1/10/2005

There was a real revolt during the filming in North Wales of a British comedy classic about a fictional uprising, it was revealed yesterday.

In Carry on Up the Khyber, which was shot in Snowdonia, the story revolves around a rebellion by the local Burpa tribesmen.
But back in 1968 the mutiny actually came from the local extras who played soldiers in the Scottish Highland regiment, the 3rd Foot and Mouth.

During the location shoot, when the Watkin Path that leads to the summit of Snowdon doubled as the Khyber Pass, the extras went on strike demanding more pay ⣣ and got it.

The episode came to light as the film was honoured by the Welsh Screen Commission when it became part of the North Wales Film and Television Trail.

Yesterday the actress Angela Douglas, who played Princess Jehli in the film, unveiled a plaque at the Electric Mountain centre, in Llanberis.

The occasion brought back happy memories for Ms Douglas, the widow of the late Kenneth More, who was one of Britain⣣s most popular actors at the time.

The couple had only just got married when the location filming started and the newly-weds spent every spare minute together.
Miss Douglas said: "I look back on the Carry On films all as great fun to make - especially this one and Carry On Cowboy.⣣

⣣None of them were exactly an intellectual challenge, we just did them because they were fun. It was an ensemble company and at the time they were the best of British company."
 
Fans travelled from across the UK  to be present at the ceremony on Friday and among them was Simon Cole, aged 39, from Bournemouth, who sells international real estate.
 
Simon travelled up yesterday and made a pilgrimage to the Watkin Path where some of the more memorable scenes were shot.
 
He said: "What I particularly like about the films is the nostalgia value of them, hankering after an age that just doesn't exist any more."

Among the local extras who went on strike was retired farmer John Pritchard, aged 89, from Beddgelert. By coincidence, Mr Pritchard was also involved in the first film honoured by the North Wales Film and Television Trail. He worked as a security guard during the production of the Hollywood classic, Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman, which was shot in the Beddgelert area 10 years earlier in 1958.

And in another twist of fate, the building where the Inn of the Sixth Happiness plaque is located was used as a costume store and changing room for Carry On Up the Khyber.

Mr Pritchard said: ⣣In Carry On Up the Khyber, there were about 10 of us who played the soldiers ⣣ unfortunately most of them are no longer with us.

⣣The strike didn⣣t last long, just a day or two and they paid us more money. They were okay with us and we all shook hands afterwards.

⣣Although the Scots traditionally don⣣t wear anything under their kilts, we cheated a little bit. We put something on underneath. It was a great experience, we had a lot of fun ⣣ we were with them for about a fortnight in all. It paid a lot better than farming.⣣

The arrival of the Carry On cast and crew was an unforgettable experience for Alun Hughes.

He now runs the Tanyronnen Hotel in Beddgelert but in those days he was a 14-year-old waiter at the Goat Hotel where the stars of the film stayed.

Alun said: ⣣They were all big stars at the time. Most of them enjoyed a laugh. Bernard Bresslaw was a lovely chap ⣣ I remember he was always full of fun and that he had a very deep voice.⣣

⣣The best of the lot though was Roy Castle ⣣ he⣣d sit with the staff in the bar and have a drink and a laugh and a sing-song.⣣

⣣Towards the end of the filming his wife and two children arrived and they were great, really lovely. He had no airs and graces at all.⣣

Author Morris Bright was delighted to be at the unveiling ceremony ⣣ he⣣s written four books on the Carry On series and is a personal friend of the producer, Peter Rogers.

He said: ⣣I think it⣣s a great honour for the film and the people involved in it, both making it and starring in it.

⣣Carry On Up the Khyber is the quintessential Carry On film ⣣ it looks expensive, has high production values, had a great script and a great cast, all of whom were absolutely perfect.

⣣Back in the politically correct 1980s, the Carry On films were sometimes pilloried but they are undoubtedly national treasures.

⣣There⣣s no this huge amount of respect, particularly for Carry On Up the Khyber, which has regularly appeared in the British Film Industry⣣s Top 100 films.

⣣Carry On Up the Khyber was classic British film comedy at its best ⣣ with a stunning cast and stunning writing, stunning production values and almost 40 years after it was made it still holds up as a great example of British comedy.⣣

Richard Coombs, the Film Liaison Manager of the Wales Screen Commission, in North Wales, said: ⣣I think the fact that there is a new generation of Carry On fans out there speaks volumes about this fantastic series of films.

⣣By common consent, Carry On Up the Khyber was the best of the lot so it is fitting that this particular chapter of the Carry On series is immortalised as part of the North Wales Film and Television Trail.⣣