Main Cast: Sidney James, Kenny Williams, Jim Dale, Charles Hawtrey, Peter Butterworth
Release Year: 1967
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
Part of the "Carry On Series", this is a satire on the French Revolution in which Sidney James portrays the Black Fingernail, a rip-off Scarlet Pimpernel using double entendres and jokes of questionable taste and a wide variety of disguises to hid his identity. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
Joan Sims - Desiree Dubarry; Dany Robin - Jacqueline; Peter Gilmore - Robespierre; Marianne Stone - Landlady; Michael Ward - Henri; Leon Greene - Malabonce; Richard Shaw - Captain of Soldiers; Ronnie Brody - Little man; David Davenport - Sergeant; Joan Ingram - Bald-headed Dowager; Elspeth March - Uncredited guest appearance; Julian Orchard - Rake; Jacqueline Pearce - 3rd lady; Billy Cornelius; Valerie VanOst - 2nd lady
Credit
Lionel Couch - Art Director, Terry Gilbert - Choreography, Jack Causey - First Assistant Director, Gerald Thomas - Director, Rod Keys - Editor, Phil Coulter - Composer (Music Score), Eric Rogers - Composer (Music Score), Bill Martin - Composer (Music Score), Alan Hume - Cinematographer, Jack Swinburne - Production Manager, Peter Rogers - Producer, Talbot Rothwell - Screenwriter
It is the time of the French revolution, and two bored English noblemen, Sir Rodney Ffing (pronounced "Effing") and his best friend, Lord Darcy Pue, (played by Sid James and Jim Dale) decide to have some fun and save their French counterparts from beheading by the guillotine. Enraged revolution leader Citizen Camembert (Kenneth Williams) and his toadying lackey, Citizen Bidet (Peter Butterworth), scour France and England for the elusive saviour of the French nobles, who has become known as The Black Fingernail. After abducting the Fingernail's true love, Jacqueline (Dany Robin), Camembert and Bidet plot to lure the Fingernail to his death... oblivious that Desiree (Joan Sims), Camembert's flamboyant mistress, is herself in love with the hero and will do all she can to save him from the guillotine.
Issues
The film highlights the issue of revolutionaries who, though they publicly claim to be fighting "for the people", are actually looking out for themselves. This is shown in Camembert who has amassed a vast collection of luxury items and possessions from his aristocratic victims.
