Carry On Cleo
Film Costume
ca. 1963 (made)
ca. 1963 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Released in 1964, Carry On Cleo was the 10th title in the Carry On franchise and the 12fth most successful film at the British box office in 1965. In 2008, it was one of only three film posters chosen by the Royal Mail to be reproduced on stamps to commemorate Carry On’s 50th anniversary and contains one of the franchise’s and British comedy’s most famous lines when Kenneth Williams as Caesar delivers the pun “Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!”
The Carry On films play a significant role in Britain’s film and comedy heritage and hold the title of the second longest screen franchise (1958 – 1992) after James Bond. However, Carry On eclipses fellow British cultural export Bond with 31 films as opposed to Bond’s 27.
Kenneth Williams (1926-1988) appeared in 26 Carry On films and is one of the most significant entertainers of the 20th Century. Known for his iconic voice and camp performance, his career spanned radio, film, stage and television, making him one of the most in demand and recognised performers of his time.
Credits include Hancock’s Half Hour, numerous West End revues, directing Joe Orton’s Loot, voicing all the characters in children’s series Willo’ the Wisp and being a regular panellist on Just a Minute. In addition to Carry On work and his widely recognised quasi-catchphrase “Oooh, Matron!”, Williams is equally well known for his partnership with Hugh Paddick as polari speaking Julian and Sandy in BBC’s Radio’s Round the Horne that exposed audiences to queer lives at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the UK.
Williams is commemorated by a blue plaque at the address of his father’s barber shop, where he lived between 1935 and 1956, and another at Farley Court, where he was resident between 1963 and 1970.
The Julius Caesar costume had an eventful history, It was originally created for Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony in the 1963 historical film Cleopatra. Cleopatra had a troubled production period. Filming began in England at Pinewood Studios but then shifted to Rome. The costumes and sets used at Pinewood were then repurposed for the very different Carry On Cleo, which parodied both the earlier movie epic and Shakespeare's Roman plays; a case of history repeating itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.
The Carry On films play a significant role in Britain’s film and comedy heritage and hold the title of the second longest screen franchise (1958 – 1992) after James Bond. However, Carry On eclipses fellow British cultural export Bond with 31 films as opposed to Bond’s 27.
Kenneth Williams (1926-1988) appeared in 26 Carry On films and is one of the most significant entertainers of the 20th Century. Known for his iconic voice and camp performance, his career spanned radio, film, stage and television, making him one of the most in demand and recognised performers of his time.
Credits include Hancock’s Half Hour, numerous West End revues, directing Joe Orton’s Loot, voicing all the characters in children’s series Willo’ the Wisp and being a regular panellist on Just a Minute. In addition to Carry On work and his widely recognised quasi-catchphrase “Oooh, Matron!”, Williams is equally well known for his partnership with Hugh Paddick as polari speaking Julian and Sandy in BBC’s Radio’s Round the Horne that exposed audiences to queer lives at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the UK.
Williams is commemorated by a blue plaque at the address of his father’s barber shop, where he lived between 1935 and 1956, and another at Farley Court, where he was resident between 1963 and 1970.
The Julius Caesar costume had an eventful history, It was originally created for Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony in the 1963 historical film Cleopatra. Cleopatra had a troubled production period. Filming began in England at Pinewood Studios but then shifted to Rome. The costumes and sets used at Pinewood were then repurposed for the very different Carry On Cleo, which parodied both the earlier movie epic and Shakespeare's Roman plays; a case of history repeating itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Carry On Cleo (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wool-crêpe, wool, gold ribbon and gold thread |
| Brief description | Tunic worn by Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar in Carry on Cleo, 1964 |
| Physical description | Dark red wool-crêpe tunic with wide band of ivory wool down each side, embroidered with gold ribbon and foliate repeats in couched gold threads, concealed metal zipper to rear. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Label: “M. Berman Ltd., 18 Irving St, Leicester Sq., W.C.2”.
“K. Williams No1” is handwritten in ink on the label. |
| Gallery label |
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| Associations | |
| Summary | Released in 1964, Carry On Cleo was the 10th title in the Carry On franchise and the 12fth most successful film at the British box office in 1965. In 2008, it was one of only three film posters chosen by the Royal Mail to be reproduced on stamps to commemorate Carry On’s 50th anniversary and contains one of the franchise’s and British comedy’s most famous lines when Kenneth Williams as Caesar delivers the pun “Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!” The Carry On films play a significant role in Britain’s film and comedy heritage and hold the title of the second longest screen franchise (1958 – 1992) after James Bond. However, Carry On eclipses fellow British cultural export Bond with 31 films as opposed to Bond’s 27. Kenneth Williams (1926-1988) appeared in 26 Carry On films and is one of the most significant entertainers of the 20th Century. Known for his iconic voice and camp performance, his career spanned radio, film, stage and television, making him one of the most in demand and recognised performers of his time. Credits include Hancock’s Half Hour, numerous West End revues, directing Joe Orton’s Loot, voicing all the characters in children’s series Willo’ the Wisp and being a regular panellist on Just a Minute. In addition to Carry On work and his widely recognised quasi-catchphrase “Oooh, Matron!”, Williams is equally well known for his partnership with Hugh Paddick as polari speaking Julian and Sandy in BBC’s Radio’s Round the Horne that exposed audiences to queer lives at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the UK. Williams is commemorated by a blue plaque at the address of his father’s barber shop, where he lived between 1935 and 1956, and another at Farley Court, where he was resident between 1963 and 1970. The Julius Caesar costume had an eventful history, It was originally created for Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony in the 1963 historical film Cleopatra. Cleopatra had a troubled production period. Filming began in England at Pinewood Studios but then shifted to Rome. The costumes and sets used at Pinewood were then repurposed for the very different Carry On Cleo, which parodied both the earlier movie epic and Shakespeare's Roman plays; a case of history repeating itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.6-2022 |
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| Record created | December 8, 2021 |
| Record URL |
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