The Clandestine Marriage

Pure entertainment. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys films from this time period. Nigel Hawthorn's acting makes this film a sheer delight. I was equally surprised with Joan Collins who plays a snobby rich woman most convincingly. The plot is based on two rich families trying to get their children to marry. It turns out that one of the daughters is already married secretly. Everything gets hilariously all mixed up. A movie to relax by.

Watch for the scene when Nigel Hawthorn is applying make-up to his aging face. An amazing and unique actor.

I thought this movie was very good. The characters, the costumes... you have to like movies like this to start with in order to appreciate it. The timing on the humor was really good. The music was excellent and I would like to find the soundtrack. Miriam Stockley sings the song Secret. She performs several of the songs in the movie. She's a cross between Celine Dion and Enya. The British speak was easy enough that you could understand what they were saying. A lot of that is too much and it's hard to catch it all. There are a lot of recognizable actors in this and they all did a good job. I highly recommend this movie for just some old fashion humor in a period piece.

Hi, I agree that this a wonderful movie. I even heard that Nigel Hawthorne and Joan Collins both paid money to produce this movie....that gives one an particular good notion what a great couple of actors they are with such a big heart for their profession....Everyone who loves great acting , should watch this film,several times!!!! Seldom do we see this kind of acting. For me, as an professional opera singer, it is almost a guideline for acting in the 18 century, such finesse......Hawthorne and Collins are enjoying themselves enormous....

Maja from the Netherlands

Imagine, if you can, an early 18th century English audience not in the mood for Shakespeare, the sitting Poet Laureate, or anything so heavy. Cricket match is rained out and Bedlam is closed for renovation. These folk just want to stroll down to the local corner playhouse on half-price Wednesday, pick up a cheap bottle of wine and some greasy chips and have a nice chortle, cahoot, yuk, etc.

They would be splendidly satisfied if the The Clandestine Marriage were playing that evening. No long soliloquies, preachy speeches or inside jokes. No heroes or sympathetic characters. No daggers, evil motives or dastardly rogues. Indeed, there are no characters in this amusing farce that are much better or worse than another. Just an amusing comedy about pretensions, human nature and anxieties. If you can't have a good time with it, thou best lighten up,

The arranged marriage of an English aristocrat's daughter goes awry befuddling all concerned in this well made and lighthearted comedy. An unpretentious little film, "Clandestine Marriage" serves up an ample portion of good old English comedy and quits while it's ahead.