The Lady and the Highwayman (1989)

The Lady and the Highwayman, produced by Lew Grade as part of a series of Barbara Cartland dramatizations in 1987, contains all the ingredients that made her unique style of romantic fiction so successful. The highwayman in question, known as Silver Blade, is actually an aristocratic outlaw played by a youthful Hugh Grant in a bouffant mullet wig. The lady is Panthea (Lysette Anthony), delicate but firm of purpose, who knows her man when she sees him. It's Restoration England, so the frocks are fabulous. But Cartland's pretensions to historical accuracy evaporate when she makes Charles II's mistress, Barbara Castlemaine (Dynasty's Emma Samms), the villainess of the piece.

From there, it's a freewheeling ride of Robin Hood-inspired philanthropy, duplicitous cousins, and some uncomfortably fetishistic shots of the rituals and instruments of execution, although everybody is rescued in time for the romantic soft-focus finale. Full of splendidly self-indulgent performances from the likes of Claire Bloom, John Mills, and Michael York, The Lady and the Highwayman is a feast of thespian ham. Somehow, the cast triumph over the banality of the basic material. --Piers Ford Amazon.com

swords, kings, busting boosoms, and Hugh Grant

I first saw this movie years ago on tv as a teen. I remember my friend thinking Hugh Grant was soooo cute, I remember thinking, is she serious ... "does she need glasses?"

Well Hugh Grant became so popular, but this movie was made prior to this. I love Hugh Grants movies.

I don't think it is meant to be taken seriously. So if you enter, don't expect a literary classic turned movie of the week.

This movie makes me laugh and laugh, it is so cheesy and so 80's. So much of the time Grant looks bewildered and confused(possibly drugged?), or barely with a pulse of excitement. The women are dramatic with their bossoms busting out of their corsettes as they tilt over and fan rapidly. I'm telling you, that fan was whipping wildly! LOL...

This movie and whether it appeals to you is dependant greatly on your mood. But although I give only 3 stars due to lack of visual clarity, I wouldn't recommend it if it didn't genuinely make me snicker.



August 25, 2007

The Lady and the Highwayman

Story line was fair but the color was terrible and fuzzy. Wasn't worth watching or the price no matter how low the cost was. May 7, 2007

Great Movie For The History Buffs

This is a great movie for the history buffs. It is a movie about court intrigue, plots, jealous courtiers, envy and about love in the court of King Louis IV of France. Hugh Grant plays a Robin Hood of the 18th century and the ever beautiful Emma Samms plays the King's mistress Louise de Valleire. March 8, 2007

As seen on TV.

I bought this DVD b/c i had seen it on t.v before and just love old-fashioned romances esp.starring Hugh Grant. However, i didn't think the quality of pixels were that clear. Overall, still a good movie. January 12, 2007

good Barbara Cartland adaptation

Filmed for British cable in the early 90's, this was one in a series of four movies based on the romantic period novels of Dame Barbara Cartland. Set during the reign of King Charles II, THE LADY AND THE HIGHWAYMAN is the tale of a love affair between notorious criminal Silver Blade (Hugh Grant) and Lady Panthea Vyne (Lysette Anthony). When the king's jealous mistress Barbara Castlemaine (Emma Samms) discovers the romance, she decides to send them both to the gallows. Swashbuckling adventure and breathless romance abound in this enjoyable tale. The cast also includes Oliver Reed, Gordon Jackson, Sir John Mills, Claire Bloom, Christopher Cazenove and Michael York. June 12, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...