Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Carry on Cleo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 1, 2024

Gerald Thomas' "Carry on Cleo" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by actresses Amanda Barrie and Julie Stevens; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

I shall pay her a visit, then.

The people who have seen the majority or all of the films in the Carry On series tend to agree that the final ones run on fumes. They say that some are too silly and predictable, some are a tad too vulgar, and some are simply poorly done. I have already confessed that I have not seen them all, so I do not know if these criticisms are valid. However, most of the Carry On films that I have seen happen to be from this final batch, and they were the ones that inspired me to check out many of the earlier films. While some of them are not as suggestive as the earlier films, I think that these films are quite funny, and often better directed as well. Their biggest weakness is that visually they are not as exciting, which is a bit ironic because they tend to reveal a lot more than the earlier films. One more thing, which is related to what was just highlighted. The people who dismiss the final films tend to cite their naughtiness as an obvious flaw, which I find very, very awkward because a lot of the earlier films are undoubtedly bolder. Indeed, a lot of the earlier films use humor to suggest naughtiness that is rarely present in the final ones, and they go much further. But you have to pay attention to what is said and how it is said to realize that it is so, which I would concede is not a requirement for the final ones, as they just show a bit more skin.

Gerald Thomas made Carry On Cleo in 1964, so technically this film is almost in the middle between the good and not-so-good ones. I had seen it before, so I knew exactly where it was going. However, I could not recall how funny and naughty it was, which was probably a good thing because I sat down to revisit it with a fresh cup of coffee. I had a great time with it, much, much better than I recall having in the past, and it was almost certainly because I was fully awake and carefully listening to the exchanges. Before I tell you what impressed me the most, here is a short summation of its plot:

In a very British corner of the old world, new friends Horsa (Jim Dale) and Hengist Pod (Kenneth Connor) are captured by Mark Anthony’s (Sidney James) men and taken back to Rome. Shortly after, Horsa is sold as a slave to a beautiful but lonely housewife, while Hengist Pod is prepared as food for the lions. Several unexpected developments later, Horsa regains his freedom and rejoins Hengist Pod, and together they hide in the Temple of Vesta, where Rome’s most beautiful virgins are kept. In a battle for their lives, Horsa then overpowers a small unit of Roman guards, but it is Hengist Pot who is mistaken for a brave and invisible warrior by the dimwitted Julius Ceaser (Kenneth Williams) and selected to be his personal bodyguard. A few days later, Julius Ceaser, escorted by the two friends, heads to Egypt to meet Cleopatra (Amanda Barrie), not realizing that Mark Anthony has fallen in love with her, and the two plan to get rid of him.

Like all of the other films in the series, Carry On Cleo is one big collection of scenes where a lot goes wrong and seemingly very chaotic events begin producing plenty of laughs. Usually, there is continuity between the scenes, but there are exceptions. Of course, the main characters are played by the same core group of actors.

What impressed me the most in Carry on Cleo is the consistent delivery of very witty jokes, more than half of which are suggestive jokes, which is a lot. Also, a lot of these suggestive jokes are quite good straightforward jokes too, so different scenes can be funny for completely different reasons. All this is not a unique development in the series, but in Carry on Cleo these suggestive jokes are practically everywhere. Finally, many are very naughty as well, though because they require quick deconstruction work, some could remain hidden.

Carry on Cleo also impressed me with its set designs and costumes. Perhaps because my last viewing of it was many years ago on VHS and their quality eluded me, I was quite surprised by the tremendous emphasis on the period details.

*Carry On Cleo is one of four films that are included in Carry On: Film Collection 3. The remaining three films are: Carry on Spying (1964), Carry on Cowboy (1965), and Carry on Screaming (1966).

Carry on Cleo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Carry On Cleo arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

Delineation and clarity are quite good. However, they are not consistently good, which is why depth fluctuates a bit as well. Why? The surface of the visuals does not have that very stable organic appearance that ensures an all-around solid organic presentation. As the camera moves, from time to time there is a bit of smearing. I do not know if any adjustments were made before or after the master was created, which is not new. So, while not disappointing, the visuals definitely can have a more convincing organic appearance. Color balance is good. In fact, I do not think that there is any room for substantial improvements. Some of the supporting nuances can be rebalanced, but all primaries are set properly. Image stability is very good. I noticed a few small blemishes, but there are no large cuts, debris, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Carry on Cleo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

This release, which is one of four in the Carry On: Film Collection 3 box set, has the best audio track. I did not detect even a whiff of aging, and dynamic intensity was great for a film from the 1960s. So, while I do not know when the current master was prepared, it is very easy to tell that the audio was fully redone for it.

Carry on Cleo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actresses Amanda Barrie and Julie Stevens. It is another trip down memory lane with plenty of recollections about interactions the two ladies had with Gerald Thomas and cast members, hilarious scenes, the reception of Carry on Cleo and the last appeal of the series, etc.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Carry On Cleo. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional and printed materials for Carry On Cleo. (3 min).

• Book - a 112-page book containing reproductions of the original pressbooks of the first 12 Carry On films.

Carry on Cleo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Very witty, very naughty, and very funny. Until a few nights ago, this is not how I remembered Carry on Cleo, but it is certainly how I would describe it now. Even some of the transitional material in it, like the one with Charles Hawtrey playing Seneca, is great. I especially liked how many of the best jokes work in different ways, which is a quality that nowadays is very much a lost art. Carry On Cleo is one of four films that are included in Carry On: Film Collection 3, a four-disc, Region-Free box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.