A civil war is threatened in
an Arab nation, over the potential discovery of an oil
field. Threatened by his plotting brother (Francis
Matthews), the King asks Britain for a brigade of top
soldiers. In error, he sends only seven men -from the No.
3 Suplus Ordnance Depot, who soon find themselves
plotting their escape from death, against two thousand
revolting tribesmen.
I've often wondered if there's any more than five people out there who appreciate the non-horror films that Hammer produced. DD are going about the right way, reintroducing the world to the rest of the Hammer/Exclusive output, with its wealth of thrillers and comedies, often adapted from the British radio and small screen. I Only Arsked! was one of those pictures I thought a couple of years ago, that I would never see. When we announced its release on these pages, I had to restrain the excitement, and being able to see in a new digital transfer, a previoulsy unseen (by me) Hammer/Exclusive film. Adapted from the popular ITV television series, The Army Game, this was in fact the second big screen outing for the stars of the show, following on from 1957's instrumental piece, Carry On Sergeant. Lacking from that original cast is future Doctor Who, William Hartnell. David Lodge takes over the Sergeant's duties, and the capers are suitably enjoyable. All in all, full of subterfuge, breaking ranks, assorted attempts to find women in the Arabian desert (the chance for Bresslaw's Popeye to sing...), stereotyped locals, harmless cross-dressing. Its very much like the better, early Carry On films, and something akin to the British Bilko. The production design is brilliant, and the filming around Bray/Oakley Court is well hidden, with the exception of the crows, which I found myself listening to on the soundtrack during many of the scenes (vultures surely?). The lighting is adjusted, and although it still looks quite cold, the eastern scenery is well suggested. I don't have much time for Bresslaw as Popeye (why, oh why, was Bresslaw always cast as a dumb inept?) - it's his catch-phrase which provides the title, and Hammer unsuccessfully tried to make him a star with The Ugly Duckling soon after. But the rest of the cast, particularly Alfie Bass, and Charles Hawtrey keep the viewer entertained. Francis Matthews (later to provide the voice of Captain Scarlet, and who the previous year assisted Cushing in Revenge of Frankenstein), is well disguised as the Sheikh. A plot and set up, very familiar from war comedies of the time and after (Up the Creek, Carry On Sergeant, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, etc). Good clean family fun. Something much in amiss today. And very rare Hammer material. Just a shame the dvd packaging doesn't promote the film as such. transfer extras RJES |
|
DISC: Feature length: 79
mins SPECIAL FEATURES: |
