A funny thing happens to Lurcio on the way to the rent-a-vestal-virgin market stall. A mysterious scroll falls into his hands, listing the names of all the conspirators plotting to murder Emperor Nero. And when the upstart slave is elected to infiltrate the ringleader's den, the comical ups-and-downs lead to total uproar.
A bawdy comedy set in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, the film follows the misadventures of a slave named Lurcio. Lurcio attempts to navigate the decadent and often absurd social landscape of the city, getting into various scrapes with his master and the various inhabitants he encounters. All the while, the ominous shadow of Mount Vesuvius looms.
Up Pompeii (1971) was primarily a vehicle for the popular British comedian Frankie Howerd, and its reception reflected this. Critics generally found the film to be a thinly plotted series of slapstick routines and double entendres, typical of Howerd's television work. While it found a dedicated audience who appreciated Howerd's signature style of innuendo and physical comedy, it was not widely acclaimed by critics for its cinematic merit. Audiences familiar with and fond of Howerd's humor likely enjoyed it, while those seeking a more sophisticated comedy found it lacking.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for the 1971 film 'Up Pompeii' is not readily available.
The film is a spin-off from the popular BBC television series of the same name, which also starred Frankie Howerd.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources
