Blackadder

Precursors

The plot device of a 'modern' man in ancient times is not new, and has a venerable history in fiction.

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In TV comedies, perhaps the most obvious 'ancestor' of the Blackadder series is Up Pompeii. The series, starring Frankie Howerd as Lurcio, was set in ancient Rome and made similar play with historical characters. Even the apparent 'reincarnation' device found in Blackadder http://members.aol.com/trogrann/blackadder.htm is found in the Up Pompeii saga.

Related Topics:
Up Pompeii - Frankie Howerd - Reincarnation

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The TV series inspired four feature films, the first two of which, Up Pompeii and Further Up Pompeii, were also set in Imperial Rome with Howerd as Lurcio. The first film ended with the eruption of Vesuvius and had a final scene set in the present day, in which the actors all played tourists closely resembling their ancient roles and Howerd played a tour guide, showing them around the ruins of Pompeii.

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The third was set in medieval times and called Up the Chastity Belt, with Howerd's character as 'Lurkalot' (cf The Black Adder). In this, Howerd's character is discovered to be a double of Richard Lionheart, and later assumes the throne under his identity while the real king leads a bawdy life as Lurkalot (cf Blackadder the Third).

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Most strikingly, the fourth and final Up ... film, Up the Front, sees Howerd's character reborn as 'Private Lurk' and fighting in the First World War.

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