Carry On Henry (1971)

★ 6.1 1h 29m IMDb

Comedy Romance Adventure History

Henry VIII has just married Marie of Normandy, and is eager to consummate their marriage. Unfortunately for Henry, she is always eating garlic, and refuses to stop. Deciding to get rid of her in his usual manner, Henry has to find some way of doing it without provoking war with Marie's cousin, the King of France. Perhaps if she had an affair...

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Cast

Sidney James as King Henry VIII Died 1976 · Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; May 8, 1913 – April 26, 1976) was a South African-born English-based actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and al...

Kenneth Williams as Thomas Cromwell Died 1988 · Islington, London, England, UK Kenneth Williams was an English comic actor, star of 26 Carry On films, numerous British television shows, and radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne..

Charles Hawtrey as Sir Roger de Lodgerley Died 1988 · Hounslow, Middlesex, England, UK George Frederick Joffre Hartree, known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor and musician. Beginning at an early age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving on to radio. His...

Joan Sims as Queen Marie Died 2001 · Laindon, Essex, England, UK Irene Joan Marion Sims was an English actress remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, including Carry On Nurse, Carry On Cleo, and Carry On Camping. She played Mrs Wembley, the cook with a lik...

Terry Scott as Cardinal Wolsey Died 1994 · Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK Owen John "Terry" Scott (4 May 1927 - 26 July 1994) was a British comedic actor best known for his role on the popular BBC series Terry and June. Among his other roles, he provided the voice for Penfi...

Barbara Windsor as Bettina Died 2020 · Shoreditch, London, England, UK Dame Barbara Windsor, DBE (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 1937 - 10 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her appearances in the Carry On films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC O...

Director Gerald Thomas

Cast Sidney James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Barbara Windsor, Kenneth Connor, Julian Holloway, Peter Gilmore, Julian Orchard

John Chard 7/10 Jul 19, 2015

Henry Tudor just got ruder!

The 21st film of the long running Carry On series is a bawdy trip into the court of King Henry VIII (Sid James). The King has recently married Queen Marie of Normandy (Joan Sims) but since she eats too much garlic, thus putting the King off his conjugal rights, he plots to get her out the way. However, he must tread carefully as a war with France could easily arise should anything happen to the Queen.

Some of the best colour Carry On movies would turn out to be set in an historical period. Carry On Henry is not one of the best from the historical romps, but it's a goodie and for those who like the saucy side of the series then it has plenty of appeal.

The presence of James on womanising and boozing form, and Barbara Windsor doing her no brain all sexuality act, gives this entry its saucy soul, while Terry Scott (superb visual ticks), Kenny Williams (a continuously wonderful foil for Scott) and Charles Hawtrey mince about with gleeful abandon. The energy of the comedy is high and sustained throughout, while the art design and costuming is regal in production. The gunpowder plot forms a side-bar narrative, which is joyous but also shows us that Kenneth Connor is sadly under used, but the innuendo and purposely groan inducing gags are always on hand to tickle the senses of those so inclined towards this splinter of the popular British institution. 7/10

CinemaSerf 6/10 Jul 26, 2023

..or "Carry on History"? Henry VIII (Sid James) manages to squeeze in two extra wives into this daft historical romp that sees Cardinal Wolsey (Terry Scott) and Lord Chancellor Cromwell (Kenneth Williams) having to run the gauntlet of the King's pleasure as he marries "Marie" (Joan Sims) then decides he needs to divorce her for "nonconsumption" so he can marry the playful young "Bettina" (Barbara Windsor). It's off with their heads a-plenty as the lustful king plays politics and romance much to the chagrin of his officials, and I thought - in quite an entertaining fashion. The script is riddled with double-entendres, but they are actually quite a bit cleverer this time and Williams, James and the often underused Charles Hawtrey (poor old "Sir Roger") deliver this film well enough. This was certainly one of my favourites from this gang - it looks good and maybe Guy Faulkes should have watched it first?