Gefährdete Liebe

Get a grip you guys - this is not supposed to be great theatre. It's a fun, tongue-in-cheek adaptation of your typical bodice-ripper tale only rather better done than most (I'm thinking of the American equivalent offerings such as "Black Swan" (1942) or any of Errol Flynn's efforts). True - the transcription to DVD is about the worst I've ever seen outside of old kung-fu movies but just enjoy it for what it is - an early airing of Hugh Grant's talents with some great supporting actors. Everyone takes their part extremely well - especially Christopher Cazenove as the slimy Rudolph Vyne.

"Based on the best-selling novel by Barbara Cartland, this colorful adventure epic of 17th century English gentry stars Hugh Grant as an aristocrat forced to become a swashbuckling 'Highwayman' after falling in love with a beautiful girl (Lysette Anthony) he has sworn to protect from the evil Cromwell. Fate drives them together, but their passion may be doomed when they are accused of crimes by their enemies (Emma Samms, Oliver Reed), and both face execution," according to the DVD sleeve notes.

Romantic historical fiction made tediously for television.

DVD sleeve comments to the contrary, this film stars Ms. Anthony. She is at her most beautiful, and performs her role well. Anthony had just disrobed for "Playboy" (December 1988), and would go directly to the 1990 revival of "Dark Shadows" (as Angelique). At the time a bigger star, Ms. Samms (Holly from "General Hospital") and future movie star Mr. Grant are also looking good. "The Lady and the Highwayman" is mainly watchable for prettily presenting these three with veterans.

***** The Lady and the Highwayman (1/22/89) John Hough ~ Lysette Anthony, Hugh Grant, Emma Samms

Don't! Oh, I know it's cheap - looks like a real bargain, eh? NOT! Put the wallet down and don't throw away your money. It's not even worth the $1.25 it routinely lists for on EBAY and HALF.com.

In a decent print, this might be a fun bit of fluff. But, the DVD print is far from decent. It looks for all the world like an old re-copied and re-copied video tape. The poor video quality completely spoils the viewing experience - it's flat, muddy, blurry, and dark. I've never seen anything even remotely this bad in any retail video product, much less a DVD.

It wasn't the greatest material to begin with - the script, dialogue, and acting are a bit dodgy and *quite* stagy. Some worthwhile stars are not allowed to shine (Oliver Reed, Hugh Grant, Michael York, John Mills). However, the costumes and sets are really quite nice - pity we can't appreciate them in this release.

it is a love story which succeeds in it's attempt to create suspense--will true love be victorious? or will it be a tragedy? The suspense is intermingled with completely unintentional comic relief. It stars Hugh Grant before he became the bumbling fool in so many other movies.

This movie is amazingly funny because of its lack of trying to be so. It was not meant to be a comedy, but the one-liners will be recited by its audiences for years after viewing. It was a truly valuable find in our campus library movie collection.

Please trust me and rent this movie!!! You will never forget this experience!

Although filmed in 1988, this British made-for-TV movie captures the look and feel, the melodrama and romance, even the stagy lighting, of a big-budget 1930s Hollywood swashbuckler. By 1930s standards, it is a first-rate film. By today's standard, well, that's not really a fair standard to judge it by. It lacks the scale and fancy visual effects of "Braveheart," or "Gladiator," but in its quirky old-fashioned way, it is a better movie than either of them. And it is miles better in every possible way (including historical accuracy) than the egregious BBC/A&E "Charles II" mini-series (USA title "The Last King"), set in the same time period, with many of the same characters, that was broadcast in 2004.

"The Lady and the Highwayman" is based on a Barbara Cartland romance novel, and set in Restoration England of the 1660s. Yet with a shift of locale, and a slight re-write, it could just as well be a western. Think "Zorro." Indeed it borrows lots of bits and pieces from classic westerns -- such as Hugh Grant's character jumping from atop a 30 foot wall on to the back of his horse.

"The Lady and the Highwayman" was filmed in England, using several real period castles and manor houses as locations. Both the detailed sets and the lavish costumes mesh seamlessly with the period buildings. The costume department did a great job, as much with the soldiers' uniforms, armor, and weapons, as with the courtiers' finery.

The cast is excellent, and the dialog, by Terence Feely, was well written. 28-year old Hugh Grant looks young and suave, but doesn't say a whole lot. The star is young Lysette Anthony, then 25, and she is terrific. Oliver Reed is a menacingly villainous Phillip Gage. Michael York is a dashing King Charles II.

I just saw the film on a $1 DigiView DVD sold by WalMart. It was definitely not a digital transfer -- but its graininess and off colors actually enhanced the impression of its being a 1930s film, rather than 1980s. It's no classic, but I enjoyed watching it, and I've seen plenty worse. 6/10.

For another quirky and retro view of 17th century England, check out "Winstanley" by Kevin Brownlow.