A Ghost in Monte Carlo

"A Ghost in Monte Carlo" has an excellent cast. The storyline is superb and succeeds in drawing the viewer quickly into the story. The setting and costumes add to the richness of the storyline. This fine story, based on the novels of Barbara Cartland, is neatly interwoven with romance, secrets from the past, and suspense with regard to the various storylines linked to the main character of Mistral. This movie is definitely for all "romantics-at-heart!"

Okay. Am a bit biased on this movie as like Marcus Gilbert. First saw him in Hazard of Hearts and liked him so much and the movie wasn't bad either that bought the book. Really surprising Marcus Gilbert has not been in more movies. The ones he has been in have been horror ones, so bit disappointed in that. In fact this movie has four characters from Hazard of Hearts. (Christopher Plummer, Marcus Gilbert!, Fiona Fullerton and Gareth Hunt) so I think they were just recycling the actors. Okay. This movie could of been a little better. I didn't like Lysette Anthony playing the main girl character Mistral or Madam Phantom. I think she was wrongly picked. She didn't have any quality that I could see every man attracted and drawing to her. Not only did she look plain and ordinary, as well as having flaws, there was nothing appealing about her including her character in the story. Lord Stanford, on the other hand. (Marcus Gilbert) was superb in my books. His voice and looks (woah!) He is up there with Colin Firth in my books.

The story itself. Again not as good as Hazard of Hearts despite having some other great actors in it like Oliver Reed and Joanna Lumley but okay to watch if you like period pieces.

It's an adaptation of a Barbara Cartland novel, so you can't expect this to be good. It is watchable, but that's about all. You can figure out most of the story in the first few minutes and then you just wait to watch it enfold, exactly as expected.

Sarah Miles is cold and calculating as the manipulative Countess who takes her innocent niece from a convent and sends her into the world in Monte Carlo, throwing her into the arms of the Crown Prince. Typical romantic junk so far, extremely formulaic, and Lysette Anthony plays the pouting niece to perfection.

Other decent actors sleepwalk through this rubbish - Christopher Plummer, Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, Gareth Hunt, Fiona Fullerton - but not much can be done to redeem it. It is watchable enough to divert for its 90 minutes running time, but it is hardly a classic of 1990s television!

Madame Emilie (Sarah Miles) is an old courtesan woman , changing her weary life , she takes her orphaned niece Mistral (Lysette Anthony) from a convent . Both of them undergo a new life in the cosmopolitan Montecarlo along with the maid (Samantha Eggar). The courtesan becomes the countess of Secret . They are the talk of the high class from Montecarlo . Mistral encounters herself surrounded by suitors , as Lord Roberts (Marcus Gilbert) and prince Nicholas , son of the Grand Duke (Christopher Plummer) . But some (Gareth Hunt) knows the secrets and threatens to Emilie and an admirer Rajah (Oliver Reed) has less than honorable intentions over Mistral . Meanwhile , the aunt hiding a number of secrets is plotting a long-awaited vengeance in a twisted finale . Naturally , there's a happy ending like happens on all stories by Barbara Cartland.

This is a romance-drama with tragedy , murder, passion , love , twisted plot and incredible ending . It's an entertaining film and regency romance fans will appreciate the attention to period detail . Based on the romance novel with the same title by Barbara Cartland . In fact , belongs to quatrain of pictures directed by John Hough , such as : ¨Duel of hearts (Alison Doody, Michael York), ¨Hazard of hearts¨(Helena Bonham Carter, Gilbert), and the best , ¨The lady and the highwayman¨(Hugh Grant, Lysette Anthony) . All realized by the same director , producer (Albert Fennell, Sir Lew Grade), musician (Laurie Johnson : The avengers) , author (Cartland) and similar players (Lysette Anthony , Marcus Gilbert , Neal Dickson , Fiona Fullerton , Christopher Plummer , among others) . This TV picture was well directed by John Hough . He has an eclectic and long filmmaker career , beginning in television series (Avengers, Protectors) , making Hammer film (Twins of evil), classic terror (legend of hell house) , average horror movies (Howling IV, American Gothic) , adventures (Island of treasure, Black arrow) until wholesome Disney family fare (Return and escape to witch mountain) . The flick will appeal to romantic drama buffs.

A handsome, well-staged production, set in 1875 Monte Carlo, with some beautiful vistas and some lovely women, but a bit on the dull side. A good cast is not used to its full capabilities. A murder and a couple of sword fights cannot disguise the fact that this is really a chick flick at heart. My first experience with a Barbara Cartland adaptation, and it's probably enough to realize that it's not for me. **1/2 out of 4.