' movie series drew to a close, a television series seemed the most obvious development. Thames Television produced four fine Christmas Specials from 1969-73, but it was A.T.V. who landed the job of producing a weekly show, entitled 'Carry On Laughing' ( the title would later be used on the half-hour compilation series ). It was handicapped by the fact that Sid James only appeared in a handful of episodes ( he was still committed to 'Bless This House' ) and Kenneth Williams would not sign up. On top of that, some of the scripts were a bit iffy, but there were one or two good ones dotted about, such as 'Orgy & Bess', and Dave Freeman's trilogy featuring Jack Douglas as 'Lord Peter Flimsy' ( an aristocratic sleuth based on Dorothy L.Sayers' 'Lord Peter Wimsey' ), and Kenneth Connor as his manservant and companion 'Punter'.

'The Case Of The Coughing Parrot' is a baffling mystery involving Egyptian mummies, missing jewels, and a parrot whose beak has been dipped in poison. Joan Sims plays stuffy Egyptologist 'Dr.Janis Crunbitt', and gets to utter the name of the Pharaoh 'Ramitupem' with predictable saucy relish. No Babs Windsor, but instead we get future 'Loose Woman' Sherrie Hewson and buxom Vivienne Johnson ( 'Marilyn' from John Inman's 'Odd Man Out' ) as a tea-stall holder. 'Laughing' would have been better in my view had it been shot on film, and without a laugh-track.

Things To Look Out For - a pre 'Coronation Street' Johnny Briggs can be seen helping to carry an Egyptian mummy.

Funniest moment - finding a piece of papyrus covered in ancient Egyptian writing, Punter asks his master: "Sir, how are your hieroglyphics?" to which Flimsy replies: "Much better now. It must be the ointment!".
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