British Comedy Guide
Up Pompeii. Image shows from L to R: Ammonia (Barbara Murray), Lurcio (Frankie Howerd), Ludicrus Sextus (Michael Hordern). Copyright: Associated London Films Limited
Up Pompeii

Up Pompeii

  • 1971 film

Classic British farce in which Roman slave Lurcio unwittingly gains possession of a list of people who are conspiring to bring down the Emperor Nero. Stars Frankie Howerd, Patrick Cargill, Bill Fraser, Michael Hordern, Barbara Murray and more.

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Up Pompeii. Image shows from L to R: Scrubba (Adrienne Posta), Lurcio (Frankie Howerd). Copyright: STUDIOCANAL

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1971
Creator
Talbot Rothwell
Stars
Frankie Howerd, Patrick Cargill, Bill Fraser, Michael Hordern, Barbara Murray, Lance Percival, Adrienne Posta, Bernard Bresslaw and more
Writer
Sid Colin
Director
Bob Kellett
Producers
Ned Sherrin and Beryl Vertue
Company

After a chance encounter in the market, slave Lurcio is sucked into a webb of deceit and intrigue as Prosperus Maximus and a band of followers plot to assassinate Emperor Nero.

When he unwittingly becomes holder of a list of their names, the would-be assassins resolve to dispatch both him and his master, Ludicrus Sextus. The plotters, however, reckon without the smarts and hapless luck of the slave, and miscalculate the effect of his master's honesty.

Soon Lurcio is under the employ of Nero himself, who is well aware of the plot - but he's not all he seems, and the gods are none best pleased at the Pompeii inhabitants' actions...

Additional details

Part of

The Up Pompeii! Family

UK certificate
AA
Duration
90 minutes
UK release
Tuesday 9th March 1971
Distributors

Anglo-EMI

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
The title song was written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikely, with all other music composed and conducted by Carl Davis.

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 31st December 2017 at 7:20am on ITV3
  • Friday 29th December 2017 at 4:20pm on ITV3
  • Sunday 17th December 2017 at 5:15pm on ITV3

Recording details

  • EMI-MGM Elstree Studios

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