Le cavalier masqué

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.

"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

A great movie. This movie was filmed before anyone knew who Hugh Grant was. Great performances by Oliver Reed, Michael York, and of course the red-headed vixen, Emma Samms. Lysette Anthony was the perfect touch. A must see, but you do have to look for it. This movie is a hard one to find.

I loved this movie growing up, it was a lot of fun and always amusing to know you were a fan of Hugh Grant before he became famous ;) This movie was released as "SilverBlade" in Australia where I grew up and first saw it, and it wasn't until I came to the United States that I found out it had another name. So if there are any Aussies out there wondering if this is the same movie - it is - I have seen both SilverBlade and The Lady & The Highwayman and they are exactly the same.

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.