This Hammer Films big-screen spin-off from the popular Granada TV series The Army Gamefound Private “Popeye” Popplewell (Bernard Bresslaw) – all gormless 6′ 5″ of him – and his confederates from Hut 29 at the Surplus Ordnance Depot at Nether Hopping posted to the small (fictional) British protectorate of Darawa in the Middle East.
They are sent to restore law and order and defend the King (Marne Maitland) against rebel tribesmen led by the King’s brother, Prince Mahmoud (Francis Matthews).
They discover, though, that their quarters overlook the harem garden and subsequently find themselves a little busy to defend the capital – especially when they find a secret tunnel into the King’s well-stocked harem.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud thinks Popeye and his pals will be easy prey for his thugs but soon finds out how wrong he is.
William Hartnell – the original Sergeant from The Army Game– refused the film part, so the soldiers had a new NCO in the shape of Sergeant “Potty” Chambers (David Lodge).
Michael Bentine guests as a wily Arab guide named “Fred”.
Pvt “Popeye” Popplewell
Bernard Bresslaw Cpl Springer
Michael Medwin Pvt ‘Excused Boots’ “Bootsie” Bisley
Alfie Bass Major Upshott-Bagley
Geoffrey Sumner Pvt ‘Professor’ Hatchett
Charles Hawtrey Pvt “Cupcake” Cook
Norman Rossington Sergeant “Potty” Chambers
David Lodge Sir Redvers
Arthur Howard King Fazim
Marne Maitland Fred
Michael Bentine Prince Mahmoud
Francis Matthews Azim
Michael Ripper Salaman
Wolfe Morris Ferrers
Ewan MacDuff Harem Girls
Marie Devereux
Claire Gordon
Maureen Moore
Pamela Chamberlain
Pauline Chamberlain
Director
Montgomery Tully
Video
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They are sent to restore law and order and defend the King (Marne Maitland) against rebel tribesmen led by the King’s brother, Prince Mahmoud (Francis Matthews).
