Viewed through Y2K eyes, Up Pompeii is incredibly tacky with lots of weak double entendres. As Frankie Howerd would say then..."the prologue".
In the 1960s, Britain was invaded by the permissive society and a lot of barriers began to break down. British humour developed a decidedly saucy tone (which, again through Y2K eyes, was very chauvinistic). Up Pompeii was mostly written by the man who put the sauce in to the "Carry On" films – Talbot Rothwell (Sid Colin co wrote series 2). The star of the show was Frankie Howerd who was a master of the double entendre. Studios in general were getting their heads around this new business of TV. I am not too sure how seriously the acting profession took this medium.
Bringing together these elements could only lead to the sort of series which was, in the parlance of the times "naughty but nice".
Howerd plays a slave in ancient Pompeii. His master is a senator whose wife is a bit of a good time girl. The names are contortions of an understanding of Latin – Ludicrus Sextus, Ammonia, Erotica, Nausius, etc. Howerd begins each show with a prologue which is never finished. There follows a farcical story with lots of innuendo (each complete with the Howerd sideways glance - "Don't you dare" to the audience).
It's simple stuff from another era. It wasn't designed to be taken too seriously. Funnily I gather most of the cast were serious actors and I can only guess this was seen as a bit of throwaway fun. If you liked the "Carry on" movies then you will find common ground here. If you expect something a little more sophisticated then tread carefully.
In the 1960s, Britain was invaded by the permissive society and a lot of barriers began to break down. British humour developed a decidedly saucy tone (which, again through Y2K eyes, was very chauvinistic). Up Pompeii was mostly written by the man who put the sauce in to the "Carry On" films – Talbot Rothwell (Sid Colin co wrote series 2). The star of the show was Frankie Howerd who was a master of the double entendre. Studios in general were getting their heads around this new business of TV. I am not too sure how seriously the acting profession took this medium.
Bringing together these elements could only lead to the sort of series which was, in the parlance of the times "naughty but nice".
Howerd plays a slave in ancient Pompeii. His master is a senator whose wife is a bit of a good time girl. The names are contortions of an understanding of Latin – Ludicrus Sextus, Ammonia, Erotica, Nausius, etc. Howerd begins each show with a prologue which is never finished. There follows a farcical story with lots of innuendo (each complete with the Howerd sideways glance - "Don't you dare" to the audience).
It's simple stuff from another era. It wasn't designed to be taken too seriously. Funnily I gather most of the cast were serious actors and I can only guess this was seen as a bit of throwaway fun. If you liked the "Carry on" movies then you will find common ground here. If you expect something a little more sophisticated then tread carefully.