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Carry On Henry | |
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Directed by | Gerald Thomas |
Written by | Talbot Rothwell |
Produced by | Peter Rogers |
Starring | Sid James Kenneth Williams Charles Hawtrey Joan Sims Terry Scott Barbara Windsor Kenneth Connor |
Cinematography | Alan Hume |
Edited by | Alfred Roome |
Music by | Eric Rogers |
Distributed by | Rank Organisation |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £214,500[1] |
Carry On Henry is a 1971 British historical comedy film, the 21st release in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott and Kenneth Connor. This was the first time that Williams and Connor appeared together since Carry On Cleo seven years previously. The original alternative title was to be Anne of a Thousand Lays, a pun on the Richard Burton film Anne of the Thousand Days, and Sid James wears exactly the same cloak that Burton wore in that film. Harry Secombe was considered for Henry VIII when it appeared that Sid James might not have been available due to possible stage commitments. James was making a lengthy appearance in South Africa which was cut down when he heard he was wanted for the film and arrived back in time for the second day of shooting.
The promotional tagline, "A Great Guy With His Chopper," was inspired by the rapidly increasing popularity of modified motorcycles for which the slang term chopper was coined.
The opening theme is a version of "Greensleeves", as arranged by Eric Rogers.[2] The film was followed by Carry On at Your Convenience in 1971.
The film was released on 17 February 1971, exactly 15 days after Sid James' TV sitcom Bless This House was first broadcast.