Carry On Columbus

Whatever affection one had for the Carry On films died with Sid James for most moviegoers. None of the new crew of Sayle, Richardson, Mayall and Planer is remotely endearing in their awfulness, which goes double for camp Clary. Jim Dale in the title role is anonymous under his cow-pat beret. In fact, the only comedian worth a fart is Larry Miller, playing a cigar-chewing Brooklynite Red Indian chief, though the routines in the New World resemble outtakes from Abbott and Costello. Of course, it's meant to be awful. Gerald Thomas can rest assured that his film looks terrible at all times, while the jokes are puerile and either telegraphed or botched.