Davey des grands chemins

John Huston's love of Ireland and Irish country life was rather well known while he was with us. Any chance he had he took to be at his country estate there. What better than to shoot a film there even if the subject is 18th century Scotland and a notorious outlaws known as Sinful Davey.

John Hurt is in the title role and he's a young rascal who deserts the army in a most spectacular fashion and takes up the outlaw trade. His dad was an outlaw who had some legendary exploits of his own and young Hurt wants to live up to his father's legend and even better it.

Nothing serious about Sinful Davey, he's just a good nature rascal who just follows his own beat. That the authorities take a dim view of stealing just shows what narrow minded folks they are. The only thing could stop Hurt is Pamela Franklin from his old village who is a good girl in a debauched age and she's determined he have a moral makeover.

This will never be classified as one of John Huston's better films, but it's entertaining enough. Besides the leads standing out in this cast is Robert Morley as the Duke of Argyll who rather admires Hurt and his unconventional ways and Ronald Fraser as Hurt's somewhat reluctant accomplice in his crimes.

Have fun watching this one and don't take it one bit serious.

Sinful Davey (1969)

** (out of 4)

Pleasant but ultimately disappointing comedy from Huston about a highwayman named Davey (John Hurt) who wants to be like his father even though his father got killed for his lifestyle. Davey goes on one adventure after another as he gets closer and closer to danger but thankfully the woman (Pamela Franklin) who loves him is constantly showing up to save him. Apparently this film had two different previews, both disasters yet Huston refused to edit the film so the producer had to do it for him. This, in return, set Huston off who pretty much disowned the version that was eventually released and seen here. I don't believe Huston's version has ever been released or seen since those two previews but one has to wonder if anything longer than what's here could have been taken by anyone. I should say, anyone but Huston because while watching this comedy I couldn't help but imagine Huston sitting in his chair, smoking a cigar and laughing his butt off at everything on the screen. The movie remains pleasant from start to finish because of Hurt's fine performance and the loving care that obviously went into making it but in the end there's just not enough laughs. The movie is technically impressive and I really did love the pacing and style that Huston made it. The movie has an old-fashioned look that perfectly suits the situations and the pacing is fast just like the main character. Hurt is obviously having a lot of fun in the film as he's perfectly fine as the dashing young man who won't stop until someone else stops him. Franklin isn't too bad either and we get Nigel Davenport and Ronald Fraser turning in fine work. Look quick for Huston's daughter Angelica. This film was based on a true story and I couldn't help but think the book probably had a lot of stuff that didn't make it into the movie but I also figured a lot of it might not have worked and just got cut out. Either way, this is an interesting piece from Huston but the lack of laughs pretty much kill it.

SINFUL DAVEY is based on the true story of Scottish highwayman and thief Davey Haggart (played by a very young John Hurt), who wants to be just like his deceased (guess how he died) father.

It is a light-hearted movie that really is neither very spectacular nor special, but is very well-done. A nice movie to see on a rainy afternoon, to say it with a cliché. The film has good performances all around (especially Hurt and Franklin) and some funny bits. It is however nowhere near as funny as the recent ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL (also based on a true story).6/10

This is a romance-comedy-drama with adventures , thrills , emotion , feats , a long love story , twisted plot and incredible ending . It's an entertaining film and regency romance fans will appreciate the attention to period detail , being based on the book "The Life of David Haggart¨ and script by James R. Webb . It deals with the hilarious adventures of the famous Scottish highwayman and thief Davey Haggart (John Hurt's first leading role) during the 1820s in Britain , along with his colleague MacNab (Ronald Fraser) . Growing up in humble means and attempting to go on his father's career as a thief who was unhappily executed . Davey is able to live by means of his liking , and in taking over the ownerships of some incautious people . His thunderous life is full of fabulous feats , including as a body-snatcher, holding up the stagecoach , escaping from Stirling prison and robbing to aristocracy at the mansion of the Duke of Argyll (Robert Morley) , among others . But he is pursued by a constable : Richardson (Nigel Davenport) , detained , subsequently judged , accused and condemned for penalty death . Fortunately , he is really helped by the fact that his childhood playmate Annie (Pamela Franklin) goes after to save him from jail and gallows . It may be more attributed to Davey being unable to adapt to any of the lives into which he is thrust to truly reach his goal of being a highwayman . Down with virtue! Down with the law! Up With Davey! The Seven Deadly Sins have never been so lively! . Grave-robbing, Maid-snatching, Jail-breaking, Jewel-thieving, Smuggling, Piracy and Wife-stealing . Leave it to Davey to invent No. 8!

This amusing , humorous film packs fun performance , thrilling scenes , noisy action , swashbuckling , twists , turns , final surprise and consideration to period detail . Nothing too inspired here but seems to be amusing . This is a costume/comedy/drama that never quite goes anywhere , though results to be entertaining and fun . As funny scenes , entertainment , lively style and its tense filmmaking make this a crackerjack amusement . This is a family film made by John Huston , as it was partially filmed on John Huston's own estate in Ireland and played by Huston's friends as well as his daughter . Highlights of the movie turn out to be spectacular production design , luxurious scenarios and the fox chase scenes under an enjoyable soundtrack by Ken Thorne . Sir John Hurt gives a nice acting as a roguish thief determined to emulate his father , a notorious rogue and highwayman . While Pamela Franklin , ex-girl prodigy , is the passionate young girl falling for the outlaw and also determined to track him down and save his soul . Very good support cast , in addition Ronald Fraser, none of the players are actual Scots , as their accents usually demonstrate . The magnificent secondary cast is plenty of prestigious Brit actors , such as Nigel Davenport , Ronald Fraser , Maxine Audley , Robert Morley , Donal McCann , Eddie Byrne , Niall MacGinnis , Allan Cuthbertson, Noel Purcell and brief intervention from future stars : Fionnula Flanagan , Brenda Flicker and Angelica Huston . Evocative as well as brilliant cinematography in gorgeous colour by director of photography Edward Scaife and Freddie Young. Rousing and lively musical score by Ken Thorne .

The motion picture competently produced by Walter Mirisch was well made by the great John Huston , who also produced , though it was a commercial flop . As John Huston declared great bitterness about the way this movie had been changed against his wit , and named it as one of the three movies of his that he most regretted shooting , he other two were The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) and Roots of Heaven (1958). The picture was made in a good time of the 60s , 70s and 80s when Huston resurged as a director of quality films with Fat City, (1972), The man who would be king (1975) , Wise blood (1979) , Honor of Prizzi (1985) and in which Huston providing classic scenes and agreeable dialogs . He ended his career on a high note with Under volcano (1984), the afore-mentioned Honor of Prizzi (1985) and Dublineses (1987). Rating : Acceptable and passable , nothing too original , although regency romance buffs will value the attention to historical background . This is one of John Huston's unknown movie , definitely a must see if you are aficionado to Huston films . Rating : 6 , decent , as action and emotion are entertaining enough on its own . Well worth watching .

Trying to emulate the Oscar-winning Tom Jones and others of its ilk, Sinful Davey is enjoyable, light-hearted entertainment. The scenery is gorgeous, the cinematography catching, and the acting good.

John Hurt is fine as Davey, and Pamela Franklin is sweet as the lass who loves him and tries to get him to change his ways. Robert Morley's character is very likeable as well. I particularly enjoyed Nigel Davenport as the decent but determined inspector--his looks and manner reminded me of Ted Levine's police captain on Monk.

The script, while pleasant, could be better, though. I kept waiting for something truly outrageous to occur, for the film to go over the top in some way (after all, it was made in the late sixties), but it never did. Still, it is an enjoyable story.

While Sinful Davey is a good, not great film, it still deserves a higher rating than it has on this site. Just enjoy it for what it is: a picaresque, humorous tale about a young Scottish rogue during the early 19th century.