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Carry On Columbus
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Wikipedia article
'Carry On Columbus' is a 1992 British comedy film, the 31st and final release in the 'Carry On' film series (19581992). The film was a belated entry to the series, following 1978's 'Carry On Emmannuelle'. It was produced to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas (two other more serious films on the subject, '1492: Conquest of Paradise' and 'Christopher Columbus: The Discovery' came out the same year).
Plot
Christopher Columbus (Jim Dale) believes he can find an alternative route to the far East and persuades the King (Leslie Phillips) and Queen of Spain (June Whitfield) to finance his expedition. But the Sultan of Turkey (Rik Mayall), who makes a great deal of money through taxing the merchants who have to pass through his country on the current route, sends his best spy, Fatima (Sara Crowe), to wreck the trip...
Cast
Production
Casting
Main series regulars present are Jim Dale (in his eleventh 'Carry On'), Peter Gilmore (also in his eleventh), Bernard Cribbins (in his third), Leslie Phillips (in his fourth), Jon Pertwee (in his fourth) and June Whitfield (also in her fourth). The only actor to bridge the gap between 'Carry On Columbus' and the previous entry was Jack Douglas, making his eighth appearance in the series.Original 'Carry On' performer Frankie Howerd was signed up to appear, but he died shortly before he was due to film his role. His part as the King of Spain was offered to original series regular Bernard Bresslaw, who turned it down. Leslie Phillips eventually took on the role, playing opposite June Whitfield as the Queen, a role turned down by both Joan Sims and Barbara Windsor.
Veteran 'Carry On' performer Kenneth Connor was offered a cameo role in the film but he turned it down, saying "I want to be remembered as a 'Carry On' star, not a 'Carry On' bit-player".
The producers managed to persuade a number of alternative comedians such as Peter Richardson, Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Julian Clary and Nigel Planer (all of whom except Clary are from 'The Comic Strip') to appear in the film.
This was the last film that Gerald Thomas directed, as he died on 9 November 1993.
Filming and locations
The film was shot between 21 April and 27 May 1992 with interior shooting at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire and location shooting at Frensham Common. The latter location was previously used nearly 30 years earlier for the similarly nautical 'Carry On Jack'.
Reception
The film was panned by critics. Michael Dwyer in 'The Irish Times' described 'Carry on Columbus' as a "flaccid, feeble comeback effort" and a "wretched and pathetic attempt which is singularly unfunny".Michael Dwyer, "Film Reviews". 'The Irish Times', 2 October 1992, (p.13). However, 'Carry On Columbus' took more money at the UK box office (1,667,249) than the two other Columbus films released in 1992, 'Christopher Columbus: The Discovery' and '1492: Conquest of Paradise', although all three films flopped. 'Carry On Columbus' was also shot on a much lower budget than the other two films, a budget of 2.5 million compared to the other two budgets of $45 million and $47 million respectively.
In a 2004 poll of British film actors, technicians, writers and directors on British cinema, 'Carry On Columbus'
was voted the worst British film ever made.
References
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