If you like your romance VERY traditional with damsels in distress, evil nobles, dashing villains who are REALLY ... Men, beware! This is the world of Barbara Cartland.
Nevertheless, I must admit that it held my interest throughout - and I was VERY struck by: the beauty of the sets/castles/scenery/furniture - they were spectacular.
and struck by the fine acting by such great stars. What a cast!!!
John Mills (the great one)
Oliver Reed (nominated for an Oscar in his last role - in The Gladiator, as the trainer of gladiators)
Michael York (Reed and York were two of the fine Three Musketeers the previous decade),
Emma Samms (star of all those Dynasty series)
Christopher Cazenove (many movies including the villain of 3 Men and a Baby, etc.),
Claire Bloom (the greatness of Claire Bloom since the 1950s -- starring in a Barbara Cartland!! Amazing!),
and starring
Hugh Grant and Lysette Anthony.
I know Anthony from a great Woody Allen movie and from a superb Inspector Poirot TV movie - she's so different in each that she doesn't even seem the same actress -very pretty, very fine actress).
Hugh Grant - charming, self-deprecatory, bookish, Hugh Grant, the kind of man made to play in Born Yesterday as the professor - is wildly miscast. The rough highwayman contemptuous of authority, rather a tough Robin Hood character is meant to be a type like Colin Farrell or young Oliver Reed -- alternatively an Errol Flynn or Douglas Fairbanks would be fine. But Grant really did his best - generally remaining silent.
The plot is what surprised me - what a good pot - straightforward, enough intrigue, good pace.
This is a well put together movie - IF you want to see a true prototype of the romance circa 17th century. I'd recommend it to anyone in that mood.
Nevertheless, I must admit that it held my interest throughout - and I was VERY struck by: the beauty of the sets/castles/scenery/furniture - they were spectacular.
and struck by the fine acting by such great stars. What a cast!!!
John Mills (the great one)
Oliver Reed (nominated for an Oscar in his last role - in The Gladiator, as the trainer of gladiators)
Michael York (Reed and York were two of the fine Three Musketeers the previous decade),
Emma Samms (star of all those Dynasty series)
Christopher Cazenove (many movies including the villain of 3 Men and a Baby, etc.),
Claire Bloom (the greatness of Claire Bloom since the 1950s -- starring in a Barbara Cartland!! Amazing!),
and starring
Hugh Grant and Lysette Anthony.
I know Anthony from a great Woody Allen movie and from a superb Inspector Poirot TV movie - she's so different in each that she doesn't even seem the same actress -very pretty, very fine actress).
Hugh Grant - charming, self-deprecatory, bookish, Hugh Grant, the kind of man made to play in Born Yesterday as the professor - is wildly miscast. The rough highwayman contemptuous of authority, rather a tough Robin Hood character is meant to be a type like Colin Farrell or young Oliver Reed -- alternatively an Errol Flynn or Douglas Fairbanks would be fine. But Grant really did his best - generally remaining silent.
The plot is what surprised me - what a good pot - straightforward, enough intrigue, good pace.
This is a well put together movie - IF you want to see a true prototype of the romance circa 17th century. I'd recommend it to anyone in that mood.