Okay, so this is no "Treasure of Sierra Madre" or "African Queen", but it is a very entertaining adventure-comedy directed by John Huston and starring John Hurt, adding another historical figure to his line of real life characters,, with parts as Caligula, Quentin Crisp and"The Elephant Man", John Merrick. In this, he's Davey Haggard, an English folk hero who was a notorious Highwayman but yet could worm his way into the home of some of Ireland's finest people.
The initial scene of him marching in a colorful uniform as he heads into his Majesty's service has him griping about wanting a Life free of order, and the next thing you know, he's being shot at while floating down the river riding in his drum. From there, he ends up robbing passengers and carriages passing by, breaks into homes, and is greeted by the hangman several times. Fancy Duke Robert Morley takes a fancy to him, and for a time, Hurt is involved with his daughter (Finnoula Flanagan) while he's ever loyal childhood sweetheart Pamela Franklin waits for him. Even though Davey is a scoundrel, the audience wants to see him get away with his nefarious activities because he is so charming and amusing while doing it.
Because of the charm of John Hurt in his first major role, the film is truly enjoyable with its lighthearted atmosphere, Scenic Irish Countryside and excellent supporting cast which also includes Nigel Davenport, Ronald Frazier and Maxine Audley as Morley's wife. The direction of John Huston is also very good. You would have to have a keen i q spot future Academy Award winners Brenda Fricker and Anjelica Huston among the featured cast. I did not. At any rate, this is a fun caper movie is that serves its purpose of being entertaining and irresistible.
The initial scene of him marching in a colorful uniform as he heads into his Majesty's service has him griping about wanting a Life free of order, and the next thing you know, he's being shot at while floating down the river riding in his drum. From there, he ends up robbing passengers and carriages passing by, breaks into homes, and is greeted by the hangman several times. Fancy Duke Robert Morley takes a fancy to him, and for a time, Hurt is involved with his daughter (Finnoula Flanagan) while he's ever loyal childhood sweetheart Pamela Franklin waits for him. Even though Davey is a scoundrel, the audience wants to see him get away with his nefarious activities because he is so charming and amusing while doing it.
Because of the charm of John Hurt in his first major role, the film is truly enjoyable with its lighthearted atmosphere, Scenic Irish Countryside and excellent supporting cast which also includes Nigel Davenport, Ronald Frazier and Maxine Audley as Morley's wife. The direction of John Huston is also very good. You would have to have a keen i q spot future Academy Award winners Brenda Fricker and Anjelica Huston among the featured cast. I did not. At any rate, this is a fun caper movie is that serves its purpose of being entertaining and irresistible.