CARRY ON ALMA

We emerged from the pub on Saturday lunchtime fuelled by the exhilaration of Everton’s magnificent triumph
Everton 4 Aston Villa 1

To celebrate further, we visited the Cancer Research shop across the road where Kev showed interest in the video of ‘Carry on Cleo’ circa 1963.

I did not object to this purchase for 3 good reasons:

1: It was for Charity
2: It cost 50p
3: I remembered that Cleo was played by Amanda Barrie a.k.a. Alma from Coronation Street, born and raised in Ashton under Lyne.

It was a bit of a come down from being ‘Queen of the Nile’ to running the corner café, especially as she had to spend all day with Gail.

I can’t remember what it was called before Roy’s Rolls.

The credits roll telling us that the film is ‘based on an idea by William Shakespeare’.

The first line from the magnificent Kenneth Williams is predictably ‘Oh I do feel queer’. You have to wait for the famous ‘Infamy, Infamy, they’ve all got it in for me’! As mighty Caesar of the Roman Empire he could not be improved upon, even in ‘Life of Brian’.

‘Carry on Cleo’ is profoundly sexist of course but the blokes are so useless it doesn’t seem to matter. Sheila Hancock was there as Senna the wife of Mr Pod … a role she’d doubtless rather forget.

Alma has eyes like saucers. I’ve always adored her. Eileen and I once saw her all alone on the back seat of the Odeon on Oxford road.

Mercifully the film was Barbara Windsor free and I watched it right to the end.

I thought I hated ‘Carry on’ Films. Have they improved with age or have I done the opposite?

KAZ