Review of The Lady and the Highwayman

Hugh Grant is very much to his advantage here. This is the kind of romantic roles which he could perform with some very interesting personal touch to them, and special about this one is that it's a role and character that tempts to flamboyance and grand bravura, while Hugh Grant instead plays it down and is admirably restrained all the way, although his feelings are the more evident for being suppressed. It's a great story as well, Ian Bannen makes a terrific villain in the beginning, cruel beyond any measure, and Michael York cuts a very interesting picture of the king. John Mills has a small part to play but suffers from not being able to come to his right, while Oliver Reed is the one who overacts his villainy. I loved the film already the first time I saw it some 20 years ago, and a period long enough had elapsed to make me forget what it was all about, and only the detail of the ring brought to the realization that I had actually already seen it. But it is a dashing performance all the way, the intrigue never ceases to develop and grow in excitement, and there are many characters involved, all acted with excellence. Maybe I will enjoy it equally once more in twenty years' time...