Runtime: 88 minutes
Directed by: Gerald Thomas
Starring: The usual Carry On crew
From: Anglo-Amalagated Film Distributors
I was originally going to post this review yesterday but I had no time to write it up; several tasks occupied my time, chiefly purchasing a 4K TV for my father on his behalf as his old TV in the den went kaput. He knows nothing about the whole 4K thing so that's why this was tasked to me. Besides driving around to a few places to find one that fit his parameters, there was bringing it up and setting it up, which took longer than expecting. Relaxing last night instead was the way to go. Thankfully I had the time to type up this review.
Much of this is typical for the franchise. After all, the key plot point surrounds a regiment that guards the Khyber Pass in Pakistan-which I know from photographs looks far different from where this was filmed, which was rural Wales-and their fearsome reputation is ruined because Charles Hawtrey wears underwear under his kilt! Yes, them freeballing in battle is enough to scare away the “natives.” Of course, there are several British guys and gals who cosplay as Middle Eastern or Southern Asian people as that's how things were back then.
Naturally this is the sort of thing where there's ribald humor, corny jokes, and characters with names like Bungdit Din, Princess Jelhi, Brother Belcher & a woman named Busti who was cast quite well! Plus, from Wikipedia I know that Khyber is British “slang for arse” & the movie made it clear that the British Indian tradition of tiffin (a mid-afternoon tea and light meal) is not the only usage of that word.
A few elements do help elevate this above the usual for this crew. Not only is there a scene which actually has some poignancy among the funny bits, but there is nice satire concerning the “stiff upper lip” mentality and oblivious foolishness of the British, or at least their military. Thus, that is why Khyber is typically ranked near the top in this franchise.
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