jc-osms
On paper this could have been one of the funniest Carry On features, with plum parts for Sid James as Henry VIII and Kenneth Williams as the King's schemer-supreme Thomas Cromwell, but after the written prologue which describes what follows as a load of old Cobblers, I found little else to amuse me in this irreverent romp through Tudor England. This time, I found the bombardment of unsubtle innuendo and the casually sexist treatment of women in the film to be predictable and wearing, with too few funny lines to alleviate the smutty stream which pretty much permeates the whole film.All the women are treated as sexual objects and are all, it seems, dressed with low-cut gowns leaving the menfolk to gawk at and grope them at will. Like so many other low-brow British comedies of the time on screens both big and small, this un-P.C outlook towards females really has dated very badly and lacks the saving grace of genuinely funny gags. Old troopers like James, Williams and Joan Sims try hard but even with them it's possible to detect a discernible going through the motions and by the time we get to see Barbara Windsor's bare bottom well into the film, it's obvious that the series's best days are behind it (no pun intended).At its best, as in say, "Carry On Cleo", "Carry On Cowboy" or "Carry On Up The Khyber", the series had lots of funny characters and a ready, typically saucy British seaside humour which made them easy to watch and chuckle along to. However this jaded effort really lets the side down and makes for a weak entry in its long-running history.
w22nuschler
I have seen this film one other time. I remembered it being an OK film. That is how I feel after watching it again. Sid James plays Henry VIII. He does a fine job as always. His helpers or crew consist of Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Terry Scott. I only really liked Kenneth Williams here. He had some funny moments. Terry Scott just did not work as a cardinal. Sid has his wives beheaded when they start to displease him. His new wife is played by Joan Sims. He is ready to hit the hay with her and she eats some garlic right before they make love. She thinks it's a necessity for love making, while Sid hates it. He wants to chop her head off as well, but he does not want to risk war by doing it. His helpers try and try to get him more women and they end up making things worse. The final scene has Kenneth and Terry at the guillotine. He offers to let them live if they can help him find another woman. They choose the beheading. I did like the ending, but this is just above average.
sexy_pisces_gal
From the writers of Carry On comes this fantastic and comical portrayal of King Henry VIII (Sid James) and his French Queen Marie (Joan Sims). Henry VIII of Great Britain has just married the French princess Marie and is eager to consummate the marriage- until he finds she has a taste for the revolting garlic. Rather then give it up, the Queen holds the garlic close and Henry orders the marriage annulled, prompting his close ministers Cromwell (Kenneth Williams) and Wolsey (Terry Scott) to battle it out together. But when it revealed the Queen is pregnant, a hilarious battle of wit and trust degenerates into lust and blackmail. And when a pretty lady (Barbara Windsor) enters Henrys court he makes up his mind to marry her, with hilarious consequences. Although skimpy on facts this comedy is definitely one of the top three from the legendary Carry On crew, which will have you rolling in laughter for years.
Theo Robertson
You know what to expect with a CARRY ON film : A repertory of comedy actors , nudge nudge wink wink humour involving double entrendes and a few laughs too . Unfortunately I`ve got to disagree with most of the comments here and say I don`t rate CARRY ON HENRY as one of the better films in the series and after the very funny caption " Mind my chopper " ( Which absolutely no one outside Britain will get ) the laughs are few and far between as the plot revolves around King Henry and his marital troubles . It should be pointed out that all the best CARRY ON films like Up The Kyber , Screaming and Cleo had been made before this which probably indicates the series had run out of steam
AD
